Credit Report Timeline Calculator
When a late payment, collection, charge-off, bankruptcy or hard inquiry comes off your credit report, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act's time limits.
How long items stay on your credit report
| Item | Stays for | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
| Late payment | 7 years | The late payment |
| Collection or charge-off | 7 years plus 180 days | The first missed payment that led to it |
| Chapter 7 bankruptcy | 10 years | The filing |
| Chapter 13 bankruptcy | 7 years (bureaus' practice; the law allows 10) | The filing |
| Foreclosure or repossession | 7 years | The first missed payment |
| Hard inquiry | 2 years (scores use 1) | The inquiry |
| Accounts in good standing | Often 10 years after closing | The closing |
How this calculator works
The Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681c) bars credit bureaus from reporting most negative items older than 7 years, and bankruptcies older than 10.
For collections and charge-offs, the 7 years start 180 days after the delinquency that led to them, so they last about 7½ years from the first missed payment. Paying a collection doesn't restart or shorten the clock.
What it assumes
- The limits don't apply to reports for credit or life insurance of $150,000 or more, or jobs paying $75,000 or more.
- The three bureaus no longer report paid medical collections or medical collections under $500.
Questions people ask
How long do late payments stay on a credit report?
Seven years from the late payment. Their effect on your score fades well before that, especially once you have a run of on-time payments.
Does paying off a collection remove it?
No: it shows as paid but stays for the full period. Some newer scoring models ignore paid collections, and the bureaus no longer report paid medical collections.
When does a bankruptcy fall off my credit report?
Chapter 7: 10 years from filing. Chapter 13: the bureaus remove it 7 years from filing, though the law allows 10.
How long do hard inquiries stay?
Two years on the report; FICO scores only count them for 12 months.
What if an old item is still on my report?
Dispute it with the credit bureau reporting it, online or by mail; the bureau must investigate, usually within 30 days, and remove information that is out of date or can't be verified.
Related calculators
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. 1681c: requirements relating to information in consumer reports
- CFPB: Credit reports and scores
Updated by the RateHerald team. The maths is tested against worked examples; report a problem.