What defines an Intermediate Document?

An Intermediate Document is characterized by its significant administrative value but not by permanent significance. This means that while the document holds importance for a certain period, usually connected to a specific administrative function or process, it does not need to be retained indefinitely. Such documents might include records like invoices, reports, or communication that are necessary for decision-making or audit purposes within a defined time frame. Once their usefulness has expired, they can be disposed of or archived consistently with relevant record retention policies.

In contrast, other types of documents have different characteristics: negligible value documents do not serve much purpose, permanent documents are critical for historical reference and require long-term preservation, and obsolete documents no longer hold value or relevance to current administrative practices but may not necessarily fall into the administrative significance category like intermediate documents.