diff --git a/.prettierignore b/.prettierignore
index 91c870c4..f150cff5 100644
--- a/.prettierignore
+++ b/.prettierignore
@@ -2,5 +2,6 @@
 .licenses
 .vscode
 dist
+lib
 node_modules
 package-lock.json
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 869d8b00..dd19ebf4 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,32 +24,33 @@ $ npm test
 
 ### Arguments
 
-| Input                       | Description                                                                          | Usage    |
-| --------------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | -------- |
-| `repo-token`                | PAT(Personal Access Token) for authorizing repository.                               | Optional |
-| `days-before-stale`         | Idle number of days before marking an issue/pr as stale. _Defaults to **60**_        | Optional |
-| `days-before-issue-stale`   | Idle number of days before marking an issue as stale (override `days-before-stale`). | Optional |
-| `days-before-pr-stale`      | Idle number of days before marking an pr as stale (override `days-before-stale`).    | Optional |
-| `days-before-close`         | Idle number of days before closing an stale issue/pr. _Defaults to **7**_            | Optional |
-| `days-before-issue-close`   | Idle number of days before closing an stale issue (override `days-before-close`).    | Optional |
-| `days-before-pr-close`      | Idle number of days before closing an stale pr (override `days-before-close`).       | Optional |
-| `stale-issue-message`       | Message to post on the stale issue.                                                  | Optional |
-| `stale-pr-message`          | Message to post on the stale pr.                                                     | Optional |
-| `close-issue-message`       | Message to post on the stale issue while closing it.                                 | Optional |
-| `close-pr-message`          | Message to post on the stale pr while closing it.                                    | Optional |
-| `stale-issue-label`         | Label to apply on the stale issue. _Defaults to **stale**_                           | Optional |
-| `close-issue-label`         | Label to apply on closing issue.                                                     | Optional |
-| `stale-pr-label`            | Label to apply on the stale pr.                                                      | Optional |
-| `close-pr-label`            | Label to apply on the closing pr.                                                    | Optional |
-| `exempt-issue-labels`       | Labels on an issue exempted from being marked as stale.                              | Optional |
-| `exempt-pr-labels`          | Labels on the pr exempted from being marked as stale.                                | Optional |
-| `only-labels`               | Only labels checked for stale issue/pr.                                              | Optional |
-| `operations-per-run`        | Maximum number of operations per run. _Defaults to **30**_                           | Optional |
-| `remove-stale-when-updated` | Remove stale label from issue/pr on updates or comments. _Defaults to **true**_      | Optional |
-| `debug-only`                | Dry-run on action. _Defaults to **false**_                                           | Optional |
-| `ascending`                 | Order to get issues/pr. _Defaults to **false**_                                      | Optional |
-| `skip-stale-issue-message`  | Skip adding stale message on stale issue. _Defaults to **false**_                    | Optional |
-| `skip-stale-pr-message`     | Skip adding stale message on stale pr. _Defaults to **false**_                       | Optional |
+| Input                       | Description                                                                                  | Usage    |
+| --------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------- |
+| `repo-token`                | PAT(Personal Access Token) for authorizing repository. _Defaults to **${{ github.token }}**_ | Optional |
+| `days-before-stale`         | Idle number of days before marking an issue/pr as stale. _Defaults to **60**_                | Optional |
+| `days-before-issue-stale`   | Idle number of days before marking an issue as stale (override `days-before-stale`).         | Optional |
+| `days-before-pr-stale`      | Idle number of days before marking an pr as stale (override `days-before-stale`).            | Optional |
+| `days-before-close`         | Idle number of days before closing an stale issue/pr. _Defaults to **7**_                    | Optional |
+| `days-before-issue-close`   | Idle number of days before closing an stale issue (override `days-before-close`).            | Optional |
+| `days-before-pr-close`      | Idle number of days before closing an stale pr (override `days-before-close`).               | Optional |
+| `stale-issue-message`       | Message to post on the stale issue.                                                          | Optional |
+| `stale-pr-message`          | Message to post on the stale pr.                                                             | Optional |
+| `close-issue-message`       | Message to post on the stale issue while closing it.                                         | Optional |
+| `close-pr-message`          | Message to post on the stale pr while closing it.                                            | Optional |
+| `stale-issue-label`         | Label to apply on the stale issue. _Defaults to **stale**_                                   | Optional |
+| `close-issue-label`         | Label to apply on closing issue.                                                             | Optional |
+| `stale-pr-label`            | Label to apply on the stale pr.                                                              | Optional |
+| `close-pr-label`            | Label to apply on the closing pr.                                                            | Optional |
+| `exempt-issue-labels`       | Labels on an issue exempted from being marked as stale.                                      | Optional |
+| `exempt-pr-labels`          | Labels on the pr exempted from being marked as stale.                                        | Optional |
+| `only-labels`               | Only labels checked for stale issue/pr.                                                      | Optional |
+| `operations-per-run`        | Maximum number of operations per run (GitHub API CRUD related). _Defaults to **30**_         | Optional |
+| `remove-stale-when-updated` | Remove stale label from issue/pr on updates or comments. _Defaults to **true**_              | Optional |
+| `debug-only`                | Dry-run on action. _Defaults to **false**_                                                   | Optional |
+| `ascending`                 | Order to get issues/pr. _Defaults to **false**_                                              | Optional |
+| `skip-stale-issue-message`  | Skip adding stale message on stale issue. _Defaults to **false**_                            | Optional |
+| `skip-stale-pr-message`     | Skip adding stale message on stale pr. _Defaults to **false**_                               | Optional |
+| `start-date`                | The date used to skip the stale action on issue/pr created before it (ISO 8601 or RFC 2822). | Optional |
 
 ### Usage
 
@@ -163,6 +164,23 @@ jobs:
           only-labels: 'awaiting-feedback,awaiting-answers'
 ```
 
+Configure the stale action to only stale issue/pr created after the 18th april 2020:
+
+```yaml
+name: 'Close stale issues and PRs'
+on:
+  schedule:
+    - cron: '30 1 * * *'
+
+jobs:
+  stale:
+    runs-on: ubuntu-latest
+    steps:
+      - uses: actions/stale@v3
+        with:
+          start-date: '2020-18-04T00:00:00Z' // ISO 8601 or RFC 2822
+```
+
 ### Debugging
 
 To see debug output from this action, you must set the secret `ACTIONS_STEP_DEBUG` to `true` in your repository. You can run this action in debug only mode (no actions will be taken on your issues) by passing `debug-only` `true` as an argument to the action.
diff --git a/__tests__/main.test.ts b/__tests__/main.test.ts
index ee388b6f..55bdb163 100644
--- a/__tests__/main.test.ts
+++ b/__tests__/main.test.ts
@@ -1,15 +1,16 @@
 import * as github from '@actions/github';
-
 import {
   Issue,
   IssueProcessor,
   IssueProcessorOptions
 } from '../src/IssueProcessor';
+import {IsoDateString} from '../src/types/iso-date-string';
 
 function generateIssue(
   id: number,
   title: string,
-  updatedAt: string,
+  updatedAt: IsoDateString,
+  createdAt: IsoDateString = updatedAt,
   isPullRequest: boolean = false,
   labels: string[] = [],
   isClosed: boolean = false,
@@ -21,6 +22,7 @@ function generateIssue(
       return {name: l};
     }),
     title: title,
+    created_at: createdAt,
     updated_at: updatedAt,
     pull_request: isPullRequest ? {} : null,
     state: isClosed ? 'closed' : 'open',
@@ -53,7 +55,8 @@ const DefaultProcessorOptions: IssueProcessorOptions = Object.freeze({
   ascending: false,
   skipStaleIssueMessage: false,
   skipStalePrMessage: false,
-  deleteBranch: false
+  deleteBranch: false,
+  startDate: ''
 });
 
 test('empty issue list results in 1 operation', async () => {
@@ -97,6 +100,254 @@ test('processing an issue with no label will make it stale and close it, if it i
   expect(processor.closedIssues.length).toEqual(1);
 });
 
+test('processing an issue with no label and a start date as ECMAScript epoch in seconds being before the issue creation date will not make it stale nor close it when it is old enough and days-before-close is set to 0', async () => {
+  expect.assertions(2);
+  const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z'
+    )
+  ];
+  const january2000 = 946681200000;
+  const opts: IssueProcessorOptions = {
+    ...DefaultProcessorOptions,
+    daysBeforeClose: 0,
+    startDate: january2000.toString()
+  };
+  const processor = new IssueProcessor(
+    opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
+    async (num, dt) => [],
+    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+  );
+
+  // process our fake issue list
+  await processor.processIssues(1);
+
+  expect(processor.staleIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+  expect(processor.closedIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+});
+
+test('processing an issue with no label and a start date as ECMAScript epoch in seconds being after the issue creation date will not make it stale nor close it when it is old enough and days-before-close is set to 0', async () => {
+  expect.assertions(2);
+  const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z'
+    )
+  ];
+  const january2021 = 1609455600000;
+  const opts: IssueProcessorOptions = {
+    ...DefaultProcessorOptions,
+    daysBeforeClose: 0,
+    startDate: january2021.toString()
+  };
+  const processor = new IssueProcessor(
+    opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
+    async (num, dt) => [],
+    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+  );
+
+  // process our fake issue list
+  await processor.processIssues(1);
+
+  expect(processor.staleIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+  expect(processor.closedIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+});
+
+test('processing an issue with no label and a start date as ECMAScript epoch in milliseconds being before the issue creation date will not make it stale nor close it when it is old enough and days-before-close is set to 0', async () => {
+  expect.assertions(2);
+  const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z'
+    )
+  ];
+  const january2000 = 946681200000000;
+  const opts: IssueProcessorOptions = {
+    ...DefaultProcessorOptions,
+    daysBeforeClose: 0,
+    startDate: january2000.toString()
+  };
+  const processor = new IssueProcessor(
+    opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
+    async (num, dt) => [],
+    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+  );
+
+  // process our fake issue list
+  await processor.processIssues(1);
+
+  expect(processor.staleIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+  expect(processor.closedIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+});
+
+test('processing an issue with no label and a start date as ECMAScript epoch in milliseconds being after the issue creation date will not make it stale nor close it when it is old enough and days-before-close is set to 0', async () => {
+  expect.assertions(2);
+  const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z'
+    )
+  ];
+  const january2021 = 1609455600000;
+  const opts: IssueProcessorOptions = {
+    ...DefaultProcessorOptions,
+    daysBeforeClose: 0,
+    startDate: january2021.toString()
+  };
+  const processor = new IssueProcessor(
+    opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
+    async (num, dt) => [],
+    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+  );
+
+  // process our fake issue list
+  await processor.processIssues(1);
+
+  expect(processor.staleIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+  expect(processor.closedIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+});
+
+test('processing an issue with no label and a start date as ISO 8601 being before the issue creation date will make it stale and close it when it is old enough and days-before-close is set to 0', async () => {
+  expect.assertions(2);
+  const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z'
+    )
+  ];
+  const january2000 = '2000-01-01T00:00:00Z';
+  const opts: IssueProcessorOptions = {
+    ...DefaultProcessorOptions,
+    daysBeforeClose: 0,
+    startDate: january2000.toString()
+  };
+  const processor = new IssueProcessor(
+    opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
+    async (num, dt) => [],
+    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+  );
+
+  // process our fake issue list
+  await processor.processIssues(1);
+
+  expect(processor.staleIssues.length).toStrictEqual(1);
+  expect(processor.closedIssues.length).toStrictEqual(1);
+});
+
+test('processing an issue with no label and a start date as ISO 8601 being after the issue creation date will not make it stale nor close it when it is old enough and days-before-close is set to 0', async () => {
+  expect.assertions(2);
+  const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z'
+    )
+  ];
+  const january2021 = '2021-01-01T00:00:00Z';
+  const opts: IssueProcessorOptions = {
+    ...DefaultProcessorOptions,
+    daysBeforeClose: 0,
+    startDate: january2021.toString()
+  };
+  const processor = new IssueProcessor(
+    opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
+    async (num, dt) => [],
+    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+  );
+
+  // process our fake issue list
+  await processor.processIssues(1);
+
+  expect(processor.staleIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+  expect(processor.closedIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+});
+
+test('processing an issue with no label and a start date as RFC 2822 being before the issue creation date will make it stale and close it when it is old enough and days-before-close is set to 0', async () => {
+  expect.assertions(2);
+  const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z'
+    )
+  ];
+  const january2000 = 'January 1, 2000 00:00:00';
+  const opts: IssueProcessorOptions = {
+    ...DefaultProcessorOptions,
+    daysBeforeClose: 0,
+    startDate: january2000.toString()
+  };
+  const processor = new IssueProcessor(
+    opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
+    async (num, dt) => [],
+    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+  );
+
+  // process our fake issue list
+  await processor.processIssues(1);
+
+  expect(processor.staleIssues.length).toStrictEqual(1);
+  expect(processor.closedIssues.length).toStrictEqual(1);
+});
+
+test('processing an issue with no label and a start date as RFC 2822 being after the issue creation date will not make it stale nor close it when it is old enough and days-before-close is set to 0', async () => {
+  expect.assertions(2);
+  const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z'
+    )
+  ];
+  const january2021 = 'January 1, 2021 00:00:00';
+  const opts: IssueProcessorOptions = {
+    ...DefaultProcessorOptions,
+    daysBeforeClose: 0,
+    startDate: january2021.toString()
+  };
+  const processor = new IssueProcessor(
+    opts,
+    async () => 'abot',
+    async p => (p == 1 ? TestIssueList : []),
+    async (num, dt) => [],
+    async (issue, label) => new Date().toDateString()
+  );
+
+  // process our fake issue list
+  await processor.processIssues(1);
+
+  expect(processor.staleIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+  expect(processor.closedIssues.length).toStrictEqual(0);
+});
+
 test('processing an issue with no label will make it stale and close it, if it is old enough only if days-before-close is set to > 0 and days-before-issue-close is set to 0', async () => {
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
     generateIssue(1, 'An issue with no label', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z')
@@ -285,6 +536,7 @@ test('processing a stale issue will close it', async () => {
       1,
       'A stale issue that should be closed',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       ['Stale']
     )
@@ -316,6 +568,7 @@ test('processing a stale issue containing a space in the label will close it', a
       1,
       'A stale issue that should be closed',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       ['state: stale']
     )
@@ -347,6 +600,7 @@ test('processing a stale issue containing a slash in the label will close it', a
       1,
       'A stale issue that should be closed',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       ['lifecycle/stale']
     )
@@ -378,6 +632,7 @@ test('processing a stale issue will close it when days-before-issue-stale overri
       1,
       'A stale issue that should be closed',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       ['Stale']
     )
@@ -410,6 +665,7 @@ test('processing a stale PR will close it', async () => {
       1,
       'A stale PR that should be closed',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       true,
       ['Stale']
     )
@@ -441,6 +697,7 @@ test('processing a stale PR will close it when days-before-pr-stale override day
       1,
       'A stale PR that should be closed',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       true,
       ['Stale']
     )
@@ -469,9 +726,14 @@ test('processing a stale PR will close it when days-before-pr-stale override day
 
 test('processing a stale issue will close it even if configured not to mark as stale', async () => {
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'An issue with no label', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false, [
-      'Stale'
-    ])
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false,
+      ['Stale']
+    )
   ];
 
   const opts = {
@@ -497,9 +759,14 @@ test('processing a stale issue will close it even if configured not to mark as s
 
 test('processing a stale issue will close it even if configured not to mark as stale when days-before-issue-stale override days-before-stale', async () => {
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'An issue with no label', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false, [
-      'Stale'
-    ])
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false,
+      ['Stale']
+    )
   ];
 
   const opts = {
@@ -526,9 +793,14 @@ test('processing a stale issue will close it even if configured not to mark as s
 
 test('processing a stale PR will close it even if configured not to mark as stale', async () => {
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'An issue with no label', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', true, [
-      'Stale'
-    ])
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      true,
+      ['Stale']
+    )
   ];
 
   const opts = {
@@ -554,9 +826,14 @@ test('processing a stale PR will close it even if configured not to mark as stal
 
 test('processing a stale PR will close it even if configured not to mark as stale when days-before-pr-stale override days-before-stale', async () => {
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'An issue with no label', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', true, [
-      'Stale'
-    ])
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'An issue with no label',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      true,
+      ['Stale']
+    )
   ];
 
   const opts = {
@@ -587,6 +864,7 @@ test('closed issues will not be marked stale', async () => {
       1,
       'A closed issue that will not be marked',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       [],
       true
@@ -613,6 +891,7 @@ test('stale closed issues will not be closed', async () => {
       1,
       'A stale closed issue',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       ['Stale'],
       true
@@ -640,6 +919,7 @@ test('closed prs will not be marked stale', async () => {
       1,
       'A closed PR that will not be marked',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       true,
       [],
       true
@@ -667,6 +947,7 @@ test('stale closed prs will not be closed', async () => {
       1,
       'A stale closed PR that will not be closed again',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       true,
       ['Stale'],
       true
@@ -694,6 +975,7 @@ test('locked issues will not be marked stale', async () => {
       1,
       'A locked issue that will not be stale',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       [],
       false,
@@ -720,6 +1002,7 @@ test('stale locked issues will not be closed', async () => {
       1,
       'A stale locked issue that will not be closed',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       ['Stale'],
       false,
@@ -748,6 +1031,7 @@ test('locked prs will not be marked stale', async () => {
       1,
       'A locked PR that will not be marked stale',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       true,
       [],
       false,
@@ -774,6 +1058,7 @@ test('stale locked prs will not be closed', async () => {
       1,
       'A stale locked PR that will not be closed',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       true,
       ['Stale'],
       false,
@@ -799,9 +1084,14 @@ test('stale locked prs will not be closed', async () => {
 test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale', async () => {
   expect.assertions(3);
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'My first issue', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false, [
-      'Exempt'
-    ])
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'My first issue',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false,
+      ['Exempt']
+    )
   ];
 
   const opts = {...DefaultProcessorOptions};
@@ -825,7 +1115,14 @@ test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale', async () => {
 
 test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale (multi issue label with spaces)', async () => {
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'My first issue', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false, ['Cool'])
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'My first issue',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false,
+      ['Cool']
+    )
   ];
 
   const opts = {...DefaultProcessorOptions};
@@ -848,7 +1145,14 @@ test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale (multi issue label with space
 
 test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale (multi issue label)', async () => {
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'My first issue', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false, ['Cool'])
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'My first issue',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false,
+      ['Cool']
+    )
   ];
 
   const opts = {...DefaultProcessorOptions};
@@ -872,9 +1176,29 @@ test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale (multi issue label)', async (
 
 test('exempt pr labels will not be marked stale', async () => {
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'My first issue', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false, ['Cool']),
-    generateIssue(2, 'My first PR', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', true, ['Cool']),
-    generateIssue(3, 'Another issue', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false)
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'My first issue',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false,
+      ['Cool']
+    ),
+    generateIssue(
+      2,
+      'My first PR',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      true,
+      ['Cool']
+    ),
+    generateIssue(
+      3,
+      'Another issue',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false
+    )
   ];
 
   const opts = {...DefaultProcessorOptions};
@@ -896,17 +1220,18 @@ test('exempt pr labels will not be marked stale', async () => {
 
 test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale and will remove the existing stale label', async () => {
   expect.assertions(3);
-
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'My first issue', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false, [
-      'Exempt',
-      'Stale'
-    ])
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'My first issue',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false,
+      ['Exempt', 'Stale']
+    )
   ];
-
   const opts = {...DefaultProcessorOptions};
   opts.exemptIssueLabels = 'Exempt';
-
   const processor = new IssueProcessor(
     opts,
     async () => 'abot',
@@ -932,11 +1257,30 @@ test('exempt issue labels will not be marked stale and will remove the existing
 
 test('stale issues should not be closed if days is set to -1', async () => {
   const TestIssueList: Issue[] = [
-    generateIssue(1, 'My first issue', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false, [
-      'Stale'
-    ]),
-    generateIssue(2, 'My first PR', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', true, ['Stale']),
-    generateIssue(3, 'Another issue', '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z', false, ['Stale'])
+    generateIssue(
+      1,
+      'My first issue',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false,
+      ['Stale']
+    ),
+    generateIssue(
+      2,
+      'My first PR',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      true,
+      ['Stale']
+    ),
+    generateIssue(
+      3,
+      'Another issue',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      false,
+      ['Stale']
+    )
   ];
 
   const opts = {...DefaultProcessorOptions};
@@ -963,6 +1307,7 @@ test('stale label should be removed if a comment was added to a stale issue', as
       1,
       'An issue that should un-stale',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       ['Stale']
     )
@@ -1001,6 +1346,7 @@ test('stale label should not be removed if a comment was added by the bot (and t
       1,
       'An issue that should stay stale',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       ['Stale']
     )
@@ -1038,6 +1384,7 @@ test('stale label containing a space should be removed if a comment was added to
       1,
       'An issue that should un-stale',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       false,
       ['stat: stale']
     )
@@ -1073,6 +1420,7 @@ test('stale issues should not be closed until after the closed number of days',
       1,
       'An issue that should be marked stale but not closed',
       lastUpdate.toString(),
+      lastUpdate.toString(),
       false
     )
   ];
@@ -1105,6 +1453,7 @@ test('stale issues should be closed if the closed nubmer of days (additive) is a
       1,
       'An issue that should be stale and closed',
       lastUpdate.toString(),
+      lastUpdate.toString(),
       false,
       ['Stale']
     )
@@ -1138,6 +1487,7 @@ test('stale issues should not be closed until after the closed number of days (l
       1,
       'An issue that should be marked stale but not closed',
       lastUpdate.toString(),
+      lastUpdate.toString(),
       false
     )
   ];
@@ -1170,6 +1520,7 @@ test('skips stale message on issues when skip-stale-issue-message is set', async
       1,
       'An issue that should be marked stale but not closed',
       lastUpdate.toString(),
+      lastUpdate.toString(),
       false
     )
   ];
@@ -1215,6 +1566,7 @@ test('skips stale message on prs when skip-stale-pr-message is set', async () =>
       1,
       'An issue that should be marked stale but not closed',
       lastUpdate.toString(),
+      lastUpdate.toString(),
       true
     )
   ];
@@ -1260,6 +1612,7 @@ test('not providing state takes precedence over skipStaleIssueMessage', async ()
       1,
       'An issue that should be marked stale but not closed',
       lastUpdate.toString(),
+      lastUpdate.toString(),
       false
     )
   ];
@@ -1294,6 +1647,7 @@ test('not providing stalePrMessage takes precedence over skipStalePrMessage', as
       1,
       'An issue that should be marked stale but not closed',
       lastUpdate.toString(),
+      lastUpdate.toString(),
       true
     )
   ];
@@ -1328,6 +1682,7 @@ test('git branch is deleted when option is enabled', async () => {
       1,
       'An issue that should have its branch deleted',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       isPullRequest,
       ['Stale']
     )
@@ -1357,6 +1712,7 @@ test('git branch is not deleted when issue is not pull request', async () => {
       1,
       'An issue that should not have its branch deleted',
       '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
+      '2020-01-01T17:00:00Z',
       isPullRequest,
       ['Stale']
     )
diff --git a/action.yml b/action.yml
index 6fd70549..1c90b619 100644
--- a/action.yml
+++ b/action.yml
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ author: 'GitHub'
 inputs:
   repo-token:
     description: 'Token for the repository. Can be passed in using `{{ secrets.GITHUB_TOKEN }}`.'
+    required: false
     default: ${{ github.token }}
   stale-issue-message:
     description: 'The message to post on the issue when tagging it. If none provided, will not mark issues stale.'
@@ -64,7 +65,7 @@ inputs:
     default: ''
     required: false
   operations-per-run:
-    description: 'The maximum number of operations per run, used to control rate limiting.'
+    description: 'The maximum number of operations per run, used to control rate limiting (GitHub API CRUD related).'
     default: '30'
     required: false
   remove-stale-when-updated:
@@ -91,6 +92,10 @@ inputs:
     description: 'Delete the git branch after closing a stale pull request.'
     default: 'false'
     required: false
+  start-date:
+    description: 'The date used to skip the stale action on issue/pr created before it (ISO 8601 or RFC 2822).'
+    default: ''
+    required: false
 runs:
   using: 'node12'
   main: 'dist/index.js'
diff --git a/src/IssueProcessor.ts b/src/IssueProcessor.ts
index 2d110679..e8a3a0e2 100644
--- a/src/IssueProcessor.ts
+++ b/src/IssueProcessor.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,10 @@
 import {context, getOctokit} from '@actions/github';
 import {GitHub} from '@actions/github/lib/utils';
 import {GetResponseTypeFromEndpointMethod} from '@octokit/types';
-import {IssueType} from './enums/issue-type.enum';
+import {IssueType} from './enums/issue-type';
+import {getHumanizedDate} from './functions/dates/get-humanized-date';
+import {isDateMoreRecentThan} from './functions/dates/is-date-more-recent-than';
+import {isValidDate} from './functions/dates/is-valid-date';
 import {getIssueType} from './functions/get-issue-type';
 import {IssueLogger} from './classes/issue-logger';
 import {Logger} from './classes/logger';
@@ -9,11 +12,14 @@ import {isLabeled} from './functions/is-labeled';
 import {isPullRequest} from './functions/is-pull-request';
 import {labelsToList} from './functions/labels-to-list';
 import {shouldMarkWhenStale} from './functions/should-mark-when-stale';
+import {IsoDateString} from './types/iso-date-string';
+import {IsoOrRfcDateString} from './types/iso-or-rfc-date-string';
 
 export interface Issue {
   title: string;
   number: number;
-  updated_at: string;
+  created_at: IsoDateString;
+  updated_at: IsoDateString;
   labels: Label[];
   pull_request: any;
   state: string;
@@ -72,6 +78,7 @@ export interface IssueProcessorOptions {
   skipStaleIssueMessage: boolean;
   skipStalePrMessage: boolean;
   deleteBranch: boolean;
+  startDate: IsoOrRfcDateString | undefined; // Should be ISO 8601 or RFC 2822
 }
 
 const logger: Logger = new Logger();
@@ -204,6 +211,39 @@ export class IssueProcessor {
         continue; // don't process locked issues
       }
 
+      if (this.options.startDate) {
+        const startDate: Date = new Date(this.options.startDate);
+        const createdAt: Date = new Date(issue.created_at);
+
+        issueLogger.info(
+          `A start date was specified for the ${getHumanizedDate(startDate)} (${
+            this.options.startDate
+          })`
+        );
+
+        // Expecting that GitHub will always set a creation date on the issues and PRs
+        // But you never know!
+        if (!isValidDate(createdAt)) {
+          throw new Error(
+            `Invalid issue field: "created_at". Expected a valid date`
+          );
+        }
+
+        issueLogger.info(
+          `Issue created the ${getHumanizedDate(createdAt)} (${
+            issue.created_at
+          })`
+        );
+
+        if (!isDateMoreRecentThan(createdAt, startDate)) {
+          issueLogger.info(
+            `Skipping ${issueType} because it was created before the specified start date`
+          );
+
+          continue; // don't process issues which were created before the start date
+        }
+      }
+
       // Does this issue have a stale label?
       let isStale: boolean = isLabeled(issue, staleLabel);
 
diff --git a/src/enums/issue-type.enum.ts b/src/enums/issue-type.ts
similarity index 100%
rename from src/enums/issue-type.enum.ts
rename to src/enums/issue-type.ts
diff --git a/src/functions/dates/get-humanized-date.spec.ts b/src/functions/dates/get-humanized-date.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..610772e0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functions/dates/get-humanized-date.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,33 @@
+import {getHumanizedDate} from './get-humanized-date';
+
+describe('getHumanizedDate()', (): void => {
+  let date: Date;
+
+  describe('when the given date is the 1st of april 2020', (): void => {
+    beforeEach((): void => {
+      date = new Date(2020, 3, 1);
+    });
+
+    it('should return the date formatted as DD-MM-YYYY', (): void => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      const result = getHumanizedDate(date);
+
+      expect(result).toStrictEqual('01-04-2020');
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the given date is the 18st of december 2020', (): void => {
+    beforeEach((): void => {
+      date = new Date(2020, 11, 18);
+    });
+
+    it('should return the date formatted as DD-MM-YYYY', (): void => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      const result = getHumanizedDate(date);
+
+      expect(result).toStrictEqual('18-12-2020');
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/functions/dates/get-humanized-date.ts b/src/functions/dates/get-humanized-date.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a084758c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functions/dates/get-humanized-date.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+import {HumanizedDate} from '../../types/humanized-date';
+
+export function getHumanizedDate(date: Readonly<Date>): HumanizedDate {
+  const year: number = date.getFullYear();
+  let month = `${date.getMonth() + 1}`;
+  let day = `${date.getDate()}`;
+
+  if (month.length < 2) {
+    month = `0${month}`;
+  }
+
+  if (day.length < 2) {
+    day = `0${day}`;
+  }
+
+  return [day, month, year].join('-');
+}
diff --git a/src/functions/dates/is-date-more-recent-than.spec.ts b/src/functions/dates/is-date-more-recent-than.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f564cf61
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functions/dates/is-date-more-recent-than.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,51 @@
+import {isDateMoreRecentThan} from './is-date-more-recent-than';
+
+describe('isDateMoreRecentThan()', (): void => {
+  let date: Date;
+  let comparedDate: Date;
+
+  describe('when the given date is older than the compared date', (): void => {
+    beforeEach((): void => {
+      date = new Date(2020, 0, 20);
+      comparedDate = new Date(2021, 0, 20);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false', (): void => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      const result = isDateMoreRecentThan(date, comparedDate);
+
+      expect(result).toStrictEqual(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the given date is equal to the compared date', (): void => {
+    beforeEach((): void => {
+      date = new Date(2020, 0, 20);
+      comparedDate = new Date(2020, 0, 20);
+    });
+
+    it('should return false', (): void => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      const result = isDateMoreRecentThan(date, comparedDate);
+
+      expect(result).toStrictEqual(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the given date is more recent than the compared date', (): void => {
+    beforeEach((): void => {
+      date = new Date(2021, 0, 20);
+      comparedDate = new Date(2020, 0, 20);
+    });
+
+    it('should return true', (): void => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      const result = isDateMoreRecentThan(date, comparedDate);
+
+      expect(result).toStrictEqual(true);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/functions/dates/is-date-more-recent-than.ts b/src/functions/dates/is-date-more-recent-than.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..482c9db8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functions/dates/is-date-more-recent-than.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+export function isDateMoreRecentThan(
+  date: Readonly<Date>,
+  comparedDate: Readonly<Date>
+): boolean {
+  return date > comparedDate;
+}
diff --git a/src/functions/dates/is-valid-date.spec.ts b/src/functions/dates/is-valid-date.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..c2437f24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functions/dates/is-valid-date.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,61 @@
+import {isValidDate} from './is-valid-date';
+
+describe('isValidDate()', (): void => {
+  let date: Date;
+
+  describe('when the given date is an invalid date', (): void => {
+    beforeEach((): void => {
+      date = new Date('16-04-1994');
+    });
+
+    it('should return false', (): void => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      const result = isValidDate(date);
+
+      expect(result).toStrictEqual(false);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the given date is a new date', (): void => {
+    beforeEach((): void => {
+      date = new Date();
+    });
+
+    it('should return true', (): void => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      const result = isValidDate(date);
+
+      expect(result).toStrictEqual(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the given date is an ISO and valid date', (): void => {
+    beforeEach((): void => {
+      date = new Date('2011-04-22T13:33:48Z');
+    });
+
+    it('should return true', (): void => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      const result = isValidDate(date);
+
+      expect(result).toStrictEqual(true);
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('when the given date is an ISO with ms and valid date', (): void => {
+    beforeEach((): void => {
+      date = new Date('2011-10-05T14:48:00.000Z');
+    });
+
+    it('should return true', (): void => {
+      expect.assertions(1);
+
+      const result = isValidDate(date);
+
+      expect(result).toStrictEqual(true);
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/src/functions/dates/is-valid-date.ts b/src/functions/dates/is-valid-date.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..863b8864
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/functions/dates/is-valid-date.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+/**
+ * @description
+ * Check if a date is valid
+ *
+ * @see
+ * https://stackoverflow.com/a/1353711/4440414
+ *
+ * @param {Readonly<Date>} date The date to check
+ *
+ * @returns {boolean} true when the given date is valid
+ */
+export function isValidDate(date: Readonly<Date>): boolean {
+  if (Object.prototype.toString.call(date) === '[object Date]') {
+    return !isNaN(date.getTime());
+  }
+
+  return false;
+}
diff --git a/src/functions/get-issue-type.ts b/src/functions/get-issue-type.ts
index 86830a4b..d3603286 100644
--- a/src/functions/get-issue-type.ts
+++ b/src/functions/get-issue-type.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import {IssueType} from '../enums/issue-type.enum';
+import {IssueType} from '../enums/issue-type';
 
 export function getIssueType(isPullRequest: Readonly<boolean>): IssueType {
   return isPullRequest ? IssueType.PullRequest : IssueType.Issue;
diff --git a/src/functions/is-labeled.ts b/src/functions/is-labeled.ts
index 5ad332a7..75111754 100644
--- a/src/functions/is-labeled.ts
+++ b/src/functions/is-labeled.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 import deburr from 'lodash.deburr';
 import {Issue, Label} from '../IssueProcessor';
-
-type CleanLabel = string;
+import {CleanLabel} from '../types/clean-label';
 
 /**
  * @description
diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index dfc99a6e..2e44657d 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as core from '@actions/core';
+import {isValidDate} from './functions/dates/is-valid-date';
 import {IssueProcessor, IssueProcessorOptions} from './IssueProcessor';
 
 async function run(): Promise<void> {
@@ -14,7 +15,7 @@ async function run(): Promise<void> {
 }
 
 function getAndValidateArgs(): IssueProcessorOptions {
-  const args = {
+  const args: IssueProcessorOptions = {
     repoToken: core.getInput('repo-token'),
     staleIssueMessage: core.getInput('stale-issue-message'),
     stalePrMessage: core.getInput('stale-pr-message'),
@@ -47,7 +48,11 @@ function getAndValidateArgs(): IssueProcessorOptions {
     ascending: core.getInput('ascending') === 'true',
     skipStalePrMessage: core.getInput('skip-stale-pr-message') === 'true',
     skipStaleIssueMessage: core.getInput('skip-stale-issue-message') === 'true',
-    deleteBranch: core.getInput('delete-branch') === 'true'
+    deleteBranch: core.getInput('delete-branch') === 'true',
+    startDate:
+      core.getInput('start-date') !== ''
+        ? core.getInput('start-date')
+        : undefined
   };
 
   for (const numberInput of [
@@ -64,6 +69,17 @@ function getAndValidateArgs(): IssueProcessorOptions {
     }
   }
 
+  for (const optionalDateInput of ['start-date']) {
+    // Ignore empty dates because it is considered as the right type for a default value (so a valid one)
+    if (core.getInput(optionalDateInput) !== '') {
+      if (!isValidDate(new Date(core.getInput(optionalDateInput)))) {
+        throw new Error(
+          `input ${optionalDateInput} did not parse to a valid date`
+        );
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   return args;
 }
 
diff --git a/src/types/clean-label.ts b/src/types/clean-label.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..339a978b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/types/clean-label.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export type CleanLabel = string;
diff --git a/src/types/humanized-date.ts b/src/types/humanized-date.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3866556d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/types/humanized-date.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export type HumanizedDate = string;
diff --git a/src/types/iso-date-string.ts b/src/types/iso-date-string.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8fb000ce
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/types/iso-date-string.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export type IsoDateString = string;
diff --git a/src/types/iso-or-rfc-date-string.ts b/src/types/iso-or-rfc-date-string.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..d74eaae4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/types/iso-or-rfc-date-string.ts
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+export type IsoOrRfcDateString = string;