Beef will keep in the freezer for up to a year before it gets less fresh.
I've had beef keep in the freezer for 3 years and it was okay and safe to eat but it just was not as fresh.
Although the beef is okay to eat and makes great beef for stews, Chili etc which the change in taste is not as noticeable.
If you freeze beef it's best to eat the beef within 6 months to 12 months because the longer the beef remains in the freezer the less fresh it becomes.
After thawing the beef out the beef will last in the fridge after thawing for around 3 to 4 days.
If you want to keep the raw beef longer than 4 days it should be frozen because the refrigerator does not keep the thawed raw beef cold enough to prevent the growth of bacteria.
If the raw beef has been in the refrigerator longer than 4 days then it should be thrown out even if it smells okay as bacteria can grow in the beef.
Also smell the beef and look for a change in color or check for a slimy feeling of the raw beef.
If the raw beef smells bad, changes drastically in color or has a slimy feeling to it then it's bad and should be thrown out.
Always keep beef frozen if you are not using the beef or eating the beef within 3 to 4 days to keep bacteria from growing on it.