Do I have to file taxes? Here’s how to figure out if you should file a tax return
Taxes generally have to be filed by April 15 every year, but if your income doesn’t meet certain thresholds, you may be able to avoid what can be an onerous task for many Americans.
Once you reach a certain income level, the law usually requires you to file taxes. For most taxpayers, that income level is equal to the standard deduction amount for their filing status.
For context: On a federal tax return, you can claim the standard deduction, and that dollar amount reduces how much of your income is subject to tax. If your income is lower than the standard deduction for your age and filing status, then generally you don’t need to file a tax return.
However, there are exceptions, including people who file their taxes as married filing separately — they must file a federal tax return if their income is $5 or more. People who are dependents also face different tax-filing rules. See our tables below for the income threshold for each filing status. Also, if you’ve got self-employment earnings from a side hustle, freelance work or a small business, the income threshold is different. More on that below.
Even if you’re not required to file, there are good reasons to go ahead and do it anyway. For example, if you might qualify for a refundable tax credit — such as the earned income tax credit or the child tax credit — that can put money in your pocket even if you don’t owe any taxes.
Another reason to go ahead and file: If you had any money withheld from your paycheck, there’s a chance you overpaid your taxes and are due a tax refund.
How much do you have to make to file taxes?
If your gross income in 2024 is above the thresholds below for your age and filing status, you’re required to file a federal tax return in 2025.
2024 income thresholds for filing a tax return (returns filed in 2025)
| Filing status | Younger than 65 | 65 or older |
|---|---|---|
| Single | $14,600 | $16,550 |
| Head of household | $21,900 | $23,850 |
| Married filing jointly | $29,200 (both spouses under 65) | $30,750 (one spouse over 65) $32,300 (both spouses over 65) |
| Qualifying surviving spouse | $29,200 | $30,750 |
| Married filing separately | $5 | $5 |
2024 income thresholds for dependents who are single (returns filed in 2025)
| Younger than 65 | 65 or older | 65 or older, and blind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your unearned income was above … | $1,300 | $3,250 | $5,200 |
| Or your earned income was above … | $14,600 | $16,550 | $18,500 |
| Or your gross income was more than the larger of … | $1,300, or your earned income (up to $14,150) + $450 | $3,250, or your earned income (up to $14,150) + $2,400 | $5,200, or your earned income (up to $14,150) + $4,350 |
2024 income thresholds for dependents who are married (returns filed in 2025)
| Younger than 65 | 65 or older | 65 or older, and blind | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Your unearned income was above … | $1,300 | $2,850 | $4,400 |
| Your earned income was above … | $14,600 | $16,150 | $17,700 |
| Or your gross income was more than the larger of … | $1,300, or your earned income (up to $14,150) + $450 | $2,850, or your earned income (up to $14,150) + $2,000 | $4,400, or your earned income (up to $14,150) + $3,550 |
| Or your gross income was at least … and your spouse files a separate return and itemizes deductions | $5 | $5 | $5 |
Each year, the IRS adjusts the above income thresholds to account for inflation. (See the IRS’s 2023 income thresholds.)
IRS rules regarding your age
As the tables above indicate, people with income above specified levels must file a federal tax return, and the amounts vary by age (the threshold amounts are higher for people 65 and older).
In most situations, your age for tax purposes depends on how old you were on the last day of the year. But when it comes to determining whether you have to file a return, the IRS says that if you turned 65 on New Year’s Day, you are considered 65 at the end of the previous tax year. The one-day grace period allows you to use the higher income thresholds to determine whether you must file a tax return.
State tax filing rules
In addition to a federal tax return, you may be required to file a state tax return. Currently, nine states don’t tax income (two of those states do tax investment income). You can find out if you’re required to file a state income tax return by going to your state’s revenue, finance or taxation office website.
Tax filing rules if you’re a dependent
The IRS has different rules for dependents who have money coming in. Generally, a dependent must file a tax return and pay any taxes due. But the amounts that trigger the filing depend on the type of income — earned or unearned.
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Earned income: Generally characterized as a salary, wages or tips. It also includes scholarships (if taxable) and fellowship grants.
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Unearned income: Includes investment interest or dividends, capital gains, unemployment benefits and some trust distributions.
The amount of each type of income that triggers a dependent’s filing requirement is adjusted each year for inflation, and is calculated using a formula that factors in the annual standard deduction amount.
Tax filing rules if you’re self-employed
If you have income from self-employment — whether it’s a side hustle or a full-time business — the rules regarding whether you have to file a tax return are different than for employees, regardless of whether your money from self-employment was your sole source of income or an occasional side job.
You must file a federal tax return if your net earnings from self-employment are at least $400. To calculate your net earnings, you subtract your business expenses from your business income.
When it pays to file, even if you’re not required to
For those who aren’t required to file, it may pay to send in a return anyway.
For example, individuals who don’t earn much still might be eligible for the earned income tax credit, which is a valuable refundable credit. This benefit is available to qualified individuals even if they owe no tax, meaning they would get money back from the federal government. Many people think the credit is available only to parents, but that’s not the case.
Other tax credits that may also get you cash back include the child tax credit, the American opportunity tax credit and the fuel tax credit.
Another reason to file: If your paycheck had federal income tax withheld but your taxable income for the year was low. There’s a decent chance you’re owed a tax refund. But you must file a tax return to get that cash.
You can check out the filing requirements section of IRS Publication 17 for more details.
Once you’ve determined that you need to file taxes, your next question may be: When do I have to file taxes? The deadline for filing your 2024 tax return is April 15, 2025, or Oct. 15 if you file an extension. If you’re still not sure whether you must file a tax return, ask a tax professional, call the IRS at (800) 829-1040 or make an appointment at your nearest IRS Taxpayer Assistance Center.
Other situations that require filing a tax return
In addition to requirements based on age, your filing status and income, and the rules regarding self-employment income, there are several other situations that require you to file a tax return.
You should file a federal tax return:
- If you have health care coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act, or ACA, you might need to file a return if you qualified for federal help to buy your coverage. If advance payments of the ACA premium tax credit were made for you, your spouse or a dependent who obtained marketplace medical coverage, that amount must be reported by filing a Form 1040 tax return and Form 8962, Premium Tax Credit. If you received too much premium help, you’ll have to repay it when you file your return. If you didn’t get enough, you can collect the extra when you file.
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If you owe any special taxes — such as the alternative minimum tax, taxes on distributions from a qualified plan like an IRA, household employment taxes for employees like a nanny, or tips you didn’t report to your employer — then you need to file a federal return.
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If you (or your spouse, if filing jointly) received distributions from a health savings account, Archer MSA or Medicare Advantage MSA.
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If you worked for a church or a church-controlled organization that is exempt from paying Social Security and Medicare taxes and you had wages of $108.28 or more (see this IRS page).
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If you are still repaying the first time homebuyers credit, which was available to first-time homebuyers from 2008 to 2010.
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If you have a tax liability and are making payments under an installment agreement.
Penalties for not filing your taxes
Whether you file your return on April 15 or request an extension to file by Oct. 15, any money you owe is still due by April 15 every year.
If you don’t pay your taxes, you’ll face a penalty and interest on any unpaid balance. The penalty for failing to pay your taxes by the due date is 0.5 percent of your unpaid tax for each month or part of a month that your return is late. This penalty is capped at 25 percent of late unpaid taxes. If you file your return on time and request to pay by an installment agreement, the penalty drops to 0.25 percent for each month or part of a month of the installment agreement.
You’re also charged interest on the unpaid balance. The rate is set each quarter and is based on the federal short-term rate, plus an additional 3 percent.
If you owe taxes and don’t file your return on time, you’ll be charged a penalty for failing to file, which is a much steeper penalty than the failure-to-pay penalty. This is usually 5 percent of the tax owed for each month or part of a month your return is late. This penalty is also capped at 25 percent.
