Do I Need to File Taxes This Year?
If you're not even sure you're supposed to file, you're in the right place. This guide walks you through the basics so you can quickly figure out whether you need to file a federal income tax return this year—and when it's still smart to file even if the IRS doesn't technically require it.
Important: This page gives general rules. Filing requirements change from year to year, and your specific situation may be different. Always double-check against the current IRS rules or talk to a tax professional.
⚡Why It's Essential to Know If You Must File
Understanding whether you're required to file matters for three big reasons:
1. Avoid penalties and letters from the IRS
If you're required to file and don't, the IRS can assess a "failure to file" penalty, charge interest, and send you notices.
2. Don't leave refunds and credits on the table
Even if you're not required to file, you may be entitled to:
- •A refund of federal income tax withheld from your paychecks
- •Refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Premium Tax Credit, which you can only get by filing a return
3. Keep your tax and benefit records clean
Your filed returns are often used for:
- •Loan and mortgage applications
- •Financial aid (FAFSA)
- •Immigration or government benefit paperwork
📊IRS Filing Thresholds
For most people, the rule is simple:
Basic rule: If your gross income is at least the IRS filing threshold for your filing status and age, you must file a tax return.
"Gross income" generally means all income you received in the form of money, goods, property, and services that isn't exempt from tax.
The IRS publishes filing requirement charts every year in Publication 501 (Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information) and on its "Check if you need to file" page.
Typical filing statuses include:
- ✓Single
- ✓Married filing jointly
- ✓Married filing separately
- ✓Head of household
- ✓Qualifying surviving spouse
For each filing status, the threshold usually lines up with the standard deduction amount for that status, with adjustments if you're age 65 or older.
💵Income Types That Count
When the IRS asks whether your income is over the filing threshold, it's not just talking about your wages.
📄 Job income
- •W-2 wages and salaries
- •Tips
- •Commissions and bonuses
💼 Self-employment & gig work
- •Freelancing and consulting
- •Side hustles (rideshare, delivery, Etsy, content creation, etc.)
- •Online sales where you're running a business
If you have $400 or more in net self-employment earnings, you generally must file a tax return even if your overall income is below the normal thresholds.
📈 Investment & savings income
- •Interest from bank accounts, CDs, or bonds
- •Dividends from stocks and mutual funds
- •Capital gains from selling investments or crypto
- •Rental income
🏛️ Retirement income
- •Distributions from pensions, 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and IRAs
- •Some annuity payments
📋 Other income
- •Unemployment compensation
- •Prizes and awards
- •Gambling winnings
- •Hobby income and other "miscellaneous" earnings
👨👩👧Dependents: Kids, Teens & Adults
Being someone's dependent changes the rules, but it doesn't mean you never have to file.
If you can be claimed as a dependent
You might be a dependent if, for example:
- •Your parent supports you
- •You're a full-time college student under age 24
- •You live with and are supported by another relative
Dependents have their own filing thresholds based on:
- •Earned income (wages, self-employment)
- •Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains, etc.)
- •A combined total of the two
If you are claiming a dependent
You may need to file to claim important tax credits, such as:
- •Child Tax Credit
- •Other Dependent Credit
- •Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC)
🔀Quick Yes/No Flowchart
Step 1 – Did you have any income at all this year?
No → Did you receive advance Premium Tax Credit payments (Form 1095-A)?
Yes → You likely must file to reconcile the credit.
No → You probably don't have to file, but you can file anyway if there's a reason.
Yes → Go to Step 2.
Step 2 – Can someone else claim you as a dependent?
Yes → Compare your earned and unearned income to the dependent filing thresholds in Publication 501.
No → Go to Step 3.
Step 3 – What's your filing status?
Choose among: Single, Married filing jointly, Married filing separately, Head of household, or Qualifying surviving spouse.
Look up your current-year filing threshold for that status and your age:
- • If your gross income is greater than or equal to the threshold → You must file.
- • If your gross income is less than the threshold → Go to Step 4.
Step 4 – Special situations
Even if you're under the threshold, you must or should file if:
- • You had $400+ in self-employment income
- • You received advance Premium Tax Credit payments
- • You owe special taxes (like early withdrawal penalties)
- • You want a refund of withholding or to claim refundable credits
🔗Official IRS Resources
Still not sure if you need to file?
Use our refund estimator or check out our filing guides to get started.