Who does not have to file a federal tax return
You do not have to file a federal income tax return if your income falls below a certain threshold set by the IRS each year. The threshold depends on your age, filing status, and type of income. For 2024, a single person under 65 with only wage income does not have to file if they earned less than $14,600. A married couple filing jointly, both under 65, does not have to file if their combined income was below $29,200. These numbers change annually, so the 2025 thresholds will be different.
Even if you are below the threshold, you may still want to file — particularly if you had taxes withheld from your paycheck or if you are owed a refund through the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit. Filing costs nothing and takes a few hours, and you may get money back.
Key Takeaways
- The income threshold below which you do not have to file changes each year and depends on your age and filing status.
- Self-employed people must file if they had net earnings of $400 or more, even if their total income is low.
- You may still want to file even if you are not required to, because you could receive a refund or tax credits.
- Certain types of income, like Social Security or investment gains, have their own filing thresholds that differ from wage income.
Filing thresholds by age and filing status
The IRS sets different thresholds based on whether you are under 65 or 65 and older. Older filers have a higher threshold because the standard deduction is larger. For 2024, a single person 65 or older does not have to file if income was below $16,550. A married couple filing jointly where at least one spouse is 65 or older does not have to file if combined income was below $30,750.
Head of household filers (usually a single parent supporting dependents) have a threshold of $21,900 for those under 65 and $27,700 for those 65 and older in 2024. Married filing separately filers have a much lower threshold of $5 regardless of age, which means nearly all must file if they have any income at all.
These thresholds apply only to earned income like wages, salaries, and tips. If you have other types of income, different rules apply.
Self-employment income and the $400 rule
If you are self-employed — whether you run a business, do freelance work, or drive for a rideshare service — you must file a federal tax return if your net self-employment income was $400 or more for the year. This applies even if your total income is well below the standard deduction threshold. The $400 figure has not changed since 1997.
Net self-employment income means what you earned minus legitimate business expenses. If you grossed $5,000 but spent $4,700 on supplies and equipment, your net income is $300, and you would not have to file. But if your net income reaches $400, you must file and pay self-employment tax, which covers Social Security and Medicare.
Keep records of all business income and expenses. The IRS expects self-employed people to track these carefully, and you will need them if you are audited.
Investment income and capital gains thresholds
If you have income from investments — dividends, interest, or capital gains — you may have to file even if you have no wage income. For 2024, a single person under 65 with only unearned income (investment income) does not have to file if that income was below $1,300. This is much lower than the wage income threshold because investment income is taxed differently.
Capital gains — profit from selling stocks, real estate, or other assets — have their own rules. Long-term capital gains (assets held over one year) are taxed at preferential rates. If your only income is long-term capital gains, you do not have to file in 2024 unless the gains exceeded $29,200 for a married couple filing jointly or $14,600 for a single filer.
If you received a 1099 form from a bank, brokerage, or other financial institution reporting investment income, keep it with your records. You do not necessarily have to file, but the IRS has a copy and will expect your return to match.
Social Security recipients and other special cases
Social Security benefits have their own filing threshold. If Social Security is your only income, you generally do not have to file. However, if you also have wages, self-employment income, or substantial investment income, you may have to file even if your Social Security alone would not trigger a filing requirement.
The IRS uses a formula called "combined income" to determine whether Social Security recipients must file. Combined income includes half of your Social Security benefits plus all other income. If combined income exceeds certain thresholds (which vary by filing status), you must file. For a single person in 2024, that threshold is $25,000.
Other special cases include people receiving unemployment benefits, disability payments, or pension income. Each type of income has its own rules. If you received a 1099-G for unemployment or a 1099-R for a pension or IRA withdrawal, check the IRS website or call 1-800-829-1040 to confirm whether you must file.
Dependents and students
A dependent — usually a child claimed on a parent's tax return — has a lower filing threshold than an independent adult. For 2024, a dependent with only wage income does not have to file if earnings were below $14,600, the same as a single adult. However, if a dependent had unearned income (like interest or dividends), the threshold drops to $1,300.
A dependent with both wage and unearned income must file if the total of unearned income plus half of wage income exceeds $1,300. This rule catches students who work part-time and also have investment accounts or savings accounts earning interest.
College students should check whether they are still claimed as dependents on their parents' return. If they are, they use the dependent thresholds. If they are independent, they use the standard adult thresholds. This distinction matters if the student earned income from work-study, internships, or summer jobs.
What happens if you do not file when required
If you are required to file but do not, the IRS may assess a failure-to-file penalty. The penalty is usually 5 percent of the unpaid tax for each month the return is late, up to 25 percent. If you owe no tax, the penalty is smaller or zero. If you are owed a refund, there is no penalty for filing late, but you lose the refund if you do not file within three years.
The IRS does not always catch missing returns immediately. However, if you have income reported to the IRS on a W-2 or 1099 form, the agency will eventually notice the discrepancy and may send you a notice. It is better to file on time or file late than to ignore the requirement entirely.
If you realize you should have filed in a previous year, you can still file that return now. The IRS prefers late filing to no filing. If you owe tax, you will also owe interest and possibly penalties, but filing stops additional penalties from accruing.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to file if I had taxes withheld from my paycheck but earned below the threshold?
No, you are not required to file. However, you should file because you are likely owed a refund of the taxes that were withheld. Filing takes a few hours and costs nothing, and you will recover money you already paid.
What if I am not sure whether my income is above or below the threshold?
Add up all income from all sources for the year. Use the IRS worksheet on Form 1040 instructions or call 1-800-829-1040. The IRS can tell you over the phone whether you must file based on your specific situation. You can also use the IRS Interactive Tax Assistant tool on irs.gov.
Does filing a return hurt me if I do not owe tax?
No. Filing when you do not owe tax is harmless and often beneficial. You may receive refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit that put money in your pocket. Filing also protects you from penalties and keeps your Social Security record accurate.
If I am retired and live only on Social Security, do I have to file?
Probably not, unless you have other income. If Social Security is your only income, you do not have to file. If you also have pension income, investment income, or part-time work earnings, you may have to file. Use the combined income formula or call the IRS to confirm.
What if I earned money under the table and did not receive a 1099?
You still have to report that income on your tax return if it exceeds the filing threshold. The IRS expects all income to be reported, whether or not you receive a form. Unreported income can trigger an audit if the IRS discovers it through other means.