The income threshold depends on your age, filing status, and type of income

The IRS sets a minimum income level below which you do not have to file a federal tax return. That threshold changes every year and varies based on whether you are single, married, a dependent, or self-employed. For 2024, a single person under 65 with only wage income does not have to file if their gross income is below $14,600. A married couple filing jointly, both under 65, does not have to file below $29,200. These numbers rise by about $1,850 to $2,000 each year.

The threshold is higher if you are 65 or older. A single person 65 or older in 2024 does not have to file below $17,550. A married couple where at least one spouse is 65 or older does not have to file below $30,750. Self-employed people have a different threshold: you must file if your net self-employment income is $400 or more, regardless of your age or other income.

These thresholds apply to gross income — the total you earned before deductions. If you have any self-employment income, investment income, or income from sources other than wages, the calculation changes. The IRS publishes updated thresholds each January for the tax year you are filing.

Key Takeaways

  • For 2024, single filers under 65 do not have to file federal taxes if gross income is below $14,600; married couples filing jointly do not have to file below $29,200.
  • The threshold is higher if you are 65 or older: $17,550 for single filers and $30,750 for married couples filing jointly.
  • Self-employed people must file if net self-employment income reaches $400 or more, even if other income is below the threshold.
  • The IRS raises these thresholds each year to account for inflation, so check the current year's limits before deciding whether to file.
  • Filing even when not required can be worthwhile if you had taxes withheld or are due a refund or tax credit.

How filing status affects your threshold

Your filing status — single, married filing jointly, married filing separately, head of household, or may have access to widow(er) — determines which threshold applies to you. Married couples filing jointly have the highest threshold because their combined income is considered. Married people filing separately have a much lower threshold: in 2024, $14,600 each, the same as a single filer.

Head of household filers (usually single parents supporting dependents) have a threshold between single and married filing jointly. For 2024, head of household filers do not have to file below $21,900. may have access to widow(er) status, available for two years after a spouse's death, uses the married filing jointly threshold.

If you are unsure which status applies to you, the IRS website has a filing status tool. Your status for tax purposes is determined by your marital status on December 31 of the tax year you are filing for.

When you must file even if income is below the threshold

You must file a federal tax return even if your income is below the threshold in several situations. If you are a dependent — usually a child or student claimed on someone else's return — your threshold is lower. A dependent with unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains) must file if that income exceeds $1,300 in 2024. A dependent with only wage income must file if wages exceed $14,600.

You must also file if you owe self-employment tax. This applies to anyone with net self-employment income of $400 or more from running a business or freelancing, even if your total income is below the standard threshold. Additionally, if you received advance payments of the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit during the year, you must file to reconcile those payments with what you actually owe.

If you had federal income tax withheld from your paychecks or made estimated tax payments, filing may result in a refund even if you were not required to file. Many people file for this reason alone.

Different thresholds for different types of income

The standard threshold applies to wage income — money you earned from an employer. But if you have investment income, rental income, or other sources, the rules change. Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains, rental income) has its own threshold, which is lower than the wage threshold.

For 2024, a single person under 65 with only unearned income must file if that income exceeds $1,300. This is much lower than the $14,600 threshold for wages. If you have both wage and unearned income, you add them together and compare the total to the threshold for your filing status.

Rental income, royalties, and other business income also trigger filing requirements. If you received a Schedule C (self-employment income) or Schedule E (rental income) form, you likely must file regardless of the amount, because the IRS uses those forms to track business activity.

How to find the current year's threshold

The IRS publishes updated income thresholds each January on its website (irs.gov). You can search for "filing requirements" or "income threshold" to find the current year's limits. The IRS also publishes Publication 17, which contains detailed filing requirement information for every filing status and age group.

Your tax software (TurboTax, H&R Block, TaxAct) will ask you questions about your income and automatically tell you whether you need to file. If you use a tax preparer, they will determine this for you. If you are filing on your own, comparing your gross income to the threshold for your status and age takes only a minute.

State tax filing requirements are separate from federal requirements. Some states have lower thresholds than the federal government, so you may have to file a state return even if you do not have to file federally. Check your state's tax agency website for state-specific thresholds.

What happens if you do not file when you should

If you owe taxes and do not file, the IRS can assess a failure-to-file penalty. This penalty is usually 5% of the unpaid tax for each month the return is late, up to 25%. If you are owed a refund and do not file, you simply do not receive it — there is no penalty, but you lose money. The IRS typically holds refunds for three years before they are forfeited.

If you are self-employed and do not file when required, you may face both failure-to-file penalties and failure-to-pay penalties if you owe self-employment tax. Self-employment tax funds Social Security and Medicare, so not filing also means not building a record of earnings for those programs.

If you are unsure whether you had to file in a previous year, you can still file that return. The IRS does not penalize late filing if you are owed a refund. If you owe taxes, filing late will result in penalties and interest, but filing is still better than not filing.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to file if I made less than the threshold but had taxes withheld?

You do not have to file, but you should. If your employer withheld federal income tax from your paychecks and your income is below the threshold, you are likely owed a refund. Filing is the only way to receive that money. Many people file specifically to get a refund even though they were not required to file.

What counts as gross income for the threshold?

Gross income includes wages, salaries, tips, self-employment income, interest, dividends, rental income, and most other money you received. It does not include Social Security benefits (in most cases), gifts, or money you borrowed. If you are unsure whether something counts, the IRS Publication 17 lists what is and is not included in gross income.

If I am a dependent, what is my filing threshold?

If you are claimed as a dependent on someone else's return, your threshold is lower than an independent person's. For 2024, a dependent with only wage income must file if wages exceed $14,600. A dependent with unearned income (interest, dividends) must file if that income exceeds $1,300. The rules are more complex if you have both types of income.

Do I have to file if I am self-employed but made less than $400?

You do not have to file a federal return if your net self-employment income is below $400, even if you had other income. However, filing may still be worthwhile if you had taxes withheld, are owed a refund, or want to claim tax credits. Self-employed people often file even when not required because they can deduct business expenses.

When do the income thresholds change?

The IRS adjusts thresholds each January to account for inflation. The 2024 thresholds are different from 2023, and 2025 thresholds will be different again. Check the IRS website or your tax software each year for the current thresholds before deciding whether to file.