Minimum Income to Not File a Tax Return
- 2022: The minimum for single filing status if under age 65 is $12,950. If your income is below that threshold, you generally do not need to file a federal tax return.
- 2020 Comparison: For instance, in 2020 you do not have to file a tax return if: under age 65, single, do not have any conditions that require you to file (such as self-employment income), and earn less than $12,400.
- Self-Employed Income: If you generate more than $400 in self-employed income in a tax year, you’re required to report that income and file taxes—regardless of your filing status or age.
Reasons for Filing Taxes
Whether you need to file your taxes depends mostly on your income, filing status, and age.
Importance of Filing Taxes
If your income is below the threshold limit specified by the IRS, you may not need to file taxes—though regardless of your income and whether you’re required to file taxes, it’s generally still a good idea to do so.