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There were 161 million individual income tax returns filed with the IRS in 2024, which could include yours. Although not all Americans are required to file a tax return, most Americans are required to file a tax return. And even if you don’t have to file a tax return, there may be good reason to do so.
In fact, filing your taxes is a good thing, especially if you can claim a tax credit or overpayment, or get your money back in some other way.
Whether you need to file a return usually depends on your income, filing status, and age.
In special circumstances, you may need to file a tax return regardless of your income. For example, if you are self-employed and have at least $400 in net income, you must file taxes. If you earn at least that much, you pay self-employment tax.
What is the minimum income to pay taxes in 2025?
To determine whether you are one of the millions of people who must file a return, start with three things. That’s your gross income, or your total income before taxes and adjustments, as well as your age and filing status.
Your filing status means whether you are single or not. File your marriage registration jointly or individually. Head of household. Or a widow.
The IRS has minimum income thresholds that determine whether you need to file a tax return, depending on your age and filing status. The breakdown is as follows:
Single application status:
$15,750 for those under 65;
$17,750 for those 65 and older.
Joint notification by husband and wife:
$31,500 if both spouses are under 65.
$33,100 if one spouse is under 65 and the other is over 65.
$34,700 if both spouses are 65 or older.
Submit marriage registration separately:
$5 for all ages.
Head of household:
$23,625 for those under 65;
$25,625 for those 65 and older.
Eligible surviving spouse:
$31,500 for those under 65 years of age.
$33,100 for those 65 and older.
What are other reasons to file taxes?
People with “special circumstances” may be required to file a tax return regardless of their income. These include:
1. You will have to pay special taxes such as:
- Alternative minimum tax. Usually targeted at very high income taxpayers.
- Additional taxes on qualified plans that include individual retirement accounts (IRAs) or other tax-advantaged accounts.
- Social Security or Medicare taxes on tips you don’t report to your employer or on wages you receive from an employer that doesn’t withhold these taxes.
- Failure to collect Social Security, Medicare, or railroad retirement taxes on tips reported to your employer. or additional taxes on group term life insurance and medical savings accounts.
- Household employment tax.
- Get your taxes back. This means you pay back the federal government for the benefit of using tax-exempt mortgage bonds for financing.
2. You (or your spouse if filing jointly) have health insurance. Received from the state or federal marketplace or received distributions to a health savings account.
3. Had at least $400 in net income from self-employment.
4. Received wages of $108.28 or more from a church or a qualified church-controlled organization It is exempt from employer Social Security and Medicare taxes.
Note: If you can claim as a dependent based on someone else’s tax return, the tax filing requirements are different. When in doubt, use the IRS’ interactive tool to determine whether you need to file a tax return.
Do I need to file a tax return even if I’m not required to do so?
If you think you can get your money back, you can. Please consider submitting your application if any of the following apply.
- You had income tax deducted from your paycheck. You can get that amount refunded.
- I paid too much. For example, if you paid estimated taxes, or if last year’s overpayment was applied to this year’s estimated taxes, you may be eligible for a refund.
- You may be eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit. You can qualify for this refundable credit and get your money back even if you haven’t paid any taxes. This typically applies to low-income workers, with credits ranging from $649 to $8,046 depending on income and number of children, but you don’t have to have children to qualify. Of the 23 million Americans who applied for the credit, the average EITC amount in 2023 was $2,743. Additional Child Tax Credit. If you qualify, you can receive a refund of up to $1,700 of the $2,000 child tax credit per child.
- You have the following qualifications American Opportunity Credit. If you qualify for this tax credit to help pay for your post-high school education, you can receive a tax credit of up to $2,500 per eligible student per year and a 40% or $1,000 refund if you owe no taxes.
Even if there is no refund deadline, if you receive a 1099-B with information about securities or real estate related to a transaction handled by your broker, the IRS recommends that you file a tax return to avoid notice from the agency.
