(NewsNation) — If your annual income is less than $5,000, you typically don’t need to file a tax return. However, there are several factors to determine if you need to file a return, including filing status, age and the type of income earned.
Typically, if your income is less than the standard deduction for your filing status, filing a return isn’t required.
Even if you don’t meet the filing threshold, tax experts recommend filing a return if you have other sources of income. For instance, any self-employment income, regardless of the amount, must be reported.
For 2024, you don’t need to file a tax return if all of these conditions apply:
- You are under age 65
- You have a “Single” filing status
- You don’t have special circumstances that require you to file, like self-employment income
- Your income is less than $14,600, which is the standard deduction for single filers in 2024
In 2025, the filing threshold will rise to $15,000.
Generally, if you only receive Social Security benefits, you won’t need to file a tax return. However, if you receive both Social Security benefits and tax-exempt income, you may need to file a return.
Dependents who earn income may have to file taxes, depending on various factors. If their income exceeds their standard deduction, they typically need to file. Similarly, children with unearned income over $1,300 in 2024 — or over $1,350 in 2025 — are also required to file.
Do you need to file if you don’t owe any taxes?
In some instances, you may not be required to file a tax return, but it could still be beneficial.
If federal taxes were withheld from your paycheck, you might be eligible for a refund, especially if your income was below your standard deduction and too much tax was withheld.
For example, if you’re a single taxpayer who earned $2,500 from a job and had $300 withheld for federal taxes, you could get the entire $300 refunded since your income is below the standard deduction.
The IRS doesn’t automatically issue refunds without a filed tax return. So if you’re due for a refund, you must file a tax return.
What is the standard deduction?
Most taxpayers claim the standard deduction, a fixed amount you can deduct to reduce your taxable income and lower your federal tax bill.
Unlike itemized deductions, which require you to track specific expenses, the standard deduction is available without having to prove anything.
The IRS generally adjusts the standard deduction each year for inflation. Here’s the standard deduction for the 2024 tax year (taxes due this year).
2024 standard deductions
| Filing status | Standard deduction |
| Single or married filing separately | $14,600 |
| Head of household | $21,900 |
| Married filing jointly or qualifying surviving spouse | $29,200 |
The filing deadline for 2024 tax returns is April 15, 2025.
NewsNation’s Andrew Dorn contributed to this report.
