Do I need to file a tax return?

In the United States, it is the responsibility of citizens and permanent residents to file an individual tax return (1040) if they are required to do so. 

But the question is: how do you know if you are required to file a tax return?

The answer lies in the amount of income you make in a year. This also depends on what your “filing status” would be. 

The IRS updates the income amounts regularly. See the chart for filing for the 2023 tax year below:

Filing Status	Age at the end of 2023	Gross Income Threshold for Filing
Single	Under 65 65 or older	$13,850 $15,700
Head of Household	Under 65 65 or older	$20,800 $22,650
Married Filing Jointly	Under 65 (both spouses) 65 or older (one spouse) 65 or older (both spouses)	$27,700 $29,200 $30,700
Married Filing Separately	Any age	$5
Qualified Surviving Spouse	Under 65 65 or older	$27,700 $29,200

Source: IRS Publication 501

Filing statuses explained

Unsure what your filing status would be? See our simple descriptions below.

Single: an unmarried person who does not qualify for any other filing status. 

Married filing jointly: a married couple as of the last day of the tax year, combining both spouses’ items on the same return (even if only one spouse had income).

Married filing separately: a married couple in which the spouses choose to file separate tax returns with separated items. 

Head of household: an individual who meets the following three requirements (all three):

1. Unmarried as of the last day of the tax year

2. Paid more than half of the cost of a household’s upkeep for a year

3. A qualifying person (such as a dependent) lived in the same household for more than half the year

Qualified surviving spouse: an individual whose spouse died during the tax year. 

Other requirements

Other conditions may require an individual to file a tax return. 

Married individuals who file separately and live separately must file if their income is at least $5 for the tax year.

Self-employed individuals must file a tax return as well as make quarterly estimated tax payments if they earned over $400 net income during the tax year. 

Dependents also may be required to file a tax return. If dependents earn income through working, they must file. In addition, if dependents make unearned income (such as through investments), they must file a tax return. Examples of investment income are interest income, dividends, and rental income, to name a few. 

What if I am not required to file a tax return according to the IRS chart?

Even if you don’t meet the income threshold for your filing status, you may still benefit from filing a tax return. For example, if you worked and had taxes withheld from your paychecks, you may be able to get a tax refund. Also, self-employed individuals will be able to build their Social Security benefits over their lifetime, as otherwise this would be unreported. 

The bottom line

While this is a simple breakdown of criteria for filing an individual tax return, every person has a unique situation. If you are unsure about the requirements or benefits of filing a tax return, reach out to Puddletown CPA LLP for a free consultation regarding tax preparation services.