How Much Do You Have to Make to File Taxes?

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Do you have to file taxes?
- Federal: $79 to $139. Free version available for Simple Form 1040 returns only.
- State: $0 to $69 per state.
- Expert help or full service filing is available with an upgrade to Live packages for a fee.
Minimum income requirements for filing taxes in 2025
Tax filing status | Under 65 | 65 and older |
---|---|---|
Single | $14,600. | $16,550. |
Married, filing jointly | $29,200 if both spouses are under age 65.
$30,750 if one spouse is under age 65 and one is 65 or older. | $32,300 if both are 65 or older. |
Head of household | $21,900. | $23,850. |
Married, filing separately | $5. | $5. |
Surviving spouse | $29,200. | $30,750. |
Dependent income requirements for filing a tax return
Dependents who are single
Under 65 | 65 and older | 65 or older and blind | |
---|---|---|---|
Your unearned income was more than ... | $1,300. | $3,250. | $5,200. |
Your earned income was more than ... | $14,600. | $16,550. | $18,500. |
Your gross income was more than the larger of ... |
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Dependents who are married
Under 65 | 65 and older | 65 or older and blind | |
---|---|---|---|
Your unearned income was more than ... | $1,300. | $2,850. | $4,400. |
Your earned income was more than ... | $14,600. | $16,150. | $17,700. |
Your gross income was more than the larger of ... |
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Note: You also must file a return if your gross income was at least $5 and your spouse files a separate return and itemizes deductions. |
Other requirements for who has to file taxes
- You had self-employment net earnings of at least $400.
- You received distributions from a health savings account, an Archer Medical Savings Account or a Medicare Advantage MSA.
- You owe taxes on an IRA, a health savings account or other tax-favored account.
- You owe taxes on household employees.
- You owe alternative minimum tax.
- You made more than $108.28 from a church or church organization.
- You owe recapture taxes.
- You owe Social Security or Medicare tax on tips you didn’t report to your employer or that your employer didn’t already take out of your pay.
- Advance payments of the premium tax credit were made for you, your spouse or a dependent who got health coverage through the insurance marketplace.
- You owe uncollected Social Security, Medicare or railroad retirement tax on tips you reported to your employer or on group-term life insurance and additional taxes on health savings accounts
.
Consider filing, even if you don't have to
- You had income tax withheld from your pay.
- You made estimated tax payments or had last year’s refund applied to this year's estimated tax.
- You qualify for the earned income tax credit.
- You qualify for the additional child tax credit.
- You qualify for the American opportunity education credit.
- You qualify for the premium tax credit.
- You qualify for the credit for federal tax on fuels.
- Federal: $79 to $139. Free version available for Simple Form 1040 returns only.
- State: $0 to $69 per state.
- Expert help or full service filing is available with an upgrade to Live packages for a fee.
Filing for an unclaimed refund

Article sources
- 1. Internal Revenue Service. Publication 501. Accessed Dec 13, 2024.
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