Do I Need to File a 2016 Tax Return?
Whether or not you are
required to file a 2016 federal income tax return depends on several factors:
- your filing
status,
- your
age,
- your income,
- your dependency
status, and
- whether
you meet a few other special requirements.
Minimum
Income Requirements to File a Federal Income Tax Return
The minimum income required to
efile or file a tax return for Tax Year 2016 depends on your income,
age, and filing status. The minimum income levels for the various filing
statuses are listed in the table below. If you earned below the minimum income
for your filing status, you may not be required to file a Federal Tax Return.
However, there are reasons why you may still want to file.
Filing Status
|
Age
|
Minimum W-2 Income Requirement
|
Minimum Self-Employment Income Requirement
|
Single
|
Under
65
|
$10,350
|
$400
|
65 or
older
|
$11,900
|
$400
|
|
Head
of Household
|
Under
65
|
$13,350
|
$400
|
65 or
older
|
$14,900
|
$400
|
|
Married
Filing Jointly
|
Under
65 (both spouses)
|
$20,700
|
$400
|
65 or
older (one spouse)
|
$21,950
|
$400
|
|
65 or
older (both spouses)
|
$23,200
|
$400
|
|
Married
Filing Separately
|
Any
age
|
$4,050
|
$400
|
Qualifying
Widow(er) with Dependent Children
|
Under
65
|
$16,650
|
$400
|
65 or
older
|
$17,900
|
$400
|
Other
Reasons to File a Tax Return
Regardless of your gross
income, you are generally required to file an income tax return if any of the
following are true:
- You
had net self-employment income of $400 or more
- You
had unemployment income
- You
owe Alternative Minimum Tax
- You
owe household employment taxes
- You
owe additional taxes on a retirement plan (an
individual retirement arrangement (IRA) or other tax-favored account) or
health savings account
- You
must repay the 2008 Homebuyer Credit (or any
other recapture taxes)
- You
owe Social Security and Medicare taxes on unreported tip
income
- You
earned $108.28 or more from a tax-exempt church or church-controlled
organization
- You
received distributions from an MSA or Health Savings Account
- You received an advance payment on the Premium Tax Credit.
You May
Want to File a Tax Return... (Even if You Are Not Required To)
There are several reasons
why you may want to file or efile a 2016 tax return even if you do not meet the
minimum income requirements:
- If
you had taxes withheld from your pay, you must file
a tax return to receive a tax refund.
- If
you qualify, you must file a return to receive the refundable Earned
Income Tax Credit.
- If
you are claiming education credits, you must file to be refunded the American
Opportunity Credit.
- If
you have a qualifying child but owe no tax, you can file to be refunded
the Additional Child Tax Credit.
- If
you qualify, you must file to claim the refundable Health
Coverage Tax Credit.
- If
you adopted a qualifying child, you must file to claim the Adoption
Tax Credit.
- If
you overpaid estimated tax or applied a prior year overpayment to this year,
you must file to receive the refund.
Taxable
Income vs. Non-Taxable Income
Whether or not you are
required to file a tax return depends on the type(s) of income that you have.
There are many kinds of taxable income, as well as many types of non-taxable income.
Your gross income generally includes income from all sources, in whatever form
it takes. Below are examples of taxable and non-taxable income you may need to
consider.
Examples
of Taxable Income
- Wages
and salaries
- Tips
and gratuities
- Unemployment
benefits
- Canceled/forgiven
debt
- Self-employment
income
Examples
of Non-Taxable Income
- Child
support
- Insurance
proceeds (accident, casualty, health, life)
- Meals
and lodging for the convenience of employer
- Veterans’
benefits
- Aid
to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC)
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