What if I Don't Earn an Income? Do I Still File a Tax Return?
If you didn't earn any income in the last tax year, you're not obligated to file a tax return. The IRS has minimum income requirements that change annually based on inflation as well as your tax status, such as single, married filing separately or jointly, head of household, etc. When you fall below the threshold, you are not required to file a federal tax return.
For tax year 2025 (filing in 2026), the filing thresholds are:
- $15,750 for single filers under
- $17,750 for single filers 65 or older,
- $31,500 for married filing jointly (both under 65)
- $33,100 for married filing jointly (one spouse 65 or older).
These amounts represent the standard deduction for each filing status.
There are, however, some good reasons to file even when you earn little or no income.
If you had very low or no income last year and are not required to file, you may wish to file anyway to claim certain refundable tax credits. Refundable tax credits can provide you with a tax refund even when you do not work. For example, you may qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit or the Additional Child Tax Credit, which are refundable tax credits.
Filing a tax return even without income can also help establish a tax filing history, which may be useful for future loans, housing applications, student financial aid (FAFSA), or other purposes that require documentation of your financial situation.
Even if you earned very little last year, you might wish to file a tax return simply to get back any taxes withheld from your pay. This usually happens when a taxpayer is employed for only a small part of the calendar year. Also, if you're attending college or a higher education program and earn little or no income, you may wish to file a return to take advantage of the American Opportunity Tax credit.
If you purchased health insurance through the Health Insurance Marketplace and received Form 1095-A, you must file a tax return to reconcile any premium tax credits you received, regardless of your income level. Failure to file could affect your eligibility for future health insurance subsidies.
Self-Employment Filing Requirements
If you own a small business or are self-employed, the rules are different. You must file a tax return if you earned more than $400 in net earnings from self-employment during the tax year.
There is sometimes taxpayer confusion with this, when a contractor's income level is above $400 but below the threshold that W2 employees are required to file at. For example, you'll need to file and pay self-employment tax if you ran an income-generating website or worked as any sort of independent contractor and received a 1099-NEC or other 1099 form with at least $400 of earnings during the year.
If you received any health care tax credits or subsidies for the past tax year, you'll need to file to keep receiving them, even if you normally wouldn't be required to file. For more on this please see our article on the Affordable Care Act
If you earned little or no income last year you can likely file your federal return with E-file.com free of charge this year. To take advantage of this simply create an account here, enter your information and let our software do the calculations for you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file a tax return with no income?
Yes, you can file a tax return even with no income, and it's often beneficial. You can use the standard Form 1040 and enter zeros for the income sections. Filing can help you claim refundable tax credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit or Child Tax Credit, establish a tax filing history for future financial needs, and reconcile health insurance marketplace premium tax credits if you received Form 1095-A.
What is the minimum income to file a tax return for 2025?
For tax year 2025, single filers under 65 must file if their gross income is $15,750 or more. Single filers 65 or older must file if income exceeds $17,750. Married couples filing jointly (both under 65) must file if the combined income is $31,500 or more, or $33,100 if one spouse is 65 or older. However, you must also file if you have $400 or more in net self-employment earnings, regardless of other income.
What if I only receive Social Security benefits?
Generally, if Social Security is your only income, you don't need to file a tax return. However, if you have other income that makes your total exceed the filing thresholds listed above, you may need to file. Additionally, if you have tax-exempt income (such as municipal bond interest) combined with Social Security benefits that exceed certain thresholds, a portion of your Social Security may become taxable.
Should I file even if I'm not required to?
Yes, you should consider filing if you had federal taxes withheld from your paycheck or if you qualify for refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit. You may receive a refund. Filing also creates a record that can be helpful for loan applications, financial aid, or other situations requiring proof of income or tax compliance.
What about self-employment income?
You must file a tax return if you have $400 or more in net earnings from self-employment, regardless of your other income. This requirement applies even if your self-employment income is below the standard filing threshold for W-2 employees. Self-employment tax covers Social Security and Medicare contributions.
Why would I file if I don't have to?
Filing when not required can benefit you in several ways: you can claim refundable tax credits for potential refunds, get back any federal taxes that were withheld from paychecks, establish a filing history for future financial applications, reconcile health insurance marketplace credits, and protect your right to claim dependents on your return.