How much money can you earn before you have to file for taxes?

Answer 1

REFER to the link to get more info or publications noted;

Whether you have to file a tax return depends, in part, on your filing status, age, and gross income.

Please refer to the "Do You Have to File" section of the Form 1040 Instructions, Form 1040A Instructions, and Form 1040EZ Instructions to determine if you are required to file a tax return.

You must file a tax return if you had net earnings from self-employment of $400 or more. This is your total self-employment income less the expenses paid in operating your trade or business, multiplied by 92.35%. For more details, refer to Topic 554, Self-Employment Tax.

If you are an individual who may be claimed as a dependent on another person's return, you are subject to specific filing requirements. Refer to the instructions in your tax package or refer to Publication 929, Tax Rules for Children and Dependents, or Publication 501, Exemptions, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information, for the filing requirements for dependents.

You must file a tax return if you received any amount of advance earned income credit payments from your employer during the year, or if you owe any taxes, such as:

• social security tax and Medicare tax on tips or group life insurance,
• alternative minimum tax,
• tax on qualified retirement plans including an Individual Retirement Account, or other tax-favored account,
• tax from recapture of an education credit, investment credit, low income housing credit, federal mortgage subsidy, qualified electric vehicle credit, or the native American employment credit.

Special filing requirements may apply to U.S. citizens who are residents of Puerto Rico or who have income from U.S. possessions. Refer to Publication 570 for additional information. Residents of Puerto Rico should select Topic 901.

Generally, you must file a tax return if you are a nonresident alien with income from sources in the United States. For more information on nonresident aliens, select Topic 851.

Even if you are not required to file a tax return, file a return if you are due a refund, because tax was withheld from any earnings..... AND BECAUSE MANY, LOW INCOME PEOPLE HAVE MANY BENEFITS COMING.

If you did not file a return for a previous year and you were required to do so, refer to Topic 153. If you need help determining which form to file, refer to Topic 352.

The below, while for 2006 is essentially the same for any future year...(the threshold numbers may change slightly, the ideas are the same):Occasionally, individuals have one-time or infrequent financial transactions that may require them to file a Federal Income Tax return. Do any of the following examples apply to you?

• Did you have Federal taxes withheld from your pension and wages for this tax year and wish to get a refund back?
• Are you entitled to the Earned Income Tax Credit or did you receive Advance Earned Income Credit for this tax year?
• Were you self-employed with earnings of more than $400.00?
• Did you sell your home?
• Will you owe any special tax on a qualified retirement plan (including an individual retirement account (IRA) or medical savings account (MSA)? You may owe tax if you:
  • Received an early distribution from a qualified plan
  • Made excess contributions to your IRA or MSA
  • Were born before July 1, 1935, and you did not take the minimum required distribution from your qualified retirement plan.
  • Received a distribution in the excess of $160,000 from a qualified retirement plan.
• Will you owe social security and Medicare tax on tips you did not report to your employer?
• Will you owe uncollected social security and Medicare or Railroad retirement (RRTA) tax on tips you reported to your employer?
• Will you be subject to Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT)? (The tax law gives special treatment to some kinds of income and allows special deductions and credit for some kinds of expenses.)
• Will you owe recapture tax?
• Are you a church employee with income in wages of $108.28 or more from a church or qualified church-controlled organization that is exempt from employer social security or Medicare taxes?