How Much Money Do You Have to Make to File Taxes?

How much money do you have to make to file taxes? What is the minimum income to file taxes?

Let’s take a look at the requirements for the minimum income to file taxes in 2017 (and due in 2018).

Minimum Income Requirements

The IRS released the minimum income to file taxes in 2017.

For the 2017 tax year, you will need to file taxes if your gross income meets the minimum income for your filing status and age. Here are the minimum income limits for the 2017 tax year.

How Much Money Do You Have to Make to File Taxes

Once you find out if you meet the minimum income to file taxes, you can determine your tax rate using the current tax brackets.

Social Security Income

Gross income doesn’t include social security benefits.

However, there is an exception to this rule if half of your social security benefits plus your other gross income is more than $25,000 ($32,000 if married filing jointly). Once that happens, you’ll need to file a tax return. Married filing separate also have different social security rules.

Other Income Sources

There are special rules for self-employment earnings and church earnings. You must file taxes if your:

• Self-employment net earnings are greater than $400.
• Church earnings are greater than $108.28 and are exempt from employer Social Security and Medicare.

If you are self-employed, you will also need to file and pay self-employment tax.

Filing Requirement for Health Care Responsibility

The filing requirement for health insurance continues this year. If you received advancements of the health insurance premium tax credit to pay for health insurance, you will need to file a tax return. Here’s how to reconcile your payments and Claim the Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit. In addition, you will also report any penalties for no health insurance on your tax return.

More Tax Filing Requirements

Optional filing. Even if you are not required to file a tax return, you can choose to file one. You may want to file an optional tax return if you had any federal withholding or are entitled to tax credits, like the earned income tax credit or the Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit and want to get a refund.

Other filing requirements. In addition to the income requirements, there are other circumstances when you must file a tax return. One example is if you sold your home. For all the requirements, see Publication 17.