Tax Return Filing Requirement for 2018

Find out if you are required to or if you should file a 2018 IRS Income Tax Return (ITR) below. For current tax returns, find out if you need to file. Did you know you can only e-file a current year tax return? Prepare and e-file this return on eFile.com and take advantage of online preparation and electronic filing - don't handle any papers or forms! eFileIT on eFile.com and compare eFile to TurboTax^® or H&R Block^®.

Tax Year
2018

Here are a few factors that determine if you are required to file or not:

Tax Return Filing Status
2018 Taxable Income
Dependency Status
Your age at the end of 2018
Whether you meet a few other special requirements.

Important: If you expected a tax refund for 2018, you needed to file this return by the previous Tax Deadline in order to claim this. If you did not, your refund has expird and gone to the IRS. e-File your taxes online each year so you do not surrender your refund to the U.S. Treasury.

Do I Need to File 2018 Taxes?

Simply use the 2018 FILEucator below to obtain the answer to your specific situation on whether you have to file a tax return or not. Keep in mind, even if you're not required to file a 2018 return, there are reasons you may want to file a tax return.

If you wish to read more about this, please review the sections below to find out if you are required to file a 2018 Return:

Minimum Income Tax Return Filing Requirements

The minimum income required to file a tax return for Tax Year 2018 depends on your income, age, and filing status during the tax year. 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

$12,000

$400

Single

65 or older

$13,600

$400

Head of Household

Under 65

$18,00

$400

Head of Household

65 or older

$18,000

$400

Married Filing Jointly

Under 65 (both spouses)

$24,000

$400

Married Filing Jointly

65 or older (one spouse)

$25,300

$400

Married Filing Jointly

65 or older (both spouses)

$26,600

$400

Married Filing Separately

Any age

$400

Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Children

Under 65

$24,000

$400

Qualifying Widow(er) with Dependent Children

65 or older

$25,500

$400

Learn more about selecting a filing status.

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.

Tax Return Filing Requirements for Dependents

If you are a dependent on someone's tax return and do not know whether or not to file your own tax return, review the minimum income requirements and learn how to file a tax return as a dependent. Be aware that if you are under age 16 and have never filed a tax return, you cannot yet e-file your first year. You can prepare your current year return on eFile.com, print it, and mail it to the IRS to file it. However, you will be able to e-file your return the following year.

Reasons You May Want to File a Tax Return

There are several reasons why you may want to file a 2018 Tax Return even if you do not meet the minimum income requirements:

If you had taxes over-withheld from your pay, you must file a tax return to receive a tax refund - it's your money!
If you qualify, you must file a return to receive refundable tax credits such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or education credits - see 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 vs. Nontaxable 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 nontaxable income. Your gross income generally includes income from all sources, in whatever form it takes. Below are examples of taxable and nontaxable income you may need to consider.

Examples of Taxable Income

Wages and salaries, tips and gratuities, unemployment benefits, canceled/forgiven debt, and self-employment income.

See a comprehensive list of taxable income.

Examples of NonTaxable Income

Child support, insurance proceeds (accident, casualty, health, life), meals and lodging for the convenience of employer, veterans’ benefits, and aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC).

Comprehensive list of non-taxable or tax-free income.

Find out if you are required to file previous year tax return(s).

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