Do you have to file federal income tax?

Answer 1

You would be the only one that will have all of the necessary information to determine this answer.

A self employed taxpayer would be required to file an income tax return if business operation had a net profit of 400 and pay the social security and Medicare taxes that would be due plus any income tax that may be due after adding the net profit to all other gross income on the 1040 tax form and the amounts would be subject to income tax at the marginal tax rates.

A dependent on another taxpayer income tax return with unearned income interest, dividends, capital gains, rental income, taxable social security benefits, unemployment compensation, gambling winning and misc income, etc of more than 950 must file an income tax return and report all worldwide income on the 1040 tax return

The must file an income tax return requirement for the year 2009 would be in the 2009 1040 instruction book starting on page 7 through 9 and the book is available at the enclosed web site.

Go to the IRS gov web site and use the search box for 1040 and choose instruction

Filing Requirements

Do You Have To File

Go the IRS gov web site and use the search box for Publication 17 go to chapter 1

Do I have to file a Tax Return?

Simple Common Sense:

It really makes no difference since the only time you actually do WANT to file is when the IRS says you don't have to!

They don't do that because it's good for you. They do it because it is more likely to be good for them. Certainly if you don't have to file, NOTHING BAD, in fact only good things, can happen by doing so.

Federal Taxes are the same throughout the country. State tax laws are specific to each area.

Whether you have to file a tax return (or pay tax) depends, in part, on your filing status, deductions, amount & type of income. There are no such things as "start and stop" ages, not having to pay because of retirement or on social security or working from home or a student. It is all addressed as a matter of"how much TAXABLE income."

(Note: working isn't relevant either, as many people who don't work or are retired, or disabled, or old, or young, or in school, have income from many sources: savings, investments, etc. TAXABLE income is different than what you may otherwise think of as income. In most circumstances, you have to do many of the calculations needed to file a return, just to determine what taxable income may be).

Likewise, there are no special or fixed rates for retired, student, doctor, sanitation worker, President, convict...whatever. The amount of taxable income after applicable deductions and adjustments determines the rate applied to your particular situation. The rate, as well as the amount, you pay changes as the amount of income does.

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%.

If you weren't self-employed (meaning paid on a 1099 or ran your own business) then you would always want to file a return to claim the amount withheld and shown on your W-2. Which with lower incomes will always be refunded to you.

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. All available at www.IRS.gov

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.

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 at the IRS website.

Even if you are not required to file a tax return, file a return BECAUSE MANY, LOW INCOME PEOPLE HAVE MANY BENEFITS COMING THAT ARE KEYED TO FILING A RETURN. (Like stimulus checks).

Also, the Statute of Limitations for when the IRS can no longer ask you questions about your affairs for a year only STARTS to run when a return is filed. Not filing, and they can bug you, (and assess a tax) for forever!

You can file for free at the www.irs.gov site too! See http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040ez.pdf