Get IRS Publication 915 2017

Base amount. Your base amount is: $25,000 if you are single, head of household, or qualifying widow(er); $25,000 if you are married filing separately and lived apart from your spouse for all of 2018; $32,000 if you are married filing jointly; or.

The minimum income amount depends on your filing status and age. In 2018, for example, the minimum for single filing status if under age 65 is $12,000. If your income is below that threshold, you generally do not need to file a federal tax return.

For single dependents who are under the age of 65 and not blind, you generally must file a federal income tax return if your unearned income (such as from ordinary dividends or taxable interest) was more than $1,050 or if your earned income (such as from wages or salary) was more than $12,000.

Filing Requirements for Dependents You must file a 2018 tax return in any of the following circumstances if you're single, if someone else can claim you as a dependent, and if you're not age 65 or older or blind: Your unearned income was more than $1,050. Your earned income was more than $12,000.

Income requirements Even if you earned income last year, if it falls below the IRS minimum you don't have to file a tax return. ... If you have no income, however, you aren't obligated to file.

The standard deduction amounts will increase to $12,200 for individuals, $18,350 for heads of household, and $24,400 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses. For 2019, the additional standard deduction amount for the aged or the blind is $1,300.

The standard deduction amounts will increase to $12,200 for individuals, $18,350 for heads of household, and $24,400 for married couples filing jointly and surviving spouses. For 2019, the additional standard deduction amount for the aged or the blind is $1,300.

Itemizing means deducting each and every deductible expense you incurred during the tax year. For this to be worthwhile, your itemizable deductions must be greater than the standard deduction to which you are entitled. For the vast majority of taxpayers, itemizing will not be worth it for the 2018 and 2019 tax years.

Requirements to File You may or may not be free from paying income tax after age 70, depending on your circumstances. ... No matter what age you are, you may not have to file or pay income taxes, especially if you don't earn a dollar of income during the tax year.

When Seniors Must File For the tax year 2018, you will need to file a tax return if you are not married, at least 65 years of age, and your gross income is $13,600 or higher. Regardless, if you live on your Social Security benefits, you don't include this in your gross income.

If you wait until after your full retirement age to claim Social Security retirement benefits, your benefit amounts will be permanently higher. ... After age 70, there is no longer any increase, so you should claim your benefits then even if they will be partly subject to income tax.

If your only source of retirement income is Social Security, you may not have to pay taxes or file an income tax return. If you receive only Social Security or railroad retirement tier 1 benefits or have limited other income, use the IRS interview to determine whether you must file a federal income tax return.

Calculating Your Social Security Income Tax If your combined income was more than $34,000, you will pay taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security benefits. For married couples filing jointly, you will pay taxes on up to 50% of your Social Security income if you have a combined income of $32,000 to $44,000.

The SSA also notes no one is required to pay taxes on more than 85 percent of their Social Security benefits. ... The maximum annual taxable Social Security earnings for a taxpayer have increased 7 percent to $128,400 for the tax year 2018.

At 65 to 67, depending on the year of your birth, you are at full retirement age and can get full Social Security retirement benefits tax-free. However, if you're still working, part of your benefits might be subject to taxation. The IRS adds the figures for your earnings and half your Social Security benefits.