Do I need to file an income tax return every year?

Contrary to popular belief, there are indeed situations where a person does not need to file a tax return every year. For 2015, a person who earns under $10,000 as a single filer, a person who earns under $400 from self-employment or a married couple filing jointly who earns under $20,000 combined are not required to file a yearly tax return. Any income made above this level has to be reported on a personal income tax return.

In addition, a person needs to file an income tax return if she sold her home during the tax year; owes taxes because of a retirement account from distributions or excess contributions; or owes Social Security and Medicare taxes on tips not reported to an employer or on wages for which the employer did not withhold taxes. If any of these events occurred, that person needs to file a return even if her earnings fall below the thresholds mentioned above.

While some people may not want to file an income tax return every year, there are various benefits that, if realized, might make it favorable to do so. Various tax credits can be earned by filing an income tax return including earned income credit, child and dependent care credit, educational tax credit and savers credit. These credits might offset the amount of income taxes owed for people with small amounts of income and could in some cases even yield them more money than if they had not paid taxes on that small amount of income. It is important to always consult a tax professional prior to making a decision on whether to file a yearly income tax return.