You can still file a tax return if you have little or no income. Even if you did not earn income, there are tax credits and deductions you may be eligible to claim.
Refunds are an important – and exciting – part of taxes. However, not everyone’s tax situation is straight forward when it comes to receiving a refund. In some cases, individuals with no income may still receive a tax refund through credits or deductions.
Who is required to file taxes?
Your filing status and gross income are the main factors that determine if you’re required to file a tax return. For the 2025 tax year (returns filed in 2026), here are the minimum gross income thresholds that require filing a federal tax return:
| Filing Status | Under 65 at the end of 2025 | 65 and older at the end of 2025 |
| Single | $15,750 | $17,750 |
| $5 | $5 | |
| Married Filing Jointly | $31,500 | One spouse 65 or older: $33,100 Both spouses 65 or older: $34,700 |
| Head of Household | $23, 625 | $25,625 |
| Qualifying Surviving Spouses | $31,500 | $33,500 |
In some circumstances, you may be required to file a return even if your income is below the minimum. If you earned $400 or more from self-employment, received unemployment benefits, or took distributions from retirement or Health Savings Accounts (HSAs).
You can use the IRS tool to confirm if you are required to file.
Can I file taxes if I didn’t work?
Yes, you can still file a tax return even if you have little to no income to report. Filing a tax return is still important if you want to claim refundable tax credits. You would use the standard Form 1040 to file. Since you didn’t earn any income for the year, you’ll enter a “0” in each blank on the 1040. Your total income will also be “0.”
Reasons to file a tax return with no income
Even if you didn’t earn any income during the year, filing a tax return can still be worthwhile. Here are several reasons why:
- You can claim refundable credits: You’d need to file a tax return to claim refundable tax credits like the Additional Child Tax Credit, Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), or American Opportunity Tax Credit.
- You want to document your income status: Filing a return can help establish your financial situation for purposes like applying for student aid (FAFSA), housing assistance, or loans.
- You contributed to a retirement account or education savings plan: Filing may be required to claim deductions or credits related to contributions to IRAs, HSAs, or 529 plans.
Can I file taxes with no income if I have a dependent?
Yes, you are certainly allowed to file a tax return even with minimal income. Although you may not have to file a tax return based on the IRS required filing income threshold, if you are claiming a dependent, it may be beneficial to file a tax return. Claiming a dependent on your tax return may make you eligible for certain tax breaks and credits, like the Child Tax Credit and the Child and Dependent Care Credit, which could result in a tax refund.
Can I get a refund if I don’t make enough income to be required to file?
Yes. Even if you are not required to file a tax return, you may be eligible to claim certain refundable credits. “Refundable” means that you could receive a portion of those credits in the form of a tax refund. A couple common examples of refundable credits are the Child Tax Credit and the Earned Income Tax Credit.
Can I get a tax refund if I didn’t work at all?
Yes, even if you did not work all year, you could be eligible for a refund. While tax deductions reduce your taxable income and nonrefundable tax credits reduce your tax liability, refundable credits can be paid out in the form of a tax refund. If you qualify for tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit, you can receive a refund if the amount you qualify for is greater than any taxes you owe.
Can I get a refund if I don’t pay taxes?
It’s possible. If you do not have any federal tax withheld from your paycheck, your tax credits and deductions could still be greater than any taxes you owe. This would result in you being eligible for a refund. Remember – you must file a tax return to claim your refund.
If you’re unsure if your wages are exempt from federal income tax, you can use this IRS withholding tool to confirm. Some common scenarios for individuals who don’t have to pay taxes include:
- If your income is below the minimum amount required to file ($14,600 for single filers and $29,200 for married filing jointly).
- If you are claimed as a dependent by someone else.
- If you didn’t owe federal income tax last year and expect to owe none in the current year.
Note: If you receive a W-2 from your employer, a certain amount of money is being withheld from your paycheck throughout the year to pay your tax bill when you file. When you have taxes withheld, you are paying taxes, and you could be eligible for a refund.
If I don’t file my taxes, can I still claim my refund?
No. You must file a tax return to claim a refund. If you are eligible for a refund but don’t file a return, the IRS will hold your funds until you submit a return for that year.
There is no penalty for filing late if you are owed a refund, but you must file within 3 years of the original due date to receive it. You can use TaxSlayer to file a prior year return for up to three years after it is due.
Why did I receive a CP88 notice if I didn’t file?
If the IRS is holding your refund because you didn’t pay prior year taxes, or they have reason to believe you owe taxes, they will send you a CP88 Notice. The notice will explain why your refund is being held and will require a response from you about why you didn’t file. You should mail the form back or call the number on the notice to speak with an agent.
