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Best answer by ThomasM

It depends.  If you are required to file (based on income level) then you'll have to file regardless of your bottom line.  But if your income is below the threshold for mandatory filing -- and you're not getting a refund -- then you don't have to.

Here's a link to IRS Publication 17, which covers the filing requirements for each filing status:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf.  Note the section entitled Do I have to file a return on pp. 4-5.

1 reply

ThomasMAnswer
Employee
June 1, 2019

It depends.  If you are required to file (based on income level) then you'll have to file regardless of your bottom line.  But if your income is below the threshold for mandatory filing -- and you're not getting a refund -- then you don't have to.

Here's a link to IRS Publication 17, which covers the filing requirements for each filing status:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p17.pdf.  Note the section entitled Do I have to file a return on pp. 4-5.