Do I need to file taxes / can I if I had no income in 2019? (I'm currently a full-time PA student and am not allowed to work while I'm in school)

[DianeC958 · Accepted solution]

No, you do not need to file a tax return. 

If you have income that is less than the Standard Deduction for 2019 you are not required to file a return.  The amount of the Standard Deduction is based on your filing status,

The Standard Deduction for 2019 is

Single $12,200

Head of Household $18,350

Married Filing Joint $24,400

Married Filing Separate $12,200

[Hal_Al]

You are not required to file a tax return.  If you have no income, there is usually no benefit in doing so.  There are  rare exceptions.  

If you are a student, over age 23, and are not claimed as a dependent by someone else (e.g. your parent) you may be eligible for the up to $1000 refundable American Opportunity (tuition) Credit. That credit is not dependent on having either kids or earned income. You must be at least a half time undergraduate student and actually paid tuition (not just had it paid by grants). Tuition paid by loans counts as paid by you (since you have to pay that back, someday).

If you have scholarships and grants (not loans) that exceed your qualified expenses, by more than $12,200, you may owe tax on the excess.

[ryanwongnevada]

thank you!!! 

[Carl]

I'm currently a full-time PA student and am not allowed to work while I'm in school

Just a wild guess here. But it sounds to me like you are a foreign student, since you state you're not "allowed to work" while in school. Therefore you have no need, reason or requirement to file a U.S. tax return.