KimberlyL
New Member

Get your taxes done using TurboTax

Hello,

Not everyone is required to file an income tax return each year. Generally, if your total income for the year doesn't exceed the standard deduction plus one exemption and you aren't a dependent to another taxpayer, then you don't need to file a federal tax return. The amount of income that you can earn before you are required to file a tax return also depends on the type of income, your age and your filing status.


Dependent tax filings

All taxpayers who are claimed as a dependent on someone's tax return are subject to different IRS filing requirements, regardless of whether they are children or adults. Since a dependent is unable to claim their own exemption, a tax return is necessary when their earned income is more than the standard deduction for a single taxpayer, which in 2013 is $6,100. However, the threshold decreases to more than $1,000 when the dependent's income is unearned, such as from dividends and interest.

That being said she does not have to but she can.

There are years when you are not required to file a tax return but may want to. If you have federal taxes withheld from you paycheck, the only way you can receive a refund when excessive amounts are withheld is if you file a tax return. For example, if you are a single taxpayer who earns $2,500 during the year, with $300 withheld for federal tax, then you are entitled to a refund for the entire $300 since you earned less than the standard deduction plus one exemption. The IRS does not automatically issue refunds without a tax return being filed.

Thank you for choosing TurboTax, I hope this helps!