The money you hear about people getting for just filing a tax return claiming kids requires you to have some earned income (wages or self employment). Without earned income, you are not eligible for the "refundable" Earned Income Credit or Additional Child Tax Credit. Unemployment compensation, although taxable, is not earned imcome. You do not need to file and cannot get anything for filing
51 cents, rounds up to $1, so that’s the minimum to e-file a tax return. There is no actual minimum amount of income to file a tax return. But, if you had zero income, you could not e-file and would have to mail in your return.
