If I don't work/have any income for this year, and withdraw a 401k under $1000, will I have to pay in when it is tax season? Will I be safe to not file?

[jewel-sinyard]

I have not worked all year, I lost my job January 3rd but didn't work any hours this year. I have no other income, and I am cashing out my 401k which is under $1,000. My concern is that I will have to pay In next year, when I wasn't planning on doing my taxes at all since no income.

[Critter-3]

If you are under the age of 59.5 then you will owe a 10% penalty for early withdrawal unless you have an exception to the penalty.  So have 10% withheld then you would not need to file a return as you will be even with the IRS.

[Opus 17]

If you have no other income, any income less than the $12,550 standard deduction won't be subject to income tax.  However, you must still pay the 10% penalty for early withdrawal if you are under age 59-1/2.

The problem with not filing a return, and just having 10% withheld and walking away from it, is that if you don't file, the IRS will take your information and create a return for you in their computers.  You are assuming that if you don't file, the return created by the IRS will be correct and will show that you owe tax equal to your withholding and you are even.  However, if the IRS computers don't agree with you, and think you owe more, they will come after you.  I would alway recommend filing a return and getting the records officially into their system, even if you don't owe a payment because you had the 10% withheld at the time of the withdrawal.

You won't be able to e-file for free using Turbotax, but you can find other providers on the IRS web site who will let you e-file for free.

https://www.irs.gov/filing/free-file-do-your-federal-taxes-for-free

[dmertz]

If the Form 1099-R has code 1, filing either Form 5329 stand-alone or Form 1040 with Schedule 2 is required to report the 10% early-distribution penalty.  Form 5329 cannot be e-filed stand-alone.  Having 10% withheld will avoid any failure-to-file penalty, but avoiding the failure-to-file penalty doesn't eliminate your obligation to file.