Solved: No, if he had no income and is not required to file, then...

Should my son file a 2016 income tax return if he had medical expenses but did not have earnings in 2016?

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No, if he had no income and is not required to file, then filing solely to claim itemized deductions for medical expenses will be a waste of his time.

Deductions can only lower his taxable income. If that's already at zero, then there's no sense in filing, as unused medical deductions will not carry forward to the following year.

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No, if he had no income and is not required to file, then filing solely to claim itemized deductions for medical expenses will be a waste of his time.

Deductions can only lower his taxable income. If that's already at zero, then there's no sense in filing, as unused medical deductions will not carry forward to the following year.