Should I file taxes for the first time?

[hales9]

Ok, so I’ve never filed a tax return. My first job was in 2015 at a fast food place. Worked from April-December. Made 7.25 Hour at about 15-25 hours per week. Sometimes more. And I got paid bi-weekly.

 I just started my new job. I make $10/hour for 40/hours a week - but just started the end of December. I’m a little confused on whether or not I should file. I think i should. 

* Btw, I’m a dependent on my parents taxes as of now but don’t attend school yet. In a couple of months, I’ll have my first car and apartment so I figured this would be a good first year to file. 

[maglib]

if taxes were withheld from your paychecks you should be filing for a probable refund.  You can still file a return for the unreported income in 2015 and 2016 if you are due a refund.

You must file in 2017 as a dependent if any of the following apply:

Your unearned income was more than $1,050. (dividends, interest, cap gains types)
Your earned income was more than $6,350.
Your gross income was more than the larger of—
$1,050, or
Your earned income (up to $6,000) plus $350.

[hales9]

Thank you! I didn’t work in 2016. I basically had a job gap from December 2015-December 2017. I was finishing school and such.

[maglib]

were you in college as you may be eligible for education credits or your parents. Again if taxes were witthheld in 2015 w-2 you may want to file for the refund. You only need to do a 1040ez and it's fairly simple.

[hales9]

I wasn’t, but I will definently be sure to file. Thanks! Any documents or special things I might need to get started? I think I’ll shoot to file in February.

[maglib]

The interview is very straight forward.  Or you can look up VITA (voluntary income tax assistance) group who would help you prepare your returns for free. You can use TT free for filing this year.  Or you can easily do a 1040ez by downloading the forms and following the instructions as long as you have the appropriate w-2's. It's much simpler than it originally appears.  Do note that TT would require you to pay to download 2015 software as it's not available online, you would be better off served for 2015 to look at the IRS website for free software or as I said you can readily use the downloaded form from the IRS.

[hales9]

Thanks for everything. I’ll get started in a couple weeks and let you know how it turned out.

[maglib]

all official IRS sites begin with <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://IRS.gov">https://IRS.gov</a>   here is IRS site for prior year assistance help  <a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/filing-past-due-tax-returns">https://w...>