Whether you need to file a federal tax return this year depends mostly on how much money you made in 2023, your age, and your filing status.
| Filing Status | Age on December 31, 2023 | Must file if gross income is at least |
| Single | Under 65 | $13,850 |
| Single | 65 or over | $15,700 |
| Married Filing Jointly | Under 65 (both spouses) | $27,700 |
| Married Filing Jointly | Under 65 (one spouse) | $29,200 |
| Married Filing Jointly | 65 or over (both spouses) | $30,700 |
| Married Filing Separately | Any age | $13,850 |
| Head of Household | Under 65 | $20,800 |
| Head of Household | 65 or over | $22,650 |
| Qualifying surviving spouse | Under 65 | $27,700 |
| Qualifying surviving spouse | 65 or over | $29,200 |
You also must file a federal return if:
- You had $400 or more in self-employment net earnings (gross income minus expenses)
- You had marketplace health insurance and you received advance payments for the premium tax credit
- You (or your spouse if filing jointly) received health savings account, Archer MSA, or Medicare Advantage MSA distribution
- You had wages of $108.28 or more from a church or qualified church-controlled organization that is exempt from employer social security and Medicare taxes
- You owe any special taxes, including any of the following:
- Alternative minimum tax
- Additional tax on a qualified plan, including an individual retirement arrangement (IRA), or other tax-favored account
- Household employment taxes
- Social security and Medicare tax on tips you didn't report to your employer or on wages you received from an employer who didn't withhold these taxes
- Uncollected social security and Medicare or RRTA tax on tips you reported to your employer or on group-term life insurance and additional taxes on health savings accounts
- Recapture taxes
Even if you're not required to, you may want to file a tax return to recover federal tax withheld from your paychecks throughout 2023.
If you're being claimed as a dependent on someone else's 2023 return, like your parents, go to Do I need to file my own taxes if I'm a dependent?
