Do I need to file a federal return this year?

Whether you need to file a federal tax return this year depends mostly on how much money you made in 2024, your age, and your filing status.

Filing Status	Age on December 31, 2024	Must file if gross income is at least
Single	Under 65	$14,600
Single	65 or over	$16,550
Married Filing Jointly	Under 65 (both spouses)	$29,200
Married Filing Jointly	Under 65 (one spouse)	$30,750
Married Filing Jointly	65 or over (both spouses)	$32,300
Married Filing Separately	Any age	$5
Head of Household	Under 65	$21,900
Head of Household	65 or over	$23,850
Qualifying surviving spouse	Under 65	$29,200
Qualifying surviving spouse	65 or over	$30,750

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 the year.

If you're being claimed as a dependent on someone else's 2024 return, like your parents, go to Do I need to file my own taxes if I'm a dependent?