Do you have to file taxes if you aren't working?

Question

I haven't worked in a few years and I was told I don't have to file even to say I didn't work at all, what is the truth?

Answer 1

Yes, that would be true.

Answer 2

It's your income, not whether you were working, that determines if you have to file. If you had something like dividends and/or interest that took you over the limit where you had to file, then you'd have to even if you didn't have a job. But otherwise, no, you don't file to say you didn't work at all and don't have other income over the limit. The limit, by the way, for someone who's single, under 65, not a dependent, non self-employed, is $8450 for year 2006. If you had self-employment income over $400, you'd have to file.

Self-employed's answer is wrong.

Answer 3

You still have to file, state and federal, even if your earnings are zero. You probably have some earnigs to report, anyway. If you had interest from a savings account, for instance. How did you support yourself if you had no income? Even if it's not enough to actually owe income tax, you must have had income to cover your expenses, and you must file sooner or later. If you don't and you did owe something, it will be more when you finally do file and have penalties to pay plus interest.