Do you have to file your taxes every year?

Question

I heard that there is a law that says we don't have to file our taxes every year as long as we don't go into the negative? Does anyone know?

Actually I did my taxes on turbotax.com and it said I owed $800, but my friend told me that as long as I claim my wife next year cause she doesn't work that I don't have to file this year cause what I get back next year will be larger than what I owe this year. Sorry if that sounds confusing

Answer 1

You MUST file your taxes every year. One of 3 things will happen. You'll owe the IRS, which you must file in order to pay. The IRS will owe you, which they can't send you unless you file your refund claim. Finally you break even and no body owes anybody, but you won't know that if you don't fill out the forms. Once you've done that, it's easy to file.

Finally, when you file your return, you start the 3 year statute of limitations for an IRS audit. If you don't file, there is no statute of limitations, and 30 years later they could audit you. That's a lot on interest due if you owe them. If they owe you, you're out of luck, because they only keep the money for that 3 year statute, and then it becomes theirs.

Answer 2

Nope, no such law. And your friend is totally wrong. You can't offset one year with another year. Each year has to stand on it's own. You don't have to file a tax return in a given year, but only if your income is less than your adjustments, deductions, and exemptions. You would want to file a tax return even if you did not have taxable income after your adjustments, deductions, and exemptions if you had withholdings so that you could get your withholdings back. You also would need to file a tax return if you were self-employed (schedule C or F) and had net income from the Schedule C or F of more than $400. If you do than you need to pay what is called self-employment tax. The IRS does not know unless you tell them via the tax return whether you owe them money or they owe you money. But, if you do owe them money, you need to pay them by the tax deadline, otherwise penalties and/or interest will be added to what you owe the IRS. If they owe you money then you only have 3 years to file that years' return, otherwise you will lose out on that refund.

Answer 3

I work at a Real Estate Office and just because taxes are not taken out of their commission doesn't mean that they don't have to file a tax return every year. It is up to the agent to withhold their own money to pay their taxes at the end of the year. They do get 1099s. Everyone is required to file a tax return that has an income.

Answer 4

Your friend is full of horse puckey!
If you make over a certain amount by the end of the year or receive a certain type of income, you must file a return for that year.

And for claiming your wife; Do you mean filing MFJ? Or are your claiming your wife as a dependent because she doesn't work?
If you're trying to claim her as dependent, that's another no-no. Your spouse is never considered your dependent.

Several months ago, some restaurant workers were discussing how they were told they could hold onto their W-2s for a year or two and then file them all at once to get a bigger refund.
When I heard that, I though 'yep, they're nuts!'

Read your 1040 tax booklet.

Answer 5

You hear wrong. Your friend isn't doing you any favor telling you things that aren't true - that friend has already cost you money. If you owe $800 for this year and haven't even filed yet, there are penalties accumulating every month for non-filing, as well as interest on the unpaid amount. By next year they could be fairly substantial. If you don't owe anything next year, fine, but that doesn't excuse you from filing this year.

If you don't owe, but have income above the level where you are required to file, you are still required to file every year, but there's no penalty if you don't as long as you don't owe anything. But if you owe, there are penalties if you don't file, and file on time.

Answer 6

Yes, it does sound confusing. If you have income in any given year you file a tax return; every year stands by itself as a tax year. Again I say; never listen to they (I have never seen this mysterious they there with a checkbook to pay for the problems "they" cause). File your tax return each and ever year and get that old refund check so you can make your wife happy. Quit thinking; just do it!!!!!

Answer 7

Sorry, but your "friend" is a tax-idiot. If you owe this year you MUST pay this year or you will have penalties for late payment and interest added on to the debt.

You MUST file a tax return in any year that your income exceeds the filing requirement amount for your filing status. PERIOD.

Answer 8

You have to file every year your income is over your filing requirements. Filing requirements are different for different people. Usually it is your standard deduction and personal exemption.

Not only are there penalties for not filing, there are penalties if you owe over a certain amount. This is because income taxes are a "Pay as you Go" tax.

Answer 9

There are income limits that specify that if you fall underneath a certain yearly income, that you don't have to file your taxes. I believe this limit is $3,000 + standard deduction (its adjusted every year or so for inflation). I think though right now the income limit would be almost $8,000.


Jeez, I give the 1st correct answer and get a thumbs down.

Again, to re-emphasize, your income needs to exceed a certain threshhold (indicated above) and depends also on your marital & filing status.

Answer 10

why wouldn't u if you don't owe money? Get some of ur money back from the goverment