is it illegal to not file your taxes if you only made a little bit of money?

Question

about 6 years ago i worked at a fast food place in high school i didn't file because my parents said i didn't make enough to get much back (about 3,000 dollars) .it seems like every time i watch tv someone is in cuffs for not paying or failing to file their taxes. is there some type of minimum or does that apply to everyone? please help

Answer 1

If when you worked you had no federal income tax withheld and made less that about 3,800 then you would not have needed to file a return. The only reason to file would have been for a refund of taxes withheld. If it is really bugging you then contact the employer you worked for and ask for a copy of your W-2 form for 2001? They are required by law to keep records and a copy would be simple to run off for you. Visit them in person or call; just get the W-2. Then you can go online to IRS.GOV and get from previous years forms a 1040EZ and booklet for the year in question; and fill it out and file it. If you require any question clarification or anything just send same to me and I will give you whatever. I have worked for the IRS VITA (volunteer income tax assistance) program for 36 years, being male I am sort of inept at most things but I can definitely do taxes.

Answer 2

Dependents have a different filing requirement. For 2006 if your unearned income (interest etc) was more than $850. you would have to file or if your earned income (wages salaries tips etc) was more than 5150 you would have to file. While you probably do not have a filing requirement, you should file to get the amount of your federal withholding back. The easiest way for you to do this is a 1040ez, the forms are year specific and you could file your 2006, 2005, and 2004 returns to receive the refund of your federal withholding. Unfortunately you can't go back any further than 2004 unless your were financially disabled (reason for not filing). We don't put you in jail when you have earned so little money as a w-2 employee, if you were self employed (meaning that your employer does not withhold taxes) you would have to file when your net income is more than $400/year but this does not appear to be your situation. Check out Publication 501 at irs.gov and it should help you. Remember when filing the 1040ez line 5 (standard deduction) there is a small worksheet on the back of the form to help you fill this part out, most people fill this out wrong which is why I pointed out the worksheet (its only 5 lines long). Go claim your refund.

Answer 3

If you are in the U.S., go to irs.gov and it will tell you the minimums on what you need to make and if you need to file. If you were owed a refund (and I'm guessing you were owed back all the taxes you paid on the $3k) it's possible that the IRS filed a return for you and kept the small amount of money it would have refunded to you.

Taxes are the one thing you really should not mess around with, though. Always file. Even if you get back $20, it's still $20 and then you won't have to worry.

Answer 4

If your income exceeds the filing requirement amount for your filing status you must file a return. For tax year 2001, the filing requirement amount for a single taxpayer who could be claimed as a dependent was $4,550. If you earned less than $4,550 you were not required to file a return.

However, if any income taxes were withheld from your pay you would have to file a return to have those withheld taxes returned to you. IMHO, it's silly not to claim that since it's your money. It's just donating the money to the government. If you're in a giving mood there are more worthy causes to donate to but it's your money so it's your call.

Unfortunately it is now too late to claim that refund. The deadline for claiming refunds for tax year 2001 was April 15, 2005.

Answer 5

There is a minimum where, if you make less than that, you don't have to file. If your income is as an employee, not from self-employment, the limit for 2006 was $5450 if you were a dependent - if you made less than that, you don't have to file a federal return and would definitely not owe tax - if anything was withheld, you can file to get it refunded to you.

Answer 6

Look at your last pay stub and see how much was taken out for federal income taxes. That is what you will get back if you file, and no more. You are free to file for this refund if you think it is worth your time. Print out Form 1040EZ and e-file or mail it in. If you are single, have $1,000 in wages and no other income, you are not required to file.

Answer 7

Unless you claimed to be exempt on your w-4 form you were required to file. But don't worry too much, the IRS is probably not gonna go on a witch hunt for that small of an amount. The people you see in cuffs are people who have tried to hied huge amounts of money. It's not as though they didn't know better. Rest easy, the IRS will undoubtedly notify you if there's a problem :)

Answer 8

the business sends reports every month to the government with your social security number on it- if you owed you would've been caught by now. Safer to file- sometimes they give you back more than you think you are due!