Is There a Minimum Income to File Taxes in California? (2024)

Is there a minimum income to file taxes in California? For many residents, filing taxes is a requirement, but there can be some exceptions based on income and other factors.

Individuals or families who do not earn a significant gross income may not have to file a federal income tax return, but there can still be advantages to doing so. OC Free Tax Prep can help offset the costs of filing for low-income households and ensure families are maximizing their return potential.

California residents are gearing up for tax season. Though the deadline to file is April 15, 2024, it is not too early to start gathering necessary documents. A big question on some people’s minds, however, is whether they even need to file taxes if they did not have significant income.

See Also
Gross Income

Minimum Income to File Taxes in California

Most people are required to file a state return in California, even with minimal income, but what about a federal return? The answer depends primarily on your age, income, and filing status. Here is abasic breakdownfor filing:

IF your filing status is . . .AND at the end of 2022
you were* . . .
THEN file a return if your gross
income** was at least . . .
Singleunder 65
65 or older
$12,950
$14,700
Married filing jointlyunder 65 (both spouses)
65 or older (one spouse)
65 or older (both spouses)
$25,900
$27,300
$28,700
Married filing separatelyany age$5
Head of householdunder 65
65 or older
$19,400
$21,150
Qualifying widow(er)under 65
65 or older
$25,900
$27,300

In addition, if you are self-employed, received a 1099-MISC form, or received an advanced tax credit through the California state or federal healthcare marketplace, you may be required to file a tax return.

Should You File a Tax Return if You are Not Required to File?

Just because you don’t meet the gross income requirements to file does not mean you should not file.You may be eligible to receive a refund or cash back tax credits.

For instance, low-income families may qualify for theEarned Income Tax Credit (EITC) federally, and the California EITC on their state tax return. This can pay anywhere from $275 to $6,935. So as long as you earned income, there is no minimum to file taxes in California.

It is a good idea to talk with a tax professional to determine your filing status and whether you are required to file or could benefit from doing so anyway. Orange County United Way’s OC Free Tax Prep helps qualifying households in Orange County file taxes for free and maximize their returns.

Tax volunteers help educate families on available tax credits and refunds they may be eligible for and assist with accurately preparing and filing tax documents. The tax refunds received help residents save for the future, pay down debt, and afford basic necessities.

Learn more by visiting ocfreetaxprep.com.

Is There a Minimum Income to File Taxes in California? (2024)

FAQs

Is There a Minimum Income to File Taxes in California? ›

So as long as you earned income, there is no minimum to file taxes in California. It is a good idea to talk with a tax professional to determine your filing status and whether you are required to file or could benefit from doing so anyway.

What is the lowest income to file taxes? ›

$13,850

How much income is tax free in California? ›

If your California taxable income is over:But not over:Your tax is:
$0$10,4121% of your income
$10,412$24,684$104.12 + 2% of the excess over $10,412
$24,684$38,959$389.56 + 4% of the excess over $24,684
$38,959$54,081$960.56 + 6% of the excess over $38,959
5 more rows

Do you have to file taxes if you made less than 1500? ›

The minimum income amount depends on your filing status and age. In 2023, for example, the minimum for Single filing status if under age 65 is $13,850. If your income is below that threshold, you generally do not need to file a federal tax return.

Do I have to file a tax return if my only income is social security? ›

Generally, if Social Security benefits were your only income, your benefits are not taxable and you probably do not need to file a federal income tax return.

Do I have to report income under $600? ›

Yes. The IRS requires that you report all of your income, even if it's less than $600 and you didn't get a tax form for it. Follow these steps to enter your income. We'll ask you some questions to determine if your income is from self-employment or is ordinary income.

Can you file taxes with little income? ›

It's perfectly legal to file a tax return even if your income falls below the IRS minimum requirement to file. If you qualify for certain tax credits but owe no tax, you might be able to claim the excess tax credit as a refund when you file your return.

Who must file a California tax return? ›

Filing State Taxes in California. The information in this article is up to date for tax year 2023 (returns filed in 2024). The state of California does collect personal income tax. If you live in California and/or earn income from a source in California, then you may need to file a California state income tax return.

What is considered low income in California? ›

Very-Low, Low and Moderate-Income Limits
Household SizeVery-Low IncomeLow-Income
1$11,550 or less$11,551 - $19,300
2$13,200 or less$13,201 - $22,050
3$14,900 or less$14,901 - $24,800
4$16,550 or less$16,551 - $27,550
4 more rows

How much is California tax on $1000? ›

If you make $1,000 a year living in the region of California, USA, you will be taxed $87.50. That means that your net pay will be $913 per year, or $76.04 per month. Your average tax rate is 8.8% and your marginal tax rate is 8.8%.

When can I stop filing taxes? ›

At What Age Can You Stop Filing Taxes? Taxes aren't determined by age, so you will never age out of paying taxes. Basically, if you're 65 or older, you have to file a tax return in 2022 if your gross income is $14,700 or higher. If you're married filing jointly and both 65 or older, that amount is $28,700.

Do you need to file taxes if you made less than $5000? ›

Do You Have to File Taxes If You Made Less than $5,000? Typically, if a filer files less than $5,000 per year, they don't need to do any filing for the IRS. Your employment status can also be used to determine if you're making less than $5,000.

What happens if you don't file your taxes but don't owe anything? ›

There's no penalty for failure to file if you're due a refund. However, you risk losing a refund altogether if you file a return or otherwise claim a refund after the statute of limitations has expired.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus? ›

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

How much money can seniors make and not file taxes? ›

If you are at least 65, unmarried, and receive $15,700 or more in nonexempt income in addition to your Social Security benefits, you typically need to file a federal income tax return (tax year 2023).

Does Social Security count as income? ›

You must pay taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security benefits if you file a: Federal tax return as an “individual” and your “combined income” exceeds $25,000. Joint return, and you and your spouse have “combined income” of more than $32,000.

Does my 17 year old need to file taxes? ›

Whether your child needs to file a tax return depends on how much they made and what type of income they received. If they only had earned income (e.g., from wages), they have to file only if their income exceeds the standard deduction for the tax year ($13,850 for 2023 and $14,600 for 2024).

Who must file a tax return? ›

Generally, you must file an income tax return if you're a resident , part-year resident, or nonresident and: Are required to file a federal return. Receive income from a source in California. Have income above a certain amount.

Will I get a tax refund if I made less than $10,000? ›

If you earn less than $10,000 per year, you don't have to file a tax return. However, you won't receive an Earned-Income Tax Credit refund unless you do file.

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