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.

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.

Do I have to report income under $600? ›

If I didn't get a 1099-NEC or 1099-MISC, do I still need to report the income if it's less than $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.

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

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.

What is the minimum income to not file a tax return? ›

Under age 65. Single. Don't have any special circ*mstances that require you to file (like self-employment income) Earn less than $13,850 (which is the 2023 standard deduction for a taxpayer filing as Single)

What is the lowest income to file taxes? ›

$13,850

What is the new IRS $600 rule? ›

The reporting threshold for third party settlement organizations, which include payment apps and online marketplaces, was changed to $600 by the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. The IRS announced a delay in implementing this change for tax year 2023, which covers tax returns generally filed in early 2024.

What is the new $600 rule? ›

The new ”$600 rule”

Under the new rules set forth by the IRS, if you got paid more than $600 for the transaction of goods and services through third-party payment platforms, you will receive a 1099-K for reporting the income.

What is the $600 tax rule? ›

In the last year or so, you may have heard about the “$600 rule.” This refers to situations where payments you receive for goods or services through third-party payment networks and online marketplaces like Venmo, PayPal, Amazon, Square, eBay, Etsy, etc. exceed $600.

Who must file a California 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.

Who is exempt from paying taxes in California? ›

State Income Tax

A "tax-exempt" entity is a corporation, unincorporated association, or trust that has applied for and received a determination letter from the Franchise Tax Board stating it is exempt from California franchise and income tax (California Revenue and Taxation Code Section 23701).

What are the income tax rules in California? ›

Single filers:
Income*Tax Rate
$0 to $10,4121%
Over $10,412 to $24,6842%
Over $24,684 to $38,9594%
Over $38,959 to $54,0816%
5 more rows
Feb 26, 2024

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed? ›

Bottom Line. Yes, Social Security is taxed federally after the age of 70. If you get a Social Security check, it will always be part of your taxable income, regardless of your age. There is some variation at the state level, though, so make sure to check the laws for the state where you live.

Does Social Security count as income? ›

You report the taxable portion of your social security benefits on line 6b of Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR. Your benefits may be taxable if the total of (1) one-half of your benefits, plus (2) all of your other income, including tax-exempt interest, is greater than the base amount for your filing status.

Can I get a tax refund if my only income is Social Security? ›

You would not be required to file a tax return. But you might want to file a return, because even though you are not required to pay taxes on your Social Security, you may be able to get a refund of any money withheld from your paycheck for taxes.

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

For those filing single status, there are two thresholds. If you're under the age of 65, you should file taxes if you made $12,950 or more in 2023. Filers who are 65 or older should file taxes if they made $14,700 or more.

Do I need to file taxes if I made less than 16000? ›

As a filing single or married filing separate person, if your income for the year you're filing for did not equal or exceed the standard deduction limit of $13,850, and you do not owe any special taxes or have any special tax situations, you do not need to file.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Rueben Jacobs

Last Updated:

Views: 6620

Rating: 4.7 / 5 (77 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Rueben Jacobs

Birthday: 1999-03-14

Address: 951 Caterina Walk, Schambergerside, CA 67667-0896

Phone: +6881806848632

Job: Internal Education Planner

Hobby: Candle making, Cabaret, Poi, Gambling, Rock climbing, Wood carving, Computer programming

Introduction: My name is Rueben Jacobs, I am a cooperative, beautiful, kind, comfortable, glamorous, open, magnificent person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.