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 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.

However, unlike the federal government, California does not require an annual tax report from those who made less than the minimum filing requirement or had no income at all. Individuals who earned less than the minimum filing requirement do not have to file.

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.

Key Takeaways

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.

If you have income below the standard deduction threshold for 2023, which is $13,850 for single filers and $27,700 for those married filing jointly, you may not be required to file a return.

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.

California has a number of property tax exemptions, including a homeowners' exemption and disabled veterans' exemption. The state also offers a Property Tax Postponement Program for those 62 and older.

Each state sets its own guidelines for what it defines as residency. It is true that you are considered a resident of California if you are in the state longer than 183 days (they are cumulative days, by the way, not consecutive), but the applicable “days rule” is more lenient in other states.

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 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.

Minimum income requirements for filing taxes

$13,850. $15,700. $27,700 if both spouses are under age 65. $29,200 if one spouse is under age 65 and one is 65 or older.

Some people may choose not to file a tax return because they didn't earn enough money to be required to file. Generally, they won't receive a penalty if they are owed a refund. But, they may miss out on receiving a refund.