# Basic tax question

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-tax-question/229583>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [February 17, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-tax-question/229583 "2004-02-17T00:56:33Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Flying\_Monk](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/48db29/32.png) [@Flying\_Monk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Flying_Monk)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 12:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-tax-question/229583/1 "2004-02-17T00:56:33Z")

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A friend of mine hasn’t made much money this year, and he thinks he may be exempt from federal income tax. He’s working in Florida, what’s the minimum taxable income?

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**Author:** ![Lsura](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7993a0/32.png) [@Lsura](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lsura)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-tax-question/229583/2 "2004-02-17T02:20:01Z")

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[Who must file?](http://www.irs.gov/taxtopics/tc351.html).  
It is worth saying, however, that even though his income may exempt him from the filing requirement, taxes may have been taken from his paycheck. If he wants to get them back as a refund, he needs to file.

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**Author:** ![suezeekay](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/839c29/32.png) [@suezeekay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/suezeekay)\
**Post date:** [February 17, 2004, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/basic-tax-question/229583/3 "2004-02-17T05:15:54Z")

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If your friend’s income is under 11,230, he’s between ages 25-65, is not anyone’s dependent, and no one is claiming him so THEY can get the earned income credit, he might want to file to get an Earned Income Credit, which is refundable (you get a refund even if you didn’t put any money in).