# How do homeless people file income tax returns? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 5, 2019, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086 "2019-04-05T13:56:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 14\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/1 "2019-04-05T13:56:49Z")
I’m guessing that truly down-and-out homeless people don’t bother with filing income tax returns, especially if they have no job-related income to report. There are, however, people who have jobs but live out of their cars or RVs. What do these people put down for a home address? Where do these people receive mail (e.g. W-2 forms)? A PO box seems like the obvious answer to that last question, but if you’re living out of your car, chances are you don’t have spare money to afford a PO box. So…? ---
**Author:** ![OldGuy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/3bc359/32.png) [@OldGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/OldGuy)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/2 "2019-04-05T15:05:38Z")
I’d assume you could walk into the business office of your company and get a W-2 in person. In any case you no longer needed to “attach” a W-2 when you file. All you need to know is the numbers. And even if you guessed those wrong, the IRS would correct them. Now how they’d get their letter to you that you owed more, I don’t know. ---
**Author:** ![SpeedwayRyan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ce7236/32.png) [@SpeedwayRyan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SpeedwayRyan)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/3 "2019-04-05T15:07:52Z")
If you have a job, maybe you could get mail delivered to your place of employment? Not sure how picky the IRS is with mail delivery address vs. actual residency address. ---
**Author:** ![Falchion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/a88e57/32.png) [@Falchion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Falchion)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 3:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/4 "2019-04-05T15:14:43Z")
My understanding is that a number of community service organizations (shelters, health clinics, the salvation army, etc.) will allow you to use their business as an address for filing your tax returns. I don’t think you need a fixed address. There’s a discussion [here](https://www.eitcoutreach.org/blog/how-to-file-taxes-if-youre-experiencing-homelessness/) from a non-profit focused on getting low-income persons their tax credits. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/5 "2019-04-05T15:22:05Z")
PO Boxes are cheap. I know from personal interactions that at least a certain percentage maintain a PO Box so they don’t have to keep switching mailing addresses. We have a decent number of homeless that are put up in local motels by government programs. Some use the motel address. Some us a PO Box. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/6 "2019-04-05T15:28:30Z")
The post office still apparently has General Delivery, where you have to call at the post office to receive your mail. I don’t know if this would be an acceptable option for receiving W-2 forms or refund checks. ---
**Author:** ![Jasmine](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jasmine/32/2964_2.png) [@Jasmine](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jasmine)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/7 "2019-04-05T15:34:25Z")
From [homlessadvice.com](http://homlessadvice.com): > [@](#): > > When Do Homeless People Have to File Taxes? > > While most homeless people receiving money in the form of cash probably do not report their income to the IRS, those who have jobs or traceable types if income most definitely do have to report this income and file taxes if they make a certain amount. This amount is the same amount that applies to non-homeless people and it changes each year. > > In 2018, homeless people and other people had to file their federal taxes in the United States if they made more than $6,350 from working. This applied to anyone under the age of 65 and includes self-employment as well as money made from panhandling. For those older than 65, this amount was $7,900. In 2017, these amounts were completely different and will most likely always be different as politics, laws, and government policies do change just about every year. > > How Do They File? > > People who are living on the streets are no different than anybody else when it comes to filing their taxes and sending them to the IRS. They can file them digitally, using a computer and the internet, or they can print out their 1040 form and other IRS forms to mail them in. Most people who are homeless, at least in big cities and urban areas, know where their local library is located. > > At most libraries, you can use the internet and print the IRS tax forms to fill out, or you can file a digital tax return on the IRS’s website. However, while the internet is normally free at most libraries, printing forms or other pieces of paper usually costs something, whether it be a dime or a quarter. > > Also, stamps and envelopes will cost money as well and you’ll have to visit a grocery store, a post office, or some other type of store for these. Some homeless shelters and charity organizations even offer forms, stamps and envelopes for homeless people who need to do their taxes. > > What Address Can Homeless People Use to Receive Tax Refunds? > > As far as addresses, those who have no permanent address have a few different options you might not have thought about. When I was homeless myself, I received all my mail at a local church that was known for providing this service. > > If you’re homeless yourself, it’s best to talk to other people who are homeless and ask them where they receive their mail. Sometimes word of mouth is the best way to find resources in the city and it’s how I found the local church that offered this. In every large city, there’s normally at least one church or charity group that allows people to have mail sent to them and who will allow mail pick-up on certain days of the week.Of course, you’ll want to keep your amount of mail to a minimum as they may discontinue this type of service if people start abusing it and making too much work for those who sort it at the church. ---
**Author:** ![Yllaria](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yllaria/32/3452_2.png) [@Yllaria](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yllaria)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 3:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/8 "2019-04-05T15:34:50Z")
My employer supplies W-2s through the same intranet that stores our pay stubs. All docs are password locked. Pay checks are direct deposited. If you want a hard copy of the W-2 you print it out. Between that and e-filing with direct deposit of my refund, my address won’t get used unless there’s a mistake. ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/9 "2019-04-05T16:02:01Z")
According to the IRS website, a single person under 65 must have gross income of $12,000 or more before the 1040 is even required to be filed for 2018. ---
**Author:** ![Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a87d85/32.png) [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tired_and_Cranky)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/10 "2019-04-05T17:01:50Z")
I worked as a Volunteer Income Tax Assistance preparer a number of years ago for mostly homeless people. **Jasmine’s** post covers the common answers. Some use the address address of a friend or relative. One used an address where they were evicted from. Perhaps they thought their mail might catch up to them someday, somehow. With direct deposit, getting mail from the IRS is less important than getting mail to the IRS. As **Loach** notes, some use PO Boxes, which are acceptable if the person doesn’t receive mail services at their home. When your home is a bridge underpass, that goes without saying. I recall that no one used their work address, perhaps because they didn’t want to tip off their employers that they were homeless. > [@Machine\_Elf](#): > > I’m guessing that truly down-and-out homeless people don’t bother with filing income tax returns, especially if they have no job-related income to report. > > There are, however, people who have jobs but live out of their cars or RVs. What do these people put down for a home address? Where do these people receive mail (e.g. W-2 forms)? A PO box seems like the obvious answer to that last question, but if you’re living out of your car, chances are you don’t have spare money to afford a PO box. So…? First, recognize that you only pay penalties for failing to file a tax return if you owe the IRS money and below a certain income, you are exempt from the filing requirement altogether. If you are homeless with marginal income, you probably don’t have to file and many homeless people don’t. That’s a problem because many homeless people are owed tax refunds due either to income taxes withheld from jobs or refundable credits, like the earned income and child credits. Homeless people miss out on a lot of money each year because of the difficulty in filing tax returns. Not having an address is just one problem. > [@Falchion](#): > > My understanding is that a number of community service organizations (shelters, health clinics, the salvation army, etc.) will allow you to use their business as an address for filing your tax returns. I don’t think you need a fixed address. There’s a discussion [here](https://www.eitcoutreach.org/blog/how-to-file-taxes-if-youre-experiencing-homelessness/) from a non-profit focused on getting low-income persons their tax credits. Exactly. Here is a link from the IRS on the VITA program which doesn’t focus exclusively on homeless people. [https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers](https://www.irs.gov/individuals/free-tax-return-preparation-for-you-by-volunteers) > [@Loach](#): > > PO Boxes are cheap. I know from personal interactions that at least a certain percentage maintain a PO Box so they don’t have to keep switching mailing addresses. We have a decent number of homeless that are put up in local motels by government programs. Some use the motel address. Some us a PO Box. They are cheap to me and presumably you but not to homeless people. I wish this were a service every homeless person could get for free. For reference, where I live, the smallest P.O. Box is about $40 for three months. That’s meaningful to the truly destitute. ---
**Author:** ![Shoeless](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/shoeless/32/7099_2.png) [@Shoeless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shoeless)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/11 "2019-04-05T17:40:02Z")
> [@D\_Anconia](#): > > According to the IRS website, a single person under 65 must have gross income of $12,000 or more before the 1040 is even required to be filed for 2018. However, you’d have to file if you had taxes withheld and want your refund, right? (My wife and I were having this conversation a while back about our teenage grandson and whether he needed to file or not.) ---
**Author:** ![D\_Anconia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@D\_Anconia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/D_Anconia)\ **Post date:** [April 5, 2019, 5:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/12 "2019-04-05T17:51:48Z")
> [@Shoeless](#): > > However, you’d have to file if you had taxes withheld and want your refund, right? (My wife and I were having this conversation a while back about our teenage grandson and whether he needed to file or not.) Yes, of course, if you want a refund. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2019, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/13 "2019-04-06T02:03:35Z")
> [@Tired\_and\_Cranky](#): > > They are cheap to me and presumably you but not to homeless people. I wish this were a service every homeless person could get for free. For reference, where I live, the smallest P.O. Box is about $40 for three months. That’s meaningful to the truly destitute. It is to the truly destitute. But it’s actually possible for someone to be homeless but not quite destitute - at least in expensive areas.[This](https://nypost.com/2015/09/21/hundreds-of-full-time-city-workers-are-homeless/) is an article about full time employees of NYC who are homeless - I’m sure some of them have a PO box. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [April 6, 2019, 7:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-homeless-people-file-income-tax-returns/832086/14 "2019-04-06T07:01:53Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > It is to the truly destitute. But it’s actually possible for someone to be homeless but not quite destitute - at least in expensive areas.[This](https://nypost.com/2015/09/21/hundreds-of-full-time-city-workers-are-homeless/) is an article about full time employees of NYC who are homeless - I’m sure some of them have a PO box. That’s exactly right. The question is about homeless people. That can cover a wide range of people. It doesn’t necessarily mean the unemployable who are living on a heating grate or in a tent in the woods. There are many working homeless That don’t earn enough to pay for housing but still work. Many are shuffled between various temporary government housing arrangements. Motel 6 and other low end motel chains make a good portion of their money from the government. Those are the people and families that make enough to have PO boxes but don’t have enough money to have a permanent residence. They have jobs, probably a car, but make well below what they need to rent or buy a house. And they are the ones that benefit from filing taxes because they are probably owed money. I’m not guessing here. I’m Talking about people that I’ve dealt with many times professionally.