# Tax question for filing in 2005

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-question-for-filing-in-2005/246539>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [May 22, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-question-for-filing-in-2005/246539 "2004-05-22T16:47:29Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ms\_mom67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@ms\_mom67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ms_mom67)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-question-for-filing-in-2005/246539/1 "2004-05-22T16:47:29Z")

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I have no income for this year so far, and will be starting school in June and going full time. So my question is do I have to file tax’s next year. I also have two childern I claim. This is the first time I have never had any income in a year, so I am not sure what I do.

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**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-question-for-filing-in-2005/246539/2 "2004-05-22T17:38:19Z")

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Have you checked out the [IRS web site](http://www.irs.gov/individuals/index.html)?

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**Author:** ![ms\_mom67](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bc79bd/32.png) [@ms\_mom67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ms_mom67)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 6:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-question-for-filing-in-2005/246539/3 "2004-05-22T18:49:44Z")

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Yeah I went there and looked around at the FAQ’s found one about going to school and working part-time. I didn’t see where that helped me much.

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 7:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-question-for-filing-in-2005/246539/4 "2004-05-22T19:03:53Z")

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Read the instructions to the 1040. There’s a chart in there that tells you the minimum income for filing. It’s on page 15 of the 1040A instructions. Here’s the information (I’m assuming you’re under 65)

If your gross income is at least…

Single-$7,800  
Married filing Jointly-$15,160  
Married filing Seperately-$3,050  
Head of Houshold-$10,500  
Qualifying widow(er) with dependent child-$12,500

You also need to file if you qualify for a refund, and want to collect it, and other a few other circumstances. Read the instructions for more detail.

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**Author:** ![dmartin29](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/5e9695/32.png) [@dmartin29](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dmartin29)\
**Post date:** [May 22, 2004, 7:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/tax-question-for-filing-in-2005/246539/5 "2004-05-22T19:29:36Z")

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Even with zero income while you don’t need to file you should anyway and check to see if you are qualified for Earned Income. Also in the future for loans and thngs when asked for tax records it is etter to have one showing zero than to try to explain.