by Moe Zilla

Created on: March 05, 2010   Last Updated: March 16, 2010

Not everyone has to file a tax return on April 15th. For example, there's special cases for servicemen where the IRS grants an automatic extension of several months. And you're also granted an automatic two-month extension if you're living outside the U.S. and your main "post of business" is also outside the U.S. For everyone else, the IRS's official position is that you only need to file a tax return if your income is above a certain level. Your age has an impact, since people over the age of 65 are allowed to earn more before they're even required to file. But the level also changes based on your filing status - like whether you're single or married - and it also changes depending on the specific type of income that was earned.

TurboTax provides a handy list that identifies - for every filing status - exactly how much can be earned without needing to file a tax return. Single tax payers can earn up to $9,350 before they're required to file a tax return (or $10,750 if they're over the age of 65). A head of household can earn up to $12,000 without filing a return (or $13,400 if they're over the age of 65). And there's four different limits for married  people, depending on both their age and whether they're filing jointly or separately. If they're married but would be filing a separate tax return, then the limit drops to just $3,650. But if the married couple files jointly, they can still earn up to $18,700 before they required to file that return. That limit rises to $19,850 if one of them is over the age of 65, and $20,900 if they're both over 65.

But remember that if you're self-employed, there are even stricter rules. If your net earnings are over $400, you're required to not only file a Form 1040, but also Schedule SE. And the threshold drops to just $108.28 if you're classification is "church employee". Some income earned by ministers also falls under the self-employment rules (though there's a special exemption if they've taken a vow of poverty).

It's possible to earn even more money without filing a return if you're considered a "qualifying widower", but the rules for this are more complicated than you think. You're only eligible if you have a child that you're claiming as a dependent that will live with you for the entire year, and if you haven't remarried. If you meet these qualifications, you can earn up to $15,050 before you're required to file a tax return. And that limit rises to $16,150 if you're over the age of 65.

And if someone is claiming you as a dependent, the threshold is much lower. (Dependents aren't allowed to claim their "personal exemption" when calculating their yearly income.) The amount that you're allowed to earn before filing a tax return falls between $5,700 (if you're under the age of 65 and not blind) and $8,500 (if you're over the age of 65, blind, and single.)  If a dependent is only one or the other - either blind, or over the age of 65 - then the limit is $7,100 (if they're single) or $6,800 (if they're married). And if you're all three - 65, blind, and married - then the limit is $7,900.

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