What Is the Age Requirement for Filing Taxes?

Filing federal income tax returns with the Internal Revenue Service inevitably comes with working in the United States. The IRS determines income tax requirements based on three criteria: age, filing status and gross income.

Age Requirement

No matter what age you are, if you make a certain amount of income, you will have to pay taxes.

Filing Status: Single

Single people under the age of 65 have to pay taxes if earned income is more than $8,500; single people over the age of 65 have to pay taxes if their earned income is more than $10,300.

Filing Status: Married

Married couples under the age of 65, if filing jointly, have to pay taxes if the earned income is more than $17,000. Married couples, where one person is under 65 and one person is over 65, have to file if earned income is more than $18,950. If both people are over 65, they have to file if the income exceeds $20,000.

Definition

The Internal Revenue Service defines gross income as any form of money, goods, property and services that are not exempt from tax.

Time Frame

The income tax year runs from January 1 to December 31. The Internal Revenue Service operates on a calendar year, not a fiscal year.

Fact

An infant is required to file and pay federal taxes when investments are made in the child's name.

Resources

• Internal Revenue Service