Can you file taxes with no income but have a dependent?

Asked by: Mr. Forrest Morissette IV  |  Last update: April 17, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (7 votes)

It is important to note that even if a taxpayer has no income, they must still file a tax return if they have a dependent and wish to claim tax credits. Failure to do so could result in a loss of benefits.

Can you claim dependents with no income?

Do I need to have income to be eligible for the Child Tax Credit? (added January 31, 2022) A10. No. You do not need income to be eligible for the Child Tax Credit if your main home is in the United States for more than half the year.

Can I file taxes if I don't work but have a child?

Can I file taxes when I didn't have a job but I have a child? Can I file taxes when I didn't have a job but I have a child? It will not benefit you to file unless you are a student and are claiming education expenses. If you have no income, you are not required to file, as there is zero tax.

Can I file taxes with a dependent if I didn't work?

If you did not work and did not have any other type of taxable income then there is no reason to file a tax return, with or without claiming dependents. You are not eligible for any type credits which are based on income from work, including the Child Tax Credit.

Can I get a tax refund if I have no income?

No. People need to understand this. A tax refund is a tax OVER PAYMENT. Putting tax deductions aside, a tax refund is the overpayment you made to the IRS. If you didnt receive income, you are not going to get a refund.

Can you file taxes with no income but have a dependent?

27 related questions found

Can I file taxes with 0 income?

Individuals who fall below the minimum may still have to file a tax return under certain circumstances; for instance, if you had $400 in self-employment earnings, you'll have to file and pay self-employment tax. If you have no income, however, you aren't obligated to file.

Do stay at home moms file taxes?

Does a stay-at-home parent file taxes? As a stay-at-home parent, you can absolutely file taxes. Whether you are required to file a tax return depends on your income level. If you earn any income from freelance work, investment income, or a side business, you may need to report it, depending on how much you make.

How to get child tax credit with no income?

State Young Child Tax Credit:

Families must have at least one qualifying child under 6 years old at the end of the tax year, must file a California state tax return, and meet the requirements of the CalEITC. As of tax year 2022 forward, taxpayers do not need to have earned income to be eligible.

How to file zero income tax return in IRS?

Typically, if you do not have any taxable income, you do not need to file a tax return.

Can my child file their own taxes if I claim them?

If you're a dependent on someone else's return

You can be claimed as a dependent and still need to file your own tax return. Your filing requirement depends on your income, marital status and other criteria. Find details on filing requirements for dependents.

Can a single mother with no income file taxes?

A single mom with a child, but no income does not need to file a return. The child cannot be your dependent if you have not provided more than 50% of the child's support. The tax return can be filed for free, potentially. Otherwise, start your return with TurboTax Free Edition.

What can I do if I have no income?

Here are five steps to take immediately if you've lost your income:
  1. Do a financial review.
  2. Apply for unemployment benefits.
  3. Look for ways to cut expenses.
  4. Find extra ways to supplement your income.
  5. Start looking for a new job.

How do I file taxes if my child has a job?

Parents can use IRS Form 8814 to elect to report their child's income on their tax return instead of the child filing their own return. To make this election, the completed form is included with the parent's tax return.

Can I still get a Child Tax Credit if I didn't work?

For tax year 2022 forward, no earned income is required and you may have a net loss. For tax year 2024, you may have a net loss of up to $34,602. However, you must otherwise meet the CalEITC and YCTC requirements. Note that taxpayers without at least $1 of earned income would not qualify for CalEITC.

What is the minimum income to file taxes for dependents?

The minimum income requiring a dependent to file a federal tax return. 2024 filing requirements for dependents under 65: Earned income of at least $14,600, or unearned income (like from investments or trusts) of at least $1,300. You must include on your Marketplace application income for any dependent required to file.

How to file a nil income tax return?

The procedure to file Nil ITR is explained in detail below:
  1. Visit the Official Income Tax e-filing Website.
  2. Go to the Income Tax Department's official e-filing website.
  3. Log in using your registered user ID (typically your PAN) and password. ...
  4. Navigate to the e-Filing Section.

Can I file taxes with no income but have a dependent?

It is important to note that even if a taxpayer has no income, they must still file a tax return if they have a dependent and wish to claim tax credits. Failure to do so could result in a loss of benefits.

Can I get a refund if I had no income?

You can still file a tax return if you have little or no income. If you are due a tax refund, you must file a return to claim it. Even if you did not earn income, there are tax credits and deductions you may be eligible to claim.

Can you file a tax return if you didn't work?

Taxable income not only includes earnings from your job but can also include retirement and disability benefits. Even if your income is below the amount that requires you to file, you can still file a return to claim a refundable tax credit or get a tax refund.

What are the 6 requirements for claiming a child as a dependent?

Who is a qualifying child?
  • The child has to be part of your family. ...
  • The child has to be under a certain age. ...
  • The child has to live with you. ...
  • The child can't provide more than half of their own financial support. ...
  • The child can't file a joint tax return with someone.

Can I get additional Child Tax Credit with no earned income?

Yes! As long as your child has a SSN, you may qualify for the Child Tax Credit. What if I don't owe taxes or don't file my taxes? Taxpayers can benefit from the credit even if they don't have earned income or don't owe any income taxes.

Can self-employed get a Child Tax Credit?

Self-employed parents have many avenues through which they can strategically approach their federal income taxes. If they have a child, the taxpayer is potentially eligible for many child or dependent tax credits.

Do I file taxes if I have no income?

So, if your income is less than the Standard Deduction, and you don't have other income to report, you won't need to file a tax return. An example of income that you would need to report, regardless of the amount, is self-employment income.

Can you get a child tax credit if you have no income in 2024?

Individuals Can Get Child Tax Credit With No Income in 2024.

What benefits can I claim if I am a stay-at-home mom?

Your Other Option: Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

If you're a homemaker or stay-at-home parent, your best option for disability benefits is to apply for supplemental security income. SSI is available to everyone, regardless of your history of paid, taxed work. However, SSI has criteria of its own.