Filing a nil return while unemployed involves declaring zero income to tax authorities (like KRA in Kenya or SARS in SA) to maintain compliance and avoid penalties. Log into the respective tax portal (e.g., KRA iTax, SARS eFiling), select the "File Nil Return" option, confirm no income for the tax period, and submit the return, ensuring you download the confirmation receipt.
Filing taxes for unemployment income requires a little more work than filing with a more traditional W-2. If you received more than $600 payment from a single company, that company is required to send you a 1099. You'll use this to file your taxes, reporting on your “Nonemployee Compensation” in Box 7.
For a nil corporate tax return, you will need to use Form T2 Short Return. This is the most straightforward way to report a nil income for your business. The T2 Short Return form is designed for corporations with no significant business expenses or deductions to claim.
To file a NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) income tax return in the U.S., you'll generally use Form 1040 and Schedule C to report income and expenses, entering zeros for income if you truly had none after deductions, but you must file if you made over $400 in NIL self-employment income to claim credits/refunds, even if it's $0 taxable, often involving entering minimal interest income ($1) in tax software to bypass rejections.
How Do You File a Nil ITR in Income Tax?
A nil return is when no changes have occurred to your existing schemes in the previous tax year. If we believe this to be the case, the platform will let you know. To submit a nil return, you need to log into the PAYE section of HMRC's website and select Employment Related Securities.
All you need to do is go to your iTax profile, Returns, and select the NIL return option and submit. What do I do if I am trying to upload my return but system tells me I have to file returns for previous months/year? In the case of first time filling you need to call KRA for the change of roll-out date.
Any year you have minimal or no income, you may be able to skip filing your tax return and the related paperwork. However, it's perfectly legal to file a tax return showing zero income, and this might be a good idea for a number of reasons.
A nil ITR applies when your total annual income is below the basic exemption limit set by the government. For individuals below 60 years of age, this limit is Rs. 2.5 lakh.
If you didn't have any income in 2025 or if all your income was tax exempt, it is still in your best interest to file a tax return: Parents: you might be eligible to receive certain tax credits and benefits such as the GST/HST credit or the Canada child benefit (and its related provincial/territorial benefit payment).
Even if no income is declared, for compliance purposes it is necessary to submit a nil return. If using SARS eFiling, indicate on the ITR12 wizard that you were unemployed and click No to all the visible options (see below image). Then submit your return to SARS.
The biggest tax mistakes people make include filing late, math errors, incorrect personal info (like Social Security numbers), forgetting deductions/credits (like EITC), misreporting income, not signing forms, and making errors with bank details for direct deposit, all leading to delays, penalties, or missed savings, with using tax software or professionals helping avoid these common pitfalls.
Failure to file attracts a penalty of Ksh 2,000, which can easily be avoided by taking a few minutes online. This guide explains what nil returns are, who should file them, and how to file through the KRA iTax portal.
If you do not have any form of taxable income on your tax return, the IRS E-file system may reject your return. This is because it will read it as an empty tax return. Some people are not required to file returns but choose to file so they have a tax return on record for personal and/or legal reasons.
If you had no income in 2024, you are required to file a NIL return. If you are employed and have other sources of income from your side hustles, you are still required to declare them in addition to the income you get from your job. If you are a partner in a partnership firm, you are required to file your returns.
Earning NIL income means filing taxes, and that can get complicated. Between self-employment taxes, deductions, and estimated payments, it's important to stay on top of tax responsibilities to avoid penalties and keep more of what's earned.
Report unemployment compensation
To file a NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) income tax return in the U.S., you'll generally use Form 1040 and Schedule C to report income and expenses, entering zeros for income if you truly had none after deductions, but you must file if you made over $400 in NIL self-employment income to claim credits/refunds, even if it's $0 taxable, often involving entering minimal interest income ($1) in tax software to bypass rejections.
There is no tax credit or deduction for losing your job. Your income is generally lower, which also lowers your income tax and may allow you to qualify for EITC and the Additional Child Tax Credit, which increases your refund.
The minimum salary to pay federal tax (meaning you must file a return) depends on your filing status, age, and year, but for the 2025 tax year (filed in 2026), single individuals under 65 must file if they earn $15,750 or more, while married couples filing jointly (both under 65) must file if they earn $31,500 or more; however, you must file if you're married filing separately with even $5 in gross income, and self-employed individuals with $400 or more in net earnings must also file, as well as some dependents.
KRA: Log in iTax https://itax.kra.go.ke/, go to the 'Returns' tab, select 'View Filed Return' and click the 'Consult' tab.
You must file your nil return by the 31st July of every year. Failing to file your return within the due date, you will be charged ₹1,000 nil return late fee. If your income is below the taxable income range of ₹5,00,000, the late fee for nil return is capped at ₹1,000.