Tax Basics for Teens: Filing Your First Tax Return
Are you filing your taxes for the first time this year? Filing an income tax return may sound daunting, but the good news is that most teen tax returns are simple to do — you just need to familiarize yourself with some tax basics. Is a teenager required to file taxes? As a taxpayer, you don’t need to file a tax return if you earned less than the standard deduction ($12,950 in 2022). However, if the government owes you a tax refund, you will want to file a tax return to get that money back. If you earned more than $400 by working a job such as babysitting or doing yard work in your neighborhood, like mowing lawns or raking leaves, the IRS considers you to be self-employed, regardless of your age. Because of these filing requirements, you will need to file a tax return to report that taxable income. Another exception to the standard deduction limit is if you earned more than $1,150 in unearned income (typically from investments or interest rather than a job). If, for example, you ...