I Only Had a Job for a Month: Do I Need to File Taxes?

Unless you’ve earned a large amount of money in that one month on the job, chances are you will not have to file taxes. However, this depends on several factors. How much you earned, your filing status and the number of jobs you had all year will determine whether you will have tax filing requirements. The IRS isn’t concerned about how long you’ve had a job or how many jobs it takes you to reach the minimum income thresholds; once this amount is exceeded, you are required to file taxes. As a result of these thresholds, depending on what you made, you may have to file taxes if you only worked one month.

Each year the IRS releases inflation-adjusted figures that determine the minimum amount a worker has to earn before he has to file taxes. All earned income from each job is calculated to determine your minimum filing requirement. Check your age, filing status, and amount of earned income you had against the 2019 minimum income thresholds to find out if you need to file. Bear in mind that these thresholds differ for taxpayers claimed as a dependent on someone else’s returns, and are not for unearned income from dividends and interest on investments.

For tax year 2019, you will need to exceed the following minimum income requirements for your age and filing status before you are required to file a federal tax return:

Single

• Under 65 – $12,200
• 65 and older – $13,850

Married Filing Jointly

• Both spouses under 65 – $24,400
• One spouse 65 and older – $25,700
• Both spouses 65 years and older – $27,000

Married Filing Separately

• Any age – $5

Head of Household

• Under 65 – $18,350
• 65 and older – $20,000

Qualifying Widow/er

• Under 65

– $24,400 * 65 and over – $25,700

For tax year 2020, the minimum income requirements for your age and filing status are changing. Before you are required to file a federal tax return, you must meet the following criteria: If you're single, the standard deduction is $12,400. If you're married filing jointly, it's $24,800. And if you're head of household, it's $18,650. Overall, there is a slight increase from the previous tax year.

Read More: Tax Return Changes in 2020: 7 Things That Are Different This Year

If your total income from all sources does not exceed limits for your age and filing status, then you aren’t required to file, but you might want to. The IRS will not notify you of any refunds or tax credits you’re eligible for. In order to get back any withholdings or refundable tax credits, you must file – even if you don’t have to. Refundable tax credits are credits that you can receive as a refund if your tax liability is zero.

Once your tax liability is brought to zero, you’re able to pocket any difference remaining, depending if the credit is partially or fully refundable. If your tax liability is already at zero, then you may be eligible to receive the entire credit as a refund. The Earned Income Tax Credit, the Additional Child Tax Credit and the American Opportunity Tax Credit are all at least partially refundable, and can result in a refund for you at tax time.

To find out which tax credits you qualify for, or to determine if you are required to file taxes at all, consult with your tax preparer to discuss your best course of action. The IRS website also has interactive tax assistant tools and calculators to help you understand your own tax situation.

Read More: What Happens If You Don't File Taxes?