Do I have to file if I earned under the threshold?

Usually not — but file anyway if withholding was taken, you qualify for credits, or you want the year on record. An unfiled year with a refund owed is a gift to the Treasury that expires in three years.

I’m self-employed with $500 of profit — must I file?

Yes. The $400 net-earnings test has no other qualifier — $500 of Schedule C profit means a return, even with zero income tax due. Social Security and Medicare still want their share.

What if I can’t pay what the return shows?

File it anyway. The failure-to-file penalty runs 5% a month against 0.5% for failure-to-pay — filing broke is ten times cheaper than not filing. The balance can go on a plan; the missing return cannot wait.

IRC §6012 · 26 U.S.C. §6012

IRC §6012: Who Must File a Return

Name: IRC §6012: Who Must File a Return in 36 seconds
Uploaded: 2026-09-20
Duration: 36 s
Description: IRC §6012 sets the filing requirement — income over the threshold, $400 of self-employment earnings, and a dozen special cases trigger it. File even when not required: refunds and credits only come through a filed return.

By Paul D. Diaz, EA, MBA · Updated September 20, 2026

IRC §6012 sets the filing requirement — income over the threshold, $400 of self-employment earnings, and a dozen special cases trigger it. File even when not required: refunds and credits only come through a filed return.

Watch: Section 6012 in 36 seconds.

What it governs

Gross income above the filing threshold (tied to the standard deduction)
$400 or more of net self-employment earnings — always a return
Special triggers: household employment taxes, AMT liability, HSA distributions, and more
Below the line, file anyway to claim refunds, EIC, education credits, and stimulus

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Questions this section answers

Do I have to file if I earned under the threshold?: Usually not — but file anyway if withholding was taken, you qualify for credits, or you want the year on record. An unfiled year with a refund owed is a gift to the Treasury that expires in three years.
I’m self-employed with $500 of profit — must I file?: Yes. The $400 net-earnings test has no other qualifier — $500 of Schedule C profit means a return, even with zero income tax due. Social Security and Medicare still want their share.
What if I can’t pay what the return shows?: File it anyway. The failure-to-file penalty runs 5% a month against 0.5% for failure-to-pay — filing broke is ten times cheaper than not filing. The balance can go on a plan; the missing return cannot wait.

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