Tax Filing Requirement

The minimum amount or threshold of income requiring you to file a federal tax return.

• 2026 filing requirements for most taxpayers

If you have income below the standard deduction threshold for 2026, which is $16,100 for single filers and $32,200 for those married filing jointly, you may not be required to file a return. However, you may want to file anyway.

♦ This value is actually the standard deduction.

Over 65 individuals and couples have slightly higher thresholds.

The IRS provides an older-age booth through two separate provision: traditional Age 65+ Additional Standard Deduction and the newly introduced Temporary Senior Bonus Deduction (enacted under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act).

♦ Married Filing Jointly (Both spouses 65+): $47,500

• Calculation: $32,200 base + $3,300 age additions + $12,000 combined senior bonus.

• The senior bonus is temporary for tax years 2025 through 2028 (subject to income phase-outs starting at $150,000 of Modified Adjusted Gross Income (MAGI) for couples.

• Tax year 2029: The bonus completely disappears.

♦ The age additions are permanent and adjusted for inflation annually.

Different thresholds apply for dependents and those who use other tax filing statuses (like married filing separately).