55 yr old woman has no income for 2008, does she need to file taxes or tax exemt?
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348 points
Sensei answered 8 months ago …
I'm a Canadian tax specialist. The rules in the U.S. may be different but, as a general rule, I'd never recommend to anyone (even a US citizen) that they not file a tax return every year - even if they have no income. The tax authorities may perceive that this is a "failure to file" and not a matter of having no taxable income. Just file your return indicating "zero" in the total columns (e.g. lines 22, 37, 38, 43 and 44 of your 1040.) Again, I'm not an expert on U.S. taxes, but up here there are various tax and other social benefits payments that you can only get if you file a tax return. The same may be true in the U.S. Do it.
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192 points
seyobnats answered 8 months ago …
No. There are only a few reasons she would file;
1.If taxes were witheld on investment holdings not sheltered in an IRA or 401(k).
2. In the event another stimulus payment is to be paid directly to taxpayers using the IRS as the paying agent, as happened last year when many seniors with low incomes but no tax liability had to file in order to be eligible. At present, I don't think one is coming this year. Too many hands are already in the pork barrel.
3. She is a non-resident alien on a temporary working visa who is leaving the country permanently and needs IRS clearance to do so. but then she would have had income and has to file even if she has no tax liability, just to close the IRS books.
I can't think of any other reasons she would need to file but no doubt there are others
204 points
helpme answered 8 months ago …
Re: seyobnats item 2. I assume she means filing for 2008. I don't know about the short form 1040, but the long form requires it on line 70 after filling out 29 lines on the rebate worksheet. . Big Brother is watching!
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