Even if you do not have to file, you should file a tax return if you can get money back. For example, you should file if one of the following applies.
- You had income tax withheld from your pay.
- You made estimated tax payments for the year or had any of your overpayment for last year applied to this year's estimated tax.
- You qualify for the earned income credit. See Publication
596, Earned Income Credit (EIC), for more information.
- You qualify for the additional child tax credit. See the instructions for the tax form you file (Form 1040 or 1040A) for more information on this credit.
- You qualify for the refundable American opportunity education credit. See Form 8863, Education
Credits.
- You qualify for the health coverage tax credit. For information about this credit, see Form 8885, Health Coverage Tax
Credit.
- You qualify for the refundable credit for prior year minimum tax. See Form 8801, Credit for Prior Year Minimum Tax — Individuals, Estates, and
Trusts.
- You qualify for the first-time homebuyer credit. See Form 5405, First-Time Homebuyer Credit and Repayment of the
Credit.
- You qualify for the credit for federal tax on fuels. See Form 4136, Credit for Federal Tax Paid on
Fuels.
- You qualify for the adoption credit. See Form 8839, Qualified Adoption
Expenses.
Even if you are not required to file a return, you should consider filing if:
- You received a Form 1099-B (or substitute statement),
- The amount in box 2 of Form 1099-B (or substitute statement), plus your other gross income, is more than the filing requirement in
Table 1 or
Table 2 that applies to you, and
- Box 3 of Form 1099-B (or substitute statement) is blank.
In this case, filing a return may keep you from getting a notice from the
IRS.