Determining if a Return Should be Prepared

The filing threshold is $5 for MFS returns and for MFJ returns where the taxpayer and spouse were separated as of December 31.
If filing MFJ and either (a) the taxpayer did not live with the spouse on December 31, or (b) the spouse died during the tax year and two lived apart on the date of death, then the filing threshold is $1 of gross income.

“Lived apart” means in separate households, not a temporary absence, such as hospitalization.

If the taxpayer received a Form 1099-S, the taxpayer must file to report the sale, even if there’s no tax due or other filing requirement.

CA process note: A dependent may have no federal filing requirement but still be required to file a CA return. See Scholarships, Fellowships and Grants, page 30, for income thresholds.

Pub 4012 tab A Chart D lists who would benefit from filing, even if there’s no filing requirement. The most common situations are:

To get a refund of federal and/or state income taxes withheld (such as a return done for a dependent, who had taxes withheld on Form W-2)
To get an income-based refundable credit: federal EIC, American Opportunity Credit, etc.
CA process note: A taxpayer age 18-24 or 65+, with some earned income but no dependents, is not eligible for federal EIC, but is eligible for the refundable CalEITC if their (federal) AGI is less than the limit (see page 109). If so, they should file.

If the taxpayer has no taxable income – that is, AGI would be zero or even negative, but the taxpayer needs a tax return for legal or governmental reasons, or wants to file for any reason, including concerns about identity theft, then an adjustment is required so that the return can be e-filed; enter $1 as taxable interest, with Payer’s Name as “To enable e-filing” or simply “Bank”.
If a taxpayer does not file a return, record the taxpayer as a Q&A on the daily Activity Log.
For taxpayers who must file, with one or more dependents old enough to work, ask about any earned income for the dependent(s). The dependent(s) may also be required to file; see Pub 4012 page A-4.
For taxpayers who must file, with one or more dependents of any age, ask about any unearned income (typically interest, dividends, and/or capital gains) of the dependents.

A child under age 18, or under 24 and a full-time student, is subject to the “Kiddie Tax”. [Unearned income includes all taxable income other than earned income: taxable interest, pension and annuity income, etc. “Unearned income” for the purpose of the “Kiddie Tax” also includes taxable scholarship and fellowship grants not reported on a Form W-2.]