New to filing taxes? Six questions to answer before you start your return
Rachel Barber, USA TODAY
6 min read
Tax season is here, and it's Alyssa Melani's second time filing. A part-time employee, freelance actress and small business owner, she said her returns were complicated and she never learned how to do them in school.
"It's really intimidating, and every season I'm forever feeling like I don't know what I'm doing," said Melani, 23.
She enlisted the help of her father and a personal accountant to make sure she did right by the IRS, herself and her three employees this year.
She is not alone in her confusion about taxes. If you think you need to file a return this year, maybe for the first time, you're probably wondering where to start.
Here are six questions to ask yourself, starting with perhaps the most important: Do you need to file at all?
The 2025 tax season is here. The deadline to file is Tuesday, April 15.
In general, the IRS requires most citizens and residents who work in the U.S. to file a tax return if their gross income is more than or equal to $14,600. Other income thresholds apply depending on a person's filing status. For example, heads of households must file if their gross income is $21,900 or more, and married people under 65 must file if their gross income is $29,200 or more. The threshold drops to $5 for married people filing separately.
If someone else is claiming you as a dependent, you still must file a return if you have amassed at least $1,300 in “unearned” income, such as interest from investments.
Other factors, including whether you have a disability, may affect your requirement to file. The IRS offers a 12-minute online questionnaire to help determine if you need to submit a return.
Even if the IRS does not require you to file a return, you may still want to. If your employer withheld any portion of your pay for taxes, you may qualify for a refund.
CPA and TurboTax expert Lisa Greene-Lewis said the IRS has more than $1 billion in unclaimed returns. A Talker Research survey on behalf of TurboTax found that 20% of Gen Z believe they don't need to file tax returns.
"They make under the IRS income threshold, but they are leaving money on the table," Greene-Lewis told USA TODAY.
Where are my tax documents?
You've determined you will submit a return. Now it's time to gather your documents. You'll need your Social Security number, and make sure you enter it correctly. Greene-Lewis says one of the most common tax return mistakes is inaccurately typing your Social Security number. You may also need the following common documents:
W-2: If you have a traditional job, a W-2 will tell you how much money you earned last year and how much tax was withheld. Your employer must send you this form by the end of January.
1099: If you do freelance or gig work, you may have amassed a few 1099s throughout the year. These forms show earned income, interest and dividend income. There are several types of 1099 forms.
Receipts: A record of your transactions including expenses and potential opportunities for deductions, such as a high medical bill or donations to charity, also will help you file.
When is my deadline?
Some Americans are granted an extension or have a different due date, but the general federal tax filing deadline is April 15. State filing deadlines vary.
The IRS has announced that people in federally declared disaster areas, including those affected by wildfires in Southern California, may also receive an extension.
Greene-Lewis advised people it's best to file as soon as possible: "They may find they have a refund and they'll be able to have that in their pocket."
Am I a dependent?
If you are living with a parent or guardian, receiving their help for tuition or living expenses, they will probably claim you as a dependent on their tax return.
Dependents are qualifying children younger than 19, or 24 if a full-time student, according to the IRS. To qualify, dependents cannot provide more than half of their own annual support.
Those claiming you as a dependent will reap a tax benefit for doing so, and you'll need to note your dependent status on your return.
Do I qualify for any deductions or credits?
Tax deductions can lower your amount of taxable income, while tax credits can reduce the amount of tax you owe. If you take some time to research them, you could save hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars.
Here are some common deductions and credits new taxpayers may qualify for:
Earned Income Tax Credit: If you earned little money last year, you may be able to claim this credit. Income thresholds can be found on the IRS website.
Student Loan Interest Deduction: If you made a payment on your student loans in 2024, you may deduct the amount of interest you paid on them or $2,500 from your taxable income, whichever is less.
American Opportunity Tax Credit: If no one else claims you as a dependent, you may qualify for this credit of up to $2,500 for expenses you paid during your first four years of college.
Do I need help?
Still confused? You're not alone. Around half of taxpayers enlist a tax professional to help them file but Gen Z is the least likely to seek professional assistance, a 2021 IRS survey found.
If you're doing it yourself, IRS Direct File may be able to help. The program simplifies the returns process and allows taxpayers in 25 participating states to file directly online. The 25 states are Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington state, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Some people, such as Melani, turn to family members or social media for advice, but Greene-Lewis cautioned against believing everything online influencers say. A Paxful study found 14% of personal finance videos on TikTok are misleading. Both Melani and Greene-Lewis encouraged new taxpayers to ask people they trust questions about the process.
"Ask things that you feel might be silly, because we really are going into it at a baseline of zero most of the time," Melani said. "Ask people who are older than you or friends' parents who seem well-versed in it. If you don't have many personal resources, take advantage of your community."
Reach Rachel Barber at rbarber@usatoday.com and follow her on X @rachelbarber_
