If You Have No Income, Can You Get a Tax Refund?

Believe it or not, you can qualify for a tax refund and actually receive it even if you have no income to speak of (at least not taxable income, but more on that later). Here’s the catch, however: To get your refund, you will need to file a tax return like any other person, because refundable tax credits can only be processed by the IRS through properly filed returns.

It might sound like we’re about to describe an obscure, barely-convenient process that ends up being a double-edged sword for most people, but we’re not; getting a tax refund when you have no income is actually surprisingly easy and straightforward. Now, we know that having earned so little income that you’re not even legally required to file taxes sounds like a bad place to be, but that’s not true for everyone, and a little extra cash never hurt anyone.

In this article we’ll go over the compelling reasons why you should file a tax return even if you don’t have to do so, and how being eligible for tax credits or pursuing the ones you were eligible in previous years might make all that tax-filing hassle worth it in the end. Keep reading!

Can You Get a Refund Without Filing a Tax Return?

The IRS has a specific rule set that determines who does and does not have to file a tax return, with the requirements being influenced by several different factors, such as:

• Filing Status: Whether you’re single, married filing jointly, head of household, or another status.
• Gross Income Threshold: That’s the total income you’ve earned before making any deductions or credits.
• Age: Since the thresholds for filing a tax return vary for those under and over the age of 65.
• Dependency Status: This one is for people who have been claimed as someone else’s dependent, since that makes the dependent’s filing requirements different.

These requirements are not mutually exclusive, but dependent on one another. For example, single filers who are under 65 years of age during the 2025 tax year must file only when their gross income exceeds $13,850, while married couples of the same age must file when their combined income exceeds $27, 700. Then, these thresholds will increase for seniors after taking their filing status into consideration, etc.

Income Requirement To Files Taxes

There are actually several income requirements that you have to meet in order to be required to file a tax return, and they’re all dependent on whether the income is earned or unearned:

• Earned Income: This one includes wages, salaries, tips, and self-employment earnings. For the last one, if you’re self-employed and earned at least $400, then you’re required to file a tax return.
• Unearned Income: This type of income includes interest, dividends, or investment earnings. Filing thresholds for unearned income are typically lower than they are for earned income.

The standard deduction for single filers in 2025 is $13,850, which means that if your income falls below this amount (and you’re not self-employed), then you’ll generally not be required to file a tax return. Granted, it might still be advantageous to do so.

On the other hand, if you were out of work for an extended period of time (or you had no income), then you’re not required to file a tax return, but again, you still may choose to do it in order to claim any refundable tax credits or benefits you qualify for.

Filing a Tax Return Even If You’re Not Required To

You may have noticed we’ve already alluded to filing a tax return as a net benefit to you even if you’re not legally required to. The question on your mind probably is “Can I get a refund if I don’t make enough income to be required to file?”, and the answer is yes; just because you’re not legally required to file a tax return doesn’t mean that you can’t do it.

In fact, filing a tax return anyway is the key to claim any refundable credits you qualify for, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or the Child Tax Credit (CTC). Since these are refundable credits, that means you can get a refund even if you paid no taxes during the year.

Claiming a Tax Refund Without Filing Taxes

Let’s be clear about something: It simply is not possible to claim tax credits and receive their respective refunds if you don’t file a tax return first in order to determine your eligibility for them. That means that even if you technically qualify for a tax credit on paper, you cannot prove this to the federal government without submitting a tax return first.

Mind you, even if you missed filing a return in the previous three years on which you were eligible for a credit or refund, you could still file a late tax return and claim it (we say “the past three years” because that’s the deadline imposed by the IRS on unclaimed credits). If you don’t want to forfeit these benefits, filing is your only option!

Receiving a Tax Refund Without Paying Taxes

Even if you can’t receive a refund without filing a tax return, you can receive one even if you don’t pay any federal income taxes during the year. The way this is possible is through tax credits that exceed your tax liability, thus bringing the total into the black. Here’s a quick reminder of how refundable credits work followed by a few examples of how they can net you a refund even if you don’t pay taxes:

• Refundable credits (for example, the EITC, CTC, ACTC, AOTC, etc.) can provide you with a refund even if your tax liability is zero (i.e. you owe no taxes). For example, a family eligible for the CTC may receive a refund even if their income is too low to actually require filing a tax return.

Examples of how this works: 

• Your Income Is Below The Filing Threshold: If your income is below the threshold required to file, which is $13,850 for single filers and $27,700 for married filing jointly, you can check which credits are still available to you and claim them via a tax return.
• Dependency Status: If someone else has claimed you as a dependent on their own tax return, that means you may now own taxes bit you’re still allowed to file a return to recover any wages that have been withheld by your employer, or to claim education credits if you’re still in school.
• No Tax Liability In Previous Years: Similar to the first scenario, maybe you didn’t owe any federal income taxes last year, and you expect the same in the current year due to similar situations, but you can still benefit from tax credits by filing your return.
• Health Insurance Premium Tax Credit: If you (or your tax dependent) purchased health insurance through the marketplace and you qualify for premium tax credits, you can claim additional credit amounts you’re eligible for but didn’t receive upfront by filing a tax return.
• Education Credits: This one is for students. If you’re still in college or university and have no taxable income but plenty of education expenses, this might qualify you for refundable credits like the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC), which can provide you a refund (up to a certain amount) even if you don’t have an income.

So, If You Have No Income, Can You Get a Tax Refund?

It’s not only possible to receive a tax refund when you have earned little to no income at all during the year, but also surprisingly easy; the part that confuses people is the requirement to file a tax return in the first place. Filing your taxes is essential if you want to claim a tax refund, even if you know beforehand that you’ll end up not having to pay anything.

Thanks to refundable credits like the Crédito Fiscal por Ingresos Ganados (EITC) and the Child Tax Credit (CTC) providing some much needed financial relief to those who need it, filing a tax return will allow you to claim that sweet refund even if it’s from a previous year where you didn’t file taxes either.

So, bottom line, filing a tax return is at least worth your consideration even if you’re not legally required to file due to earning no income. As the process is often free (or low-cost in the worst of cases), and the potential benefits can make a significant difference for many people.

So, don’t let those misconceptions about the relationship between filing taxes, paying them, and claiming refunds prevent you from actually filing that return and claiming the refund you’re entitled to.

Can You Get A Tax Refund If You Have No Income?: FAQ

1. Can I file taxes if I have no income?
   Yes, you can file taxes even if you have no income. Filing a return is the only way to claim tax refunds or credits you might be eligible for. For example, refundable and partially refundable credits require you to file a return in order to receive the benefits.
2. Can I get a tax refund if I didn’t pay taxes?
   Yes, it’s possible to get a refund even if you didn’t pay taxes, thanks to refundable credits like the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) or Child Tax Credit (CTC). It’s important to learn the distinction between filing a tax return and actually paying your tax liability; most refundable credits are designed to provide support to people with low to no income, which is why paying taxes is not a requirement while filing them actually is.
3. Do I have to file taxes if my income is below the minimum threshold?
   No, you’re not required to file if your income is below the minimum threshold. However, filing can allow you to claim refunds or credits you may qualify for, such as recovering withheld taxes (by your employer from your wages) or claiming any educational taxes you or your tax dependents are eligible for. Even if you’re inclined not to file, it’s a good idea to at least evaluate the potential benefits of doing so.
4. What happens if I didn’t file a return for a previous year but was eligible for a refund?
   You can file a late tax return to claim a refund for up to three years after the original filing deadline. After that, the refund is forfeited. Also, filing late can also help you claim any tax credits or deductions your might have overlooked before, maximizing your financial benefits for the year.
5. Are there free options to file taxes if I have low or no income?
   Yes, the IRS Free File program and many tax software providers offer free filing services for individuals with low or no income. These resources are designed to make it easier for you to file your tax return at no cost, making sure that anybody is able to access all the refunds they’re eligible for without any financial barriers.

Jacob Dayan

Entrepreneur • SEO Community Tax, LLC

En su calidad de CEO, Dayan ha reunido a un sólido equipo de abogados, CPA y agentes inscritos para ofrecer un servicio al cliente superior y los resultados esperados. Su empresa Community Tax ha establecido el estándar para el servicio al cliente en la industria de resolución de impuestos y es ampliamente reconocido como un líder de la industria por sus pares. Jacob gestiona todos los esfuerzos diarios de marketing y las operaciones comerciales de Community Tax. Como CMO, Jacob es responsable de todos los esfuerzos de marketing digital y offline.

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