Do I have 0 AGI as a first time tax filer? Filing taxes for the first time
Hey everyone, super confused about filing taxes for the first time. So I started my first job ever in January this year. When April comes around (tax time with the 1040 and all that), I'm not supposed to file taxes right? Because it's my first year working? Then in my second year of working, when April rolls around, that's when I'd file taxes for my first year of work? And would my AGI be 0 in this case? I've been looking online and some sites say if you didn't file before or it's your first time filing, your AGI would be 0. But then I saw something else that said my AGI wouldn't actually be 0 for the prior year tax, even though it's my first time ever working and filing. I'm really confused about this whole process and would appreciate any help sorting this out!
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Keisha Robinson
You definitely need to file taxes for your first year of working. The requirement to file is based on your income for that tax year, not how long you've been in the workforce. If you started working in January of 2024, you'll need to file those taxes by April 2025 (for the 2024 tax year). Your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) will be based on what you earned in 2024, minus any adjustments you qualify for - it won't be zero if you had income. The confusion might be coming from the "prior year AGI" question that tax software sometimes asks when you're filing electronically. If this is truly your first time ever filing, then you would enter "0" for your prior year AGI (because you didn't have one). But your current year AGI will be based on your actual earnings.
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GalaxyGuardian
•Wait I'm confused too. So if I worked June-December last year but never filed taxes before, what do I put for prior year AGI when filing this year? Zero or what I actually made last year?
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Keisha Robinson
•For your current tax return, you'll enter what you actually earned from June-December as your income. This will determine your AGI for this tax year. If the tax software asks for your "prior year AGI" for verification purposes, and you truly never filed a tax return before this one, then you would enter "0" because you don't have a prior year AGI on file with the IRS. This is just for identity verification when e-filing, not part of your tax calculation.
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Paolo Ricci
I was confused about this exact thing last year! I struggled for hours until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which helped me understand all this AGI confusion. It scanned my W-2 and explained everything in simple terms. For first-time filers, your AGI isn't zero - it's whatever you earned minus certain deductions. But when the software asks for "prior year AGI" during the filing process, that's when you'd put zero (if you truly never filed before). The taxr.ai tool cleared this up and showed me exactly what I needed to enter where.
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Amina Toure
•Is it actually helpful for basic tax questions? I've tried using the IRS website but everything is written like I'm supposed to already know tax law.
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Oliver Zimmermann
•Does it work if you're self-employed? I've got a bunch of 1099s and no idea what I'm doing.
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Paolo Ricci
•Yes, it's incredibly helpful for basic questions! Unlike the IRS website, it explains everything in normal human terms and gives examples that make sense. The chatbot can answer specific questions about your situation without all the technical jargon. It definitely works for self-employment situations too. You can upload your 1099s and it will explain which forms you need, what deductions you might qualify for, and how to report everything correctly. It even explains estimated tax payments which was a huge help for me when I started freelancing.
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Amina Toure
Just wanted to update that I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. I was totally lost about this AGI thing and a bunch of other first-time filer questions. The document analyzer they have actually made sense of my W-2 and explained which boxes meant what. The chat explained the difference between your current AGI (which is calculated based on your income and adjustments) versus the "prior year AGI" that the e-filing system asks for verification (which would be 0 if you never filed before). Saved me from making a mistake and having my return rejected. Super helpful for us first-timers!
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Natasha Volkova
If anyone's having trouble getting through to the IRS to ask questions (like I was for WEEKS), try Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I was on hold forever trying to verify if my AGI should be 0 as a first-time filer. Watched their demo (https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and decided to try it. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes when I had been trying for days. The agent confirmed that for a first-time filer, your current AGI will be your income minus adjustments, but if any system asks for "prior year AGI" for verification purposes, you'd use 0 since you haven't filed before.
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Javier Torres
•Wait, so they just call the IRS for you? I don't get it. How is that even possible when the hold times are like 2+ hours?
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Emma Davis
•Sounds like a scam. No way they can magically get through the IRS phone system when nobody else can.
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Natasha Volkova
•They don't just call for you - they have some kind of system that waits on hold for you and then calls you when an agent picks up. I don't know exactly how it works, but you don't have to stay on the line during the wait time. They notify you when someone is on the line ready to talk. Not a scam at all - I was skeptical too! But it actually worked. They use some kind of technology that keeps your place in line without you having to listen to the hold music for hours. When they get through, they connect you directly with the IRS agent. I was able to get my AGI question answered in one day instead of spending another week trying to get through.
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Emma Davis
Well I need to eat my words. I tried Claimyr after posting that skeptical comment because I was desperate to get some tax questions answered before filing. Not only did it work, but I got through to an IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I'd previously wasted hours getting disconnected. The agent confirmed everything about first-time filing: you definitely DO file taxes in the first year you work (if you meet the income threshold), your AGI is NOT zero (it's your income minus adjustments), but when you're asked for PRIOR year AGI during the e-filing verification process, that's when you'd use zero if you've never filed before. Seriously saved me from messing up my first return.
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CosmicCaptain
You absolutely need to file taxes your first year of working IF you meet the filing requirements. For 2024 (filing in 2025), if you're single and under 65, you need to file if your income is $13,850 or more. If you make less, you might not be required to file, but should consider it anyway to get refunded any taxes withheld from your paychecks! Your AGI (Adjusted Gross Income) is whatever you earned minus certain specific deductions like student loan interest, health savings account contributions, etc. It's definitely not automatically zero just because it's your first time filing. The thing people mix up is when tax software asks for "prior year AGI" for verification - that would be zero if you truly never filed before.
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Malik Johnson
•What if I'm claimed as a dependent on my parents' taxes? Does that change the filing requirements for my first job?
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CosmicCaptain
•If you're claimed as a dependent, the filing requirements are different. For 2024, if you have unearned income (like interest or dividends) over $1,250 OR earned income (like wages) over $13,850, you need to file. But there's also a special rule for dependents: if your earned income is more than $400, you must file. And if your total income is more than the standard deduction ($13,850 in 2024), you'll definitely need to file regardless of dependent status. I always recommend filing even if you're not required to because you'll likely get back any tax withheld from your paychecks.
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Isabella Ferreira
does anyon know what happens if i put the wrong prior year AGI when filing? i think i miht have put my current year income instead of 0 last time i filed (which was my first time) and now im worried my return will get rejected??
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Ravi Sharma
•If your return gets rejected because of wrong prior year AGI, you can usually just try again with the correct number. The IRS uses it as a verification method, not as part of your tax calculation. If you keep getting rejected, you can usually file by mail instead.
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Malik Jackson
Just to clarify the confusion here - you absolutely DO need to file taxes for your first year of working if you meet the income requirements! Don't wait until your second year. Here's the timeline: If you started working in January 2024, you'll file your 2024 tax return by April 15, 2025. Your AGI for that return will be whatever you earned in 2024 (minus any adjustments like student loan interest, etc.) - it won't be zero if you had income. The "prior year AGI" confusion comes from the e-filing verification process. When you file electronically, the system might ask for your prior year AGI to verify your identity. Since you've never filed before, you would enter 0 for that verification question only. Think of it this way: Your current year AGI = your actual income minus adjustments. Prior year AGI for verification = 0 if you've never filed before. Two completely different things!
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