Do I need to file taxes after turning 18 if I had no income? How long do I have to register with IRS?

8 Good news - you don't need to file taxes simply because you turned 18. The requirement to file is based on your income, not your age. Since you had no income, you're not required to file a tax return. Also, there's no such thing as "registering with the IRS" when you turn 18. That's a common misconception. The IRS doesn't have a registration process based on age. You only interact with them when you need to file taxes, which happens when your income exceeds certain thresholds. If you do get a job or start earning income, you'll need to file taxes if your income exceeds the standard deduction ($14,600 for 2025 for single filers). Your employer will have you fill out a W-4 form when you start working, but this isn't "registering" with the IRS - it just tells your employer how much tax to withhold from your paychecks.

12 I went through something similar last year and discovered taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) which was super helpful for figuring out my tax situation as a new adult. I was confused about whether I needed to file since I only worked part-time at my uncle's store and made less than $5,000. Their system analyzed my specific situation and confirmed I didn't need to file, but also showed me that I was actually due a refund for the taxes that had been withheld from my paychecks! Would never have known that without checking. Might be worth looking at your situation too, especially if you start working part-time.

7 Just wanted to follow up about taxr.ai - I actually tried it after posting here and wow, it was eye-opening! Turns out I was due a $267 refund from last summer's job even though I wasn't required to file. The system explained exactly which forms I needed and how to claim my refund. Super thankful for the recommendation because I would have just left that money on the table!

20 If you ever DO need to contact the IRS with questions (which happens to everyone eventually), I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). The IRS phone lines are IMPOSSIBLE to get through - I spent 3 days trying to get someone on the phone about my missing refund last year. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in under 45 minutes when I'd been trying for days on my own. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c It saved me so much frustration during my first year filing taxes. The IRS actually owed me an additional $890 that would have been lost if I hadn't been able to talk to someone directly.

3 I have to eat crow here and admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After dismissing it as a scam, I actually tried it myself when I needed to talk to the IRS about my identity verification issue. After trying for TWO WEEKS on my own with no success (constant busy signals or disconnects), Claimyr got me through in about 35 minutes. The service actually works exactly as described - they just handled the annoying redial process, and when they got through, my phone rang and I was connected to a real IRS agent. Saved me countless hours of frustration.

14 Just to add something important: if you have investment accounts, cryptocurrency, or get paid for gig work, you might still need to file even if your income seems low. My little brother thought he didn't need to file since his regular job paid under the threshold, but he had made about $900 in Dogecoin profits that pushed him over the limit.

5 Side note: Getting your first W-2 job actually has a hidden benefit. If your employer withholds federal taxes from your paychecks but you earn less than the standard deduction ($14,600 for 2025), you can file a return to get ALL of that withheld money back as a refund. My first summer job overtaxed me and I got a sweet $780 refund check that I wasn't expecting!

Welcome to adulthood! I remember being just as confused when I turned 18. Just to reinforce what others have said - you're absolutely right that there's no "IRS registration" requirement at 18. That's a myth that gets passed around a lot. One thing I'd add is that even though you don't need to file taxes this year, it's worth understanding the basics now before you do start earning income. The IRS website has some good resources specifically for young adults and first-time filers. Also, when you do get your first job, make sure to fill out your W-4 form correctly - claiming the right number of allowances can prevent over-withholding so you don't have to wait for a big refund later. You're being smart by asking these questions early rather than scrambling later!

Great question! You're definitely not alone in this confusion - I think most of us felt overwhelmed when we first hit 18. Just to echo what others have said with some additional clarity: No income = no tax filing requirement, regardless of age. The "IRS registration" thing is indeed a myth that gets passed around, probably confused with Selective Service registration (which IS required for males at 18, but that's completely unrelated to taxes). One practical tip for the future: When you do start working, consider setting up a simple spreadsheet or using a basic budgeting app to track your income throughout the year. This will help you estimate whether you'll owe taxes or get a refund, and it's a good financial habit to develop early. Also, don't stress too much about the complexity - tax software has made filing pretty straightforward for simple situations like yours will likely be for the next few years. You've got plenty of time to learn as you go!

One thing I'd add that might be helpful for planning ahead - even though you don't need to file taxes this year, it's worth knowing that if you do start working part-time while in school, there are some student-specific tax benefits you might qualify for. Things like the American Opportunity Tax Credit can actually give you money back even if you don't owe taxes, as long as you or your parents are paying for qualified education expenses. Also, if you're planning to work summer jobs or internships, keep in mind that some employers might not withhold enough taxes (especially for seasonal work), so it's good to understand how estimated tax payments work. But honestly, for most students working part-time, the standard withholding usually covers it. You're asking all the right questions at the right time - way better to figure this stuff out now when there's no pressure than scrambling during tax season!

Just wanted to jump in as someone who recently went through this exact situation! You're asking all the right questions and it's great that you're being proactive about understanding your tax obligations. To add to what everyone else has said - you're completely in the clear for this tax year since you had no income. But here's something that might be helpful to know for the future: even if you do start working and earning income, as long as you're still a dependent on your parents' tax return (which you probably will be while in school), your filing requirements might be different than someone who's independent. For dependents, you generally need to file if your earned income exceeds the standard deduction OR if your unearned income (like interest or dividends) exceeds $1,250. But the good news is that most part-time student jobs fall well within the safe zone. Also, don't worry about the "adulting" learning curve - we've all been there! Tax stuff seems scary at first but it becomes pretty routine once you get the hang of it. You're already ahead of the game by asking these questions now instead of panicking later.

Hey there! Welcome to the adulting club - it's definitely overwhelming at first, but you're asking all the right questions! Everyone here has given you excellent advice, but I wanted to add one more perspective as someone who works in tax preparation. You're absolutely correct that there's no special "IRS registration" at 18 - that's one of the most common myths I hear from young adults and their parents. One thing I'd suggest is getting familiar with the IRS's Interactive Tax Assistant tool on their website. It's a free resource that walks you through questions about your specific situation and tells you whether you need to file. It's particularly helpful for students because it accounts for things like dependency status, types of income, and education-related factors. Also, when you do eventually start working, don't be afraid to ask HR questions about your W-4. Many young people just fill it out randomly, but taking a few minutes to understand it can save you from either owing money at tax time or giving the government an interest-free loan through over-withholding. You're being incredibly responsible by researching this ahead of time. Most people your age don't think about taxes until they absolutely have to, so you're already setting yourself up for success!