How to file when below minimum income threshold? IRS requesting 2018 return
Ugh, I'm so stressed right now. The IRS just sent me this letter saying I need to file a 2018 tax return that they claim they never received. The problem is, I was really sick that year (had emergency surgery + complications) and only made about $8,300 total from my part-time job. I'm pretty sure that was below the minimum required to file taxes that year. Does anyone know if there's a specific form I can submit to basically tell the IRS "hey, I wasn't required to file" instead of having to do a whole tax return for that year? I don't even know if I still have all my documents from back then! This is giving me major anxiety since I've never had any tax issues before this. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
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Diego Mendoza
You're right that there was a filing threshold, and if you were below it, you weren't required to file. For 2018, the threshold for a single filer was $12,000, so at $8,300 you technically weren't required to file. However, when the IRS specifically requests a return, it's usually best to respond rather than ignore it. The simplest approach would be to file the 2018 return showing your income was below the threshold. This creates an official record in their system. If you received a CP59 Notice (failure to file), there should be instructions on how to respond if you weren't required to file. If you can't find your documents, you can request a Wage and Income Transcript from the IRS for 2018 which will show information from your W-2s and other income documents they received.
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Anastasia Popova
•But what if they had some income from a side gig that wasn't reported on a W-2? Would that change things? Also, is there a simpler form than doing a whole tax return just to tell them "I didn't need to file"?
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Diego Mendoza
•If you had self-employment income over $400, then yes, you would have been required to file regardless of the standard threshold. This is because self-employment taxes kick in at that lower amount. There isn't really a specific simplified form just to tell the IRS you weren't required to file. The standard practice is to file the return itself showing your income was below the threshold. You could call the IRS directly at 1-800-829-1040 to discuss your specific situation, but they'll likely advise you to file the return as the most straightforward resolution.
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Sean Flanagan
I went through something similar last year with an old return from 2017. After trying to navigate the mess on my own for weeks, I finally used taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) and it was a total game-changer. I uploaded the IRS notice and my limited income documents, and their AI analyzed everything and confirmed I was below the filing threshold. What was super helpful was that they generated a response letter explaining why I wasn't required to file based on my specific situation, and included all the relevant tax code citations. The IRS accepted it without any further questions. They also helped me request my wage transcript when I couldn't find my old W-2.
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Zara Shah
•How long did it take for them to analyze your docs? I'm in a similar situation but the IRS gave me a pretty tight deadline to respond.
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NebulaNomad
•Did you have to talk to an actual tax person or was it all handled by their AI? I'm kinda nervous about using AI for tax stuff with the IRS.
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Sean Flanagan
•The initial analysis was almost instant - like 2-3 minutes after I uploaded everything. But I did get a more detailed response with the formal letter within about 24 hours. They tell you upfront what the expected timeline is based on your specific situation. It's actually a combination. Their AI does the initial analysis and generates a draft response, but they have tax professionals who review everything before sending you the final documents. I was skeptical at first too, but it gave me peace of mind knowing that actual tax pros were looking at my situation. The AI just makes the process much faster and more accurate than trying to figure it all out yourself.
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Zara Shah
Just wanted to follow up - I decided to try taxr.ai after seeing the recommendation here. My situation was similar (2019 return, made only about $9k that year). The system immediately confirmed I was below the filing threshold and generated a perfect response letter to the IRS with all the right citations and explanations. They also helped me request my wage transcript since I lost my W-2s from that year. I sent in their response letter about 3 weeks ago and just got confirmation from the IRS that my case is closed! Such a relief after stressing about this for months.
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Luca Ferrari
I had the exact same issue but with a 2016 return. Spent WEEKS trying to call the IRS to explain my situation. Constantly on hold, disconnected, transferred to wrong departments... absolute nightmare. Finally found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The agent confirmed that since I was under the filing threshold that year, I just needed to submit a simple return showing my income was below the requirement. She also put notes in my account about our conversation so there's a record if there are any questions later. Saved me so much time and stress compared to the weeks I spent trying to get through on my own.
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Nia Wilson
•Wait, how does this actually work? I thought it was impossible to get through to the IRS these days. Is this some kind of priority line or something?
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Mateo Martinez
•Yeah right. There's no way they got you through to an IRS agent that quickly. I've been trying for MONTHS. Sounds like a scam to me.
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Luca Ferrari
•It's not a priority line - they use technology that navigates the IRS phone system for you. Basically, it waits on hold so you don't have to. When it reaches an agent, you get a call connecting you. I was skeptical too, but after weeks of failed attempts on my own, I was desperate enough to try. Look, I get the skepticism - I felt the same way. But after trying for literally 17 days straight and never getting through, this worked on the first try. The agent I spoke with was super helpful and resolved my issue in about 15 minutes once I explained my situation. It sounds too good to be true until you try it, especially if you've been dealing with the frustration of never getting through.
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Mateo Martinez
I need to eat my words from yesterday. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still desperate enough to try Claimyr since nothing else was working. I'm still in shock that it actually connected me to an IRS agent this morning after only about a 35-minute wait. The agent confirmed exactly what others here said - since my income was below the filing threshold for that year, I just needed to file a simple return showing that, and they'd close the case. She even told me which forms I specifically needed and marked my account with notes about our conversation. I've been stressing about this for months and now it's basically resolved. Unbelievable.
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Aisha Hussain
Just a heads up - even if your income was below the filing threshold, you might still want to file if you had any federal taxes withheld from your paychecks. You could be due a refund! The IRS only gives you 3 years to claim refunds, so 2018 would still be within that window if you file soon.
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Chloe Harris
•Oh that's a really good point I hadn't considered! I did have some taxes taken out of my paychecks that year. Do you know if I'd still be able to get that money back even though it's been a few years?
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Aisha Hussain
•Yes, you can still get that money back! For 2018 returns, you have until April 15, 2022 to file and claim any refund owed to you. After that date, any unclaimed refund becomes property of the Treasury. If you're due a refund, there's actually no penalty for filing late. The penalties only apply when you owe taxes. So this might be a win-win - you comply with the IRS request and potentially get some money back at the same time.
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Ethan Clark
For anyone else who runs into this situation - I learned the hard way that even if you're under the filing threshold, if you received the Premium Tax Credit (Obamacare subsidy) during that year, you ARE required to file a return regardless of income. The IRS came after me for this exact reason.
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StarStrider
•Also worth noting that if you had self-employment income over $400, you're required to file too, even if your total income is below the standard threshold. Made that mistake my first year doing gig work.
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