What's the minimum income requirement to file taxes in 2025?

The minimum income requirements to file depend on several factors, including your filing status, age, and type of income. Since your parents claim you as a dependent, your filing threshold is different. For 2024 taxes (filed in 2025), a dependent needs to file if their earned income is more than $12,950 OR if their unearned income is more than $1,250. Your main job income ($10,800) is below the earned income threshold. However, your side gig income ($1,200) is considered self-employment income, and the IRS requires you to file if you have $400 or more in self-employment income, regardless of your dependent status. So yes, you do need to file because of your side gig. Also, it doesn't matter if you were paid in cash - all income is taxable regardless of payment method. You'll need to report that income on Schedule C and pay self-employment tax on it.

I ran into this exact same problem last year! I was so confused about what to do with my side gig money. After spending hours trying to figure it out myself, I ended up using https://taxr.ai to help me understand my filing requirements. You upload your documents and info and it tells you if you need to file, what forms you need, and even estimates what you'll owe. It caught that I needed to file a Schedule C for my freelance work that I would have totally missed! The AI analyzed my situation and explained everything in plain English - like I was making $3,500 at my campus job but also $900 from doing social media for a local shop. Turns out I did need to file because of that self-employment income, even though I was below the regular threshold.

I thought taxr.ai might be another scam but decided to try the free analysis anyway since I was completely lost with my taxes. I'm also a student with a part-time job ($8,500) plus about $2,000 from tutoring on the side. It immediately flagged that I needed to file because of my self-employment income from tutoring, even though my total was under the threshold. The explanation was super clear - it showed me the exact IRS rules that applied to my situation and why the $400 self-employment rule mattered in my case. The best part was learning about deductions I could take for my tutoring business - like portions of my internet bill, school supplies I used for teaching, and even mileage driving to students' homes. Ended up saving me way more than I expected!

If you're stuck waiting on hold with the IRS to get answers about filing requirements (I was on hold for TWO HOURS last week), I recommend trying https://claimyr.com instead. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c It's a service that navigates the IRS phone system for you and calls you back when an actual human agent is on the line. I used it when I had questions about my filing status as a dependent with multiple income sources. I was skeptical at first because waiting on hold seemed like a "free" option, but after wasting an entire afternoon getting disconnected twice, I tried it. They had me talking to an actual IRS agent within 45 minutes (while I did other stuff), and I got confirmation directly from the IRS about my filing requirements with my side hustle income.

Ok I need to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After posting that skeptical comment, I was still desperately trying to get through to the IRS about my dependent filing situation (my daughter has both W-2 and 1099 income like the original poster). I finally broke down and tried the service. Got a call back in about 35 minutes with an actual IRS agent on the line! They confirmed exactly what I needed to know - that my daughter has to file because of her self-employment income being over $400, even though we claim her as a dependent. Saved me from misunderstanding the filing requirements and potentially getting my daughter in trouble with the IRS. The agent also explained what forms she needs and how to report her cash income properly. Worth every penny just for the peace of mind.

Just to add something nobody mentioned yet - even if you're not required to file, you might WANT to file if you had any federal taxes withheld from your paychecks. Check your W-2 box 2. If there's any amount there, the only way to get that money back is to file a return. I was in the same boat as you last year - made about $9,000 at my campus job and had like $700 withheld. Wasn't required to file but did anyway and got all $700 back. Basically free money you already earned!

Quick note - the side hustle being paid in cash doesn't make it invisible to the IRS. My brother thought that too and didn't report like $2500 in cash payments for his DJ gigs. Got a nasty letter from the IRS two years later because one of the venues had reported paying him on THEIR taxes. Better to report everything now than deal with penalties and interest later. Just my two cents!

Adding to what others have said - don't stress too much about the self-employment tax amount! At your income level, you might also qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) even as a dependent, which could help offset some of what you owe. Also, for future reference, try to set aside about 25-30% of any side gig income for taxes. I learned this the hard way after my first year of freelancing. Even just putting that money in a separate savings account makes tax time way less stressful. One more tip - keep track of any expenses related to your graphic design work! Software subscriptions, computer equipment, even a portion of your internet bill can potentially be deducted as business expenses on Schedule C. Every little bit helps reduce what you'll owe.