Dear Liz: Here is some further consideration in the discussion about older people not filing tax returns. I am old, live in Maine, have a low income but high housing costs. In 2024 I had zero dollars withheld to the state, yet received a $2,210 credit from the state. There was $2,000 for a “Property Tax Fairness Credit” that is available to those who pay high rent or high property tax. The other $210 was a “Sales Tax Fairness Credit.” You don’t have to be old to qualify for these credits. The relief that these credits provide is well worth the effort of filing tax returns.
Answer: People 65 and older typically don’t have to file federal tax returns if their incomes are under certain limits ($17,750 for singles and $34,700 for married filing jointly in 2025). But there are a number of reasons to file tax returns even when they’re not strictly required, including claiming tax credits, getting back income tax withheld from paychecks or retirement accounts, and getting access to any future government stimulus payments that might be offered.