File tax forms with zero income?

The IRS doesn't know you have all those deductions. So it would be best to let them know before they assume you owe them money and make your life hell.

Since it's gross income that determines whether a return is necessary, you could very well be _required_ to file even if you do have a zero tax liability.

I think you are confused. Your are mixing up gross income and taxable income and a few other things. Although there may be a slight change from 2011, the IRS spells out who must file. Look at Publication 17:

Table 1-1.

Although I am certainly not a tax expert, that part is very clear. You said nothing about what your filing status is or what your gross income was.

Salmon Egg wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@news60.forteinc.com:

I was not aware there was such a thing as "gross income". According to Table 1-1 in Pub 17, it looks like I do have to file.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Dee

In addition, even if you didn't have to file because your gross income was too low, it is good to file because it starts the statute of limitations (3 or 6 years the IRS typically has to audit you, 4 in many states).