You may not need to file taxes if you don't earn enough taxable income. You don't need to file taxes if you earn less than your standard deduction. In 2021, that's $12,550 for single filers and $25,100 for those filing jointly. Even if you don't need to file, it may be in your best interest to do so. Stimulus payments during the pandemic were based on tax returns, for example, and anyone who didn't file tax returns missed those stimulus payments.