Whether you had a summer job or are working part-time in high school or college, it’s important to know how to file your taxes (or if you need to file them at all). We share what teens need to know about taxes and where they can find tax assistance in their community!

Do you need to file taxes?

Tax season in the U.S. is from January to April, annually. The 2025 deadline to file your taxes, also known as "Tax Day," is Tuesday, April 15. Between January and April, everyone who earned money in 2024 needs to report it to the government by filing their taxes. Taxes are not only required by law, but the taxes we pay to the government end up funding things like roads, healthcare for elderly Americans, schools, airports, and other essential public services.

If you earned below $14,600 in wages in 2024, you do not need to file your taxes in 2025. If you made more than that, or if you made more than $400 in net earnings in a year as an “independent contractor" like a Lyft driver or Instacart shopper, you will need to file your taxes. 

Understanding common tax forms

There are government-issued tax forms that every employer and employee in the U.S. who must pay taxes will use. Here is a quick breakdown of the most common ones:

• W-2 - This is the form that any employer you had in the previous year will send you to show you the wages you earned and any taxes already taken from your paychecks that year. If you had multiple jobs in the previous year, you will receive a W-2 from each employer.
• W-4 - This is a form that you will complete when you start a new job. It tells your employer how much to deduct from your paychecks for federal and state taxes. 
• W-9 - This is a form that you’ll only need to fill out if you are going to be an independent contractor. It is a way to let anyone you work for during the year show the government that they paid you as a contractor.
• 1099-NEC - This form is like a W-2 but for independent contractors. Anyone who paid you more than $600 during the year for contract work must send you this form for your taxes. If you were paid by someone for contract work but made less than $600 in a year, they are not required to send you a 1099-NEC. However, you still must report this income on your taxes.

Free resources for tax help

There are many free ways to get help tailored to your specific tax-related questions and needs! Here are some resources:

• The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) - This is the official government department that will process your tax information. Check out their Free Tax Return Help tool.
• United Way - This national nonprofit is located in many cities and counties around the country and is a leader in helping folks file their taxes for free. They offer individual help and often partner with bilingual organizations to support. Learn more about free tax help from United Way.
• Public libraries - Most library systems around the country are a hub for free tax help. They may have tax experts helping in the library or have partner organizations they can refer you to. Some examples are in Seattle, New York City (which includes support for New Jersey and Connecticut), Detroit, Philadelphia, and Dallas. 

Have any questions about filing your taxes? Text #Jobs to 33-55-77 to chat with one of our advisors. If you're using a mobile device, click here to have the text message set up for you!