I Retired Last Year. Do I Still Have to File a Tax Return?

You may not have to file — but you might want to anyway

Sandra Block,

AARP

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Published January 09, 2026

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Preparing your taxes is a time-consuming and often costly task. But now that you’re retired, you may not have to file a return with Uncle Sam.

In general, if your gross income — the total amount of wages, interest, dividends, capital gains and other taxable income you received during the year — is less than the standard deduction for your filing status, you don’t need to file a tax return.

A provision in the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, enacted in July 2025, expanded the standard deduction for taxpayers who are 65 and older, increasing the number of older adults who won’t be required to file a tax return. For single taxpayers 65 and older, the 2025 standard deduction is $23,750. For married couples in which one spouse is 65 or older, the threshold is $39,100; if both spouses are 65 or older, the threshold is $46,700.

For taxpayers who are younger than 65, the 2025 standard deduction is $15,750 for singles and $31,500 for married couples who file jointly.

But, as is the case with most issues involving taxes, there are exceptions to this exception. Even if you meet the gross income requirements, you’re required to file a tax return if any of these circumstances apply:

You had net earnings from self-employment of at least $400.
You, your spouse or a dependent received premium tax credits for health insurance coverage under the Affordable Care Act.
You, or your spouse if you filed jointly, took a withdrawal from a health savings account (HSA).
You bought an electric vehicle (EV) and received an advance tax credit at the time of purchase that reduced the price of the vehicle. Under a tax credit that expired on Sept. 30, 2025, dealers were permitted to advance the tax credit to EV buyers, but buyers must submit Form 8936 when they file their tax returns.

Other reasons to file

Even if none of those situations apply to you, you may still benefit by filing a tax return, because Uncle Sam could owe you money.

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If you worked for part of the year and had taxes withheld from your paycheck, you might be due a refund. Similarly, if you had taxes withheld from retirement income, such as a pension or withdrawals from an individual retirement account (IRA), you may have overpaid the amount you owe.

You may also be owed a refund if you’re eligible to claim a credit that will reduce your taxable income. These credits can be particularly valuable if you still have dependents. The American Opportunity Tax Credit, for example, can be claimed by parents of college-age students to offset the cost of higher education. The credit is worth up to $2,500, of which up to $1,000 is refundable, which means you can receive it as a refund even if you don’t owe any federal taxes.

Taxpayers have three years after the due date of their tax return to file and claim their refunds; after that, the money becomes the property of the Treasury Department. In 2025, the median unclaimed refund for 2021 was $781. If you live in a state that has an income tax, you may also be due a state tax refund, so make sure you file a tax return with your state, too.

Where to get help

Filing your taxes can be a hassle, not to mention expensive if you use tax software or hire a tax preparer. But help is available.

The AARP Foundation Tax-Aide program provides free tax preparation services to anyone, with a focus on taxpayers who are over age 50 and have a low to moderate income. Every year, from early February to mid-April, Tax-Aide volunteers take appointments at over 3,600 locations in libraries, malls, banks and community centers in all 50 states. You can learn more about the program here.

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Sandra Block has covered personal finance for more than two decades. She was a senior editor at Kiplinger Personal Finance and a reporter for USA TODAY. She is the coauthor of The Busy Family’s Guide to Money and Easy Ways to Lower Your Taxes: Simple Strategies Every Taxpayer Should Know.