The amount that you have to make to not pay federal income tax depends on your age, filing status, your dependency on other taxpayers and your gross income. Not everyone needs to pay taxes. There are five things that determine whether you need to pay taxes. These are:. Based on the progressive income tax frfe, the amount of income tax that you need to pay each year depends on your income — this means that the more you earn, the more you pay. If your income equals or exceeds these amounts, you will need to file taxes. These tables are published by the IRS in Publication 17 and Publication and are updated each year. Taxpayers who are claimed as dependents are subject to different mkch for filing taxes. When their earned income is more than their standard deduction, taxes have to mwke filed. Single, under the age of 65 and not older or blind, you must file your taxes if:.