[BryansAunt65]

I'm helping my roommate file her taxes for the first time. She has only one W-2 from a seasonal position. Her entire taxable income totals to about $360.00. No federal income tax was withheld, social security tax was about $15 and Medicare tax about $5. She has a 13 month old son. Her fiancée is on SSI, as is her son. According to TurboTax, she doesn't owe any taxes but will also not receive a tax refund. I know the federal return is free but using the program, filing the state refund costs $28 and I see no reason to make her pay that money for nothing if she doesn't have to, so the question is, does she still need to file?

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

She has NO legal requirement to file. I believe her earned income is too low to qualify for the Earned Income Credit, but make sure on that with the tax software by entering the child's data (name, SSN, date of birth).

[ScottGem]

FYI, I know the OP the state is NY but not in NYC

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

For New York, they have no legal requirement to file either.

[joypulv]

The minimum income for the EIC is $1.
She doesn't have to pay anyone if she files herself and I see no reason to file a state return, but do think it's worth filing the federal to get the EIC.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

Payment of the EIC works on a bell curve, so if is getting the EIC, it will not be nuch.