Do Those Experiencing Homelessness Have to Pay Taxes?

*This article uses phrases that Father Joe’s Villages typically elects not to use such as “homeless person” instead of “people experiencing homelessness”. We included this language in the questions to reflect the casual language that people typically use when searching for information, to make it easier for people to find what they need. Read more about Why We Don’t Use the Terms “the Homeless” or “Homeless People” here.

Tax season is upon us and while this can be a stressful time for anyone, it can be especially challenging for someone experiencing homelessness. If you have no permanent residence and your only home is the streets, do you have to pay federal income taxes?

Taxation is the process by which a governing body levies taxes on its citizens. In short, tax is a percentage of income that people pay to the government in return for public services. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 144.3 million Americans filed federal personal income taxes in 2018.

It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of homeless individuals are among those who pay taxes. When someone is homeless, knowing the rules and choices available regarding taxes can be especially complicated.

Do homeless people pay taxes?

Homelessness comes in many different forms. Just because someone is homeless, does not mean they are jobless. In fact, many people who are homeless work, especially if they have the means of transport to get to and from a job site. 

According to the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago, more than half of people residing in homeless shelters in the United States had formal earnings in the same year they were homeless. Among those not living in shelters, 40% had earnings from employment.

Generally, any individual who meets the minimum requirement salary must pay taxes—even while homeless. Anyone making an annual income more than $10,150 as a single person or $20,300 as a married person filing jointly is above the threshold for filing taxes and therefore required to file a tax return.

Does anyone not have to pay taxes?

If a working individual who is experiencing homelessness makes more than the minimum requirement salary, they are required to file taxes. However, almost half of Americans pay no federal income tax because they do not meet that minimum salary requirement. 

Some individuals who are homeless will certainly fall into that category.

Why should people who are homeless file taxes?

Filing taxes could actually be beneficial for individuals who are homeless, especially if they are employed, if they are married or if they have children or other dependents.

According to National Alliance to End Homelessness, low-or moderate-income households who earned an annual income less than $14,590 for single adults and $20,020 for married couples (filing jointly without dependents) will qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program and can receive a maximum tax credit of $495 for single adults and higher amounts for households with dependent children.

Additionally, since employers are required to withhold taxes from any employee’s paycheck, people who are homeless and working should file federal income taxes so they can receive a tax refund payment from the IRS.

How does Father Joe’s Villages help individuals who are homeless file taxes?

The San Diego Day Center for Homeless Adults operated by Father Joe’s Villages is a drop-in facility where adults experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness may receive a variety of services and resources to meet their basic and longer-term needs. 

The San Diego Day Center offers a safe place to rest during the day, restrooms, showers and other essential services. People experiencing homelessness can even obtain a mailbox at the San Diego Day Center where they can receive mail daily. They can use the address of their P.O. Box at the San Diego Day Center to file taxes and receive their tax refund payment.

Additionally, Father Joe’s Villages provides emergency shelter, temporary housing, and affordable housing options that can be used as a permanent address for anyone in need. Anyone staying in a Father Joe’s Villages shelter may use that address as a place of residency when filing taxes.

During tax season, case managers check in with neighbors to support them in completing their taxes and the Employment and Education Services Center offers computers for digital tax filing.

Overall, Father Joe’s Villages provides numerous resources to help neighbors in need complete their taxes.

*This article uses phrases that Father Joe’s Villages typically elects not to use such as “homeless person” instead of “people experiencing homelessness”. We included this language in the questions to reflect the casual language that people typically use when searching for information, to make it easier for people to find what they need. Read more about Why We Don’t Use the Terms “the Homeless” or “Homeless People” here.

Tax season is upon us and while this can be a stressful time for anyone, it can be especially challenging for someone experiencing homelessness. If you have no permanent residence and your only home is the streets, do you have to pay federal income taxes?

Taxation is the process by which a governing body levies taxes on its citizens. In short, tax is a percentage of income that people pay to the government in return for public services. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 144.3 million Americans filed federal personal income taxes in 2018.

It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of homeless individuals are among those who pay taxes. When someone is homeless, knowing the rules and choices available regarding taxes can be especially complicated.

Do homeless people pay taxes?

Homelessness comes in many different forms. Just because someone is homeless, does not mean they are jobless. In fact, many people who are homeless work, especially if they have the means of transport to get to and from a job site. 

According to the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago, more than half of people residing in homeless shelters in the United States had formal earnings in the same year they were homeless. Among those not living in shelters, 40% had earnings from employment.

Generally, any individual who meets the minimum requirement salary must pay taxes—even while homeless. Anyone making an annual income more than $10,150 as a single person or $20,300 as a married person filing jointly is above the threshold for filing taxes and therefore required to file a tax return.

Does anyone not have to pay taxes?

If a working individual who is experiencing homelessness makes more than the minimum requirement salary, they are required to file taxes. However, almost half of Americans pay no federal income tax because they do not meet that minimum salary requirement. 

Some individuals who are homeless will certainly fall into that category.

Why should people who are homeless file taxes?

Filing taxes could actually be beneficial for individuals who are homeless, especially if they are employed, if they are married or if they have children or other dependents.

According to National Alliance to End Homelessness, low-or moderate-income households who earned an annual income less than $14,590 for single adults and $20,020 for married couples (filing jointly without dependents) will qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program and can receive a maximum tax credit of $495 for single adults and higher amounts for households with dependent children.

Additionally, since employers are required to withhold taxes from any employee’s paycheck, people who are homeless and working should file federal income taxes so they can receive a tax refund payment from the IRS.

How does Father Joe’s Villages help individuals who are homeless file taxes?

The San Diego Day Center for Homeless Adults operated by Father Joe’s Villages is a drop-in facility where adults experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness may receive a variety of services and resources to meet their basic and longer-term needs. 

The San Diego Day Center offers a safe place to rest during the day, restrooms, showers and other essential services. People experiencing homelessness can even obtain a mailbox at the San Diego Day Center where they can receive mail daily. They can use the address of their P.O. Box at the San Diego Day Center to file taxes and receive their tax refund payment.

Additionally, Father Joe’s Villages provides emergency shelter, temporary housing, and affordable housing options that can be used as a permanent address for anyone in need. Anyone staying in a Father Joe’s Villages shelter may use that address as a place of residency when filing taxes.

During tax season, case managers check in with neighbors to support them in completing their taxes and the Employment and Education Services Center offers computers for digital tax filing.

Overall, Father Joe’s Villages provides numerous resources to help neighbors in need complete their taxes.

Tax season is upon us and while this can be a stressful time for anyone, it can be especially challenging for someone experiencing homelessness. If you have no permanent residence and your only home is the streets, do you have to pay federal income taxes?

Taxation is the process by which a governing body levies taxes on its citizens. In short, tax is a percentage of income that people pay to the government in return for public services. According to the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), 144.3 million Americans filed federal personal income taxes in 2018.

It’s estimated that hundreds of thousands of homeless individuals are among those who pay taxes. When someone is homeless, knowing the rules and choices available regarding taxes can be especially complicated.

Do homeless people pay taxes?

Homelessness comes in many different forms. Just because someone is homeless, does not mean they are jobless. In fact, many people who are homeless work, especially if they have the means of transport to get to and from a job site. 

According to the Becker Friedman Institute for Economics at the University of Chicago, more than half of people residing in homeless shelters in the United States had formal earnings in the same year they were homeless. Among those not living in shelters, 40% had earnings from employment.

Generally, any individual who meets the minimum requirement salary must pay taxes—even while homeless. Anyone making an annual income more than $10,150 as a single person or $20,300 as a married person filing jointly is above the threshold for filing taxes and therefore required to file a tax return.

Does anyone not have to pay taxes?

If a working individual who is experiencing homelessness makes more than the minimum requirement salary, they are required to file taxes. However, almost half of Americans pay no federal income tax because they do not meet that minimum salary requirement. 

Some individuals who are homeless will certainly fall into that category.

Why should people who are homeless file taxes?

Filing taxes could actually be beneficial for individuals who are homeless, especially if they are employed, if they are married or if they have children or other dependents.

According to National Alliance to End Homelessness, low-or moderate-income households who earned an annual income less than $14,590 for single adults and $20,020 for married couples (filing jointly without dependents) will qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) program and can receive a maximum tax credit of $495 for single adults and higher amounts for households with dependent children.

Additionally, since employers are required to withhold taxes from any employee’s paycheck, people who are homeless and working should file federal income taxes so they can receive a tax refund payment from the IRS.

How does Father Joe’s Villages help individuals who are homeless file taxes?

The San Diego Day Center for Homeless Adults operated by Father Joe’s Villages is a drop-in facility where adults experiencing homelessness or at risk of homelessness may receive a variety of services and resources to meet their basic and longer-term needs. 

The San Diego Day Center offers a safe place to rest during the day, restrooms, showers and other essential services. People experiencing homelessness can even obtain a mailbox at the San Diego Day Center where they can receive mail daily. They can use the address of their P.O. Box at the San Diego Day Center to file taxes and receive their tax refund payment.

Additionally, Father Joe’s Villages provides emergency shelter, temporary housing, and affordable housing options that can be used as a permanent address for anyone in need. Anyone staying in a Father Joe’s Villages shelter may use that address as a place of residency when filing taxes.

During tax season, case managers check in with neighbors to support them in completing their taxes and the Employment and Education Services Center offers computers for digital tax filing.

Overall, Father Joe’s Villages provides numerous resources to help neighbors in need complete their taxes.