Taxes
Apr. 15, 2026
Money Basics
Do I Have to File Taxes?
You likely need to file if you:
- Had a job (W-2 income)
- Earned money from freelance/side work (1099 income)
- Received taxable scholarship or stipend money
- Had taxes withheld from a paycheck
You may also want to file even if you don’t have to—because:
- You could get a refund
Translation: If you earned money, it’s worth checking.
What Does “Filing Taxes” Mean?
Filing taxes is when you:
- Report what you earned during the previous year
- Compare what taxes you paid vs. What you owe
- Get a tax refund or pay the difference of what taxes you still owe.
US Federal Tax Return Deadline: April 15th
Forms You Might See
- W-2 → job income
- 1099 → side income / interest
- 1098-T → tuition + scholarships
- 1040 → what you file
How to File
- IRS Free File
- Tax software (like TurboTax, H&R Block)
- Free help (VITA tax prep assistance!)
