Question

Do the following individuals meet the requirements to file a federal income tax return if they file jointly: a married couple consisting of a husband, age 80, with a gross income of $4,600, and a wife, age 64, with a gross income of $4,600?

Answer 1

No, the married couple does not meet the requirements to file a federal income tax return if they file jointly.

Step-by-step explanation:

In order to determine if the married couple meets the requirements to file a federal income tax return if they file jointly, we need to consider their gross income and age. According to the IRS, for the 2021 tax year, if you're under 65 years old and filing jointly, both spouses must have a gross income of at least $27,800 to be required to file a federal income tax return. However, if one spouse is 65 or older, the threshold increases to $29,100. In this case, the husband is 80 years old and the wife is 64 years old.

Since their gross incomes are both $4,600, which is below the filing requirement threshold for their age group, the married couple would not meet the requirements to file a federal income tax return if they file jointly.