Do homeless or unemployed people still have to pay taxes?

Question

Or unemployed?

DeeDeeDeVour · Accepted Answer

It depends on the state or nation in which one lives in.

There are people who earn taxable wages but are temporarily homeless because they can't afford to pay rent or wages.

They're probably "living in a van down by the river" like 'Matt Foley' did.

Do homeless or unemployed people still have to pay taxes?

Those people still have to pay income taxes but don't have to pay property taxes.

Then, there people who own a home and, therefore, aren't homeless but are unemployed for the time being.

They still have to pay for unpaid property taxes.

For those who are both unemployed and homeless, it's likely they don't have to pay income and property taxes unless they evaded those when they once had either or both.

Meanwhile, sales tax for food or merchandise can't be avoided unless the city or state or country doesn't impose sales tax.

katiesmuff · Accepted Answer

All citizens are suppose to file I think but not all have to pay taxes, especially if you didn't have a job. There is also a scale for income where even with a job you wouldn't pay taxes, but get any paid in returned to you. Common with students with part time work and veery low income families.

OneViewpoint · Accepted Answer

Theoretically, yes. But few few homeless people have significant income. Their tax burden would be minimal at best. And where does the IRS send the letter informing them they have not filed a tax return. 4th box under the I95 bridge in the Bronx?

As for unemployed people, that's a different story, maybe they worked Jan - Oct and got laid off in Nov. So they have earnings and they may owe taxes based on their earnings and withholding for a given year.

If you are long term unemployed and have zero taxable income, then you owe zero taxes.

ThisSiteSux · Accepted Answer

Nobody has to pay taxes. Just don't. They can't arrest us all. Here's a secret the government doesn't want you to know. If you don't make more than 200k a year they will not bother because it will cost more to imprison you then they could ever steal from you through taxes. Source. Did tax accounting for 20 years.

Curmudgeon · Answer

Sales Taxes: Yes, on what they purchase. Thankfully in the USA that is just at the retail level and not at the wholesale or "value added" levels of production.

Income Taxes: Almost never, as they have little or none. In fact, with the "earned income credit", they can get more than they put in if their wages are low enough. (Assuming homeless people have a means of filing)

Vehicle Taxes (license fees, personal property tax): Yes, if they have vehicles (and presumably are living in their vehicles).

Just_Ken · Answer

Yes. The US isn't as bad as the UK but everything you earn is taxed, everything you spend money on is taxed. Inheritance is taxed, now left wing governments are talking about savings being taxed and lending money to family.

So if s homeless performance gets money by begging they should be paying tax on that as its earnings.

AviatorTom · Answer

If they are homeless, they own no property, so they pay no property tax.

If they are unemployed, they make no money, so they pay no income tax, unless they have interest-generating investments that existed before they became homeless.

When they buy something, they pay sales tax.

For those living in a car that they occasional drive, a gasoline tax is included in the price of gasoline, which they pay.

indissoluble · Answer

if you have income you pay income tax. If you own a car you pay a tax to register your car. If you buy fuel you pay fuel tax. If you buy goods from stores you pay sales tax, unless it's on untaxed items like groceries. There are "homeless" van life software developers making $150K a year... They pay taxes. Just because you don't own a home, doesn't mean you get to evade taxes.

slatyb · Answer

Generally people pay taxes on income, so if there's no income, no tax is owed. Unemployment benefits may or may not be taxed depending on the location. In the United States, there are federal and state income taxes, and possibly local income tax. I don't know whether subdivisions of other countries also levy income tax. Additionally many locations have a sales tax, or a VAT that is added to or included in the cost of goods and services. Anyone making a purchase will pay this tax.

SeekerOfTruth007 · Answer

Yes. They end up paying Sales Tax, which is the biggest tax item for low income people. Even people who make between 25k and 35k income, the sales tax is the biggest tax they actually pay, which in some cities the sales tax is around 14 or 15 percent now, which is more than Federal Income Tax on the lowest tax brackets.

Lesbologist · Answer

No income tax to pay... but if they buy anything, there is that sales tax. Taxes hit everyone in one way or another... that's why 'they' say "The only things you can be sure of in life is death and taxes."

TsundereMatrix · Answer

Homeless people, probably not because they can’t financially contribute to society. Unemployed, maybe if they have some sort of government assistance program they are on while they find a job like unemployment insurance.

Maybe_Maybe_not · Answer

Ofc, in every country of the planet, except USA and a few African countries, there's value-added tax we all pay for any good or service we buy. So when a homeless guy buys a sandwich, he pays taxes on it.

Calyptomaniac · Answer

If you make under whatever the standard deduction is, I don't think you owe anything but I think you're supposed to go through the filing process?

DryGermanGuy · Answer

"And so, my fellow Americans: ask not what your country can do for you — ask what you can do for your country!"  - John F. Kennedy

exitseven · Answer

Unemployed people have to pay taxes on unemployment benefits. Homeless pay taxes on any legitimate job they may have if they earn more than the threshold amount.

RavVid · Answer

Local gov't should collect street rent from the homeless. I pay rates so they shouldn't get my street for free.

strateguy632 · Answer

sometimes so you need to file and answer the form with truth, or else get punished.

NoDecision · Answer

Well, since a lot of them have no jobs or income, I kind of doubt it.

SamIam96 · Answer

In the US, we pay taxes on income and property. So, probably not.

FreyaRed · Answer

You pay taxes when you buy anything. It's just sales tax or VAT (in EU)

CyberGhost615 · Answer

Did you make any form of income? If so, then pay your taxes

Alex-Snow · Answer

A homeless person does not need to pay property taxes obviously

jamesgoldman · Answer

Only consumptive ones which have been mentioned more specifically by others

Smegskull · Answer

Depends where they live. They are probably at a bigger risk for not filing taxes than not paying taxes.

Twalli · Answer

It depends on where you live, some places require it, others don't.

MrShaun · Answer

What's wrong with having them pay the most and letting those with money keep it?

Manuelwe · Answer

Technically yes. It depends how much they have in the bank like whores.

lightbulb27 · Answer

no, they get $ sent to them.

MrChinaski · Answer

They still pay consumption taxes.

KostasKouvalis · Answer

Only if they made over $600

Anonymous · Answer

Not if they have no taxes.

Anonymous · Answer

I’m homeless but I work

msc545 · Answer

Yes if they make any money at all.

Anonymous · Answer

Nope they don't.

kinks1951 · Answer

Of course

In_Trance · Answer

Check local laws

Do homeless or unemployed people still have to pay taxes?

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