Your income and taxes owed determine whether you have to file taxes. When you don’t work, it can be for a number of reasons. You might stay home to care for children while your spouse works or you may be a student. Less happily, you might unemployed even though you want to work.In some cases you don’t have to file taxes when you don’t work.hen you don’t work, it can be for a number of reasons. You might stay home to care for children while your spouse works or you may be a student. Less happily, you might unemployed even though you want to work. In some cases you don’t have to file taxes when you don’t work.