Reporting early w/d in 1040

I’m single and have zero income so I haven’t had to file a tax return for the last couple of years.  If I take a small early w/d, say $5000, from my 401k would I need to file a tax return for an annual income of only $5000.  My rough calculations seem to show that between my exemption and standard deduction it would be a wash.  But I thinking that because of the source of the income I would have to?

A general recommendation is to file a tax return any time you have any income whether or not you would have any tax liability.  The 401(k) plan will report the distribution, all the more reason to file a return. The IRS computers will be looking to match reported income with a tax return. Also, if the withdrawal is an eligible rollover distribution, which it probably is, the plan will withhold and you cannot waive the withholding.  If you have no tax liability, you will have to file a return to get the refund of the amount withheld.  If you have ever filed a tax return, some would say keep filing even if there is no income.  At least until the year after the year you die.

Somebody might explain avoidance of the mandatory withholding by use of rollover to an IRA, but not I.

IRS publication on distributions from IRA's: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p590b.pdf

IRS publication on pension/annuity income:  https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p575.pdf.  See sections about "taxation".

Thanks for replying, both of you.  I have filed tax returns for many years until I stopped working.  When I attempted to file electronically with 0 income I kept getting a message from the  IRS.gov software that I didn’t need to file.  I guess I should just get a 1040EZ and mail in a handwritten just to have it on record as filing even 0 income.

If I decide to proceed with partial withdrawal I’ll go ahead and file for the $5000 so it’s on record and get the refund even though it's well below the threshold.