Do you have to file a tax return if you made less than 8000?

Yes and no. If you're being claimed as someone else's dependent, you're required to file a return if you're single under 65 with earned income over $5,700 or single over 65 with over $7,100 earned income. If you're being claimed as someone else's dependent, you're required to file if you're married under 65 with earned income over $5,700 or if you're married over 65 with over $6,800 earned income.

If you're not being claimed as someone else's dependent you aren't required to file with less than $8,000 earned income UNLESS you're Married Filing Separately with income of at least $3,650.

Even though you may not be required to file, you should file to get a refund if any federal tax has been withheld from your pay during the year. You also should file if you're eligible for certain credits, such as earned income, additional child tax credit, making work pay, government retiree, etc.