is it possible to file taxes independently if i make less than $8000 a year?

of course, if you work, receive a W-2 you file your own taxes

if your parents are still eligible to claim you and that is until you reach age 24 if you are still in school

that means you cannot claim your personal exemption but are entitled to a limited amount of your standard deduction

if you are not getting support from your parents you need to discuss this with them before you file(and they do too) claiming yourself and one or the other of you may have to repay the refund

Financial aid is not based upon how you file your tax return. For FAFSA purposes, you are a dependent until you reach age 25, enter a graduate degree program, marry, enter the military on full-time active duty, or become estranged from your family. (Proving estrangement is extremely difficult.)

Whether you can be claimed as a dependent for tax purposes has little to do with FAFSA. You are a dependent if you are under age 19, or age 24 as a full time student for any part of at least 5 months in the year, live in your parents home for more than half of the year (including time spent away from home at school) and don't provide more than half of your OWN support. There is no income test under the Qualifying Child rule.

If you can be claimed as a dependent, you lose your personal exemption even if nobody claims you. There is no such filing status as "independent."

Filing your taxes independently has no bearing on whether you will be considered independent on the FAFSA. FAFSA runs by it's own rules. Unless you are proven fully self supporting, married, or over 24 FAFSA will consider you a dependent student & your parents' income will be part of the equation.

If you live with your parents and did not provide more than half of your support for 2009, then your parents can claim you dependent. You can not claim your exemption.

Before filing your return, you must talk to your parents.

anytime anyone else doesn't claim you as a dependent, you can file independently.