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Gregory
Gregory asked in Business & FinanceTaxesUnited States · 2 months ago

Can I be Claimed as a Dependent by my parents?

So currently, I am 21 and am a part time student at my local community college (Under 12 credits a semester, I usually do about 9-10 credits per semester) and I work mostly part time (Around 20-25 hours per week depending). For the most part, I pay for everything of mine, Schooling, transportation, food, clothing, books, insurance, and I even give my parents money from time to time for me being there.

My question is that can i still be claimed by my parents on their taxes? I know they are not going to claim me since we've agreed that I will file my own taxes from 2019 onwards. Yet, I am not sure if I put down that I am an independent on my taxes. I've looked it up and there seems to be a lot of information out there and well I am somewhat confused about all of it. One thing to note is that I didn't receive the stimulus check at all last year.  

Thank you for your time.

Update:

Thanks to everyone who responded. This year I made over $23,000, and on my 1098-T, I am a "half-time student". So going by what you all are saying I am independent and therefore I cannot be claimed. Thank you all for the clear up!

Update 2:

So just to be certain with all of this, I just ran over the expenses (Including housing, food, clothing, etc.) I personally pay with the chart that is provided on the IRS website and the amount that I pay is more than double of what is required by the IRS. So even if I was a full-time student, with the personal expenses I pay, I couldn't be claimed, right?

7 Answers

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  • Anonymous
    2 months ago
    Favorite Answer

    See IRS PUBLICATION 501.  This is not a choice.

    If your 1098-T does NOT indicate you were a full time student AND your income was $4300 or more, you cannot be a dependent.  This is true even if your parents paid for more than half of your support.

    BTW, living in their home is not trivial.  The value of living there is support they gave you.

    If you made less than $4300, odds are you ARE a dependent.

    If the 1098-T says full time, be prepared to show how you supported yourself before trying claim the stimulus money.

  • Rita
    Lv 6
    1 month ago

    Your parent must first meet income requirements set by the Internal Revenue Service to be claimed as your dependent. To qualify as a dependent, Your parent must not have earned or received more than the gross income test limit for the tax year. This amount is determined by the IRS and may change from year to year.

    Source(s): https://vapedubaishop.com/
  • ?
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    If you made over about $4000 in 2020, no you cannot be claimed by them.  You can file your own taxes even if they claim you.  Your agreement means nothing, if you CAN be claimed by them, you cannot claim yourself, even if they do not.  

  • StephenWeinstein
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    Probably not.

    1)  Since you're over 19 and are not disabled or a full time student, you aren't a "qualifying child".  And since you work 20-25 hours per work, you probably make too much per year to be a "qualifying relative".  If you're not a "qualifying child" or a 'qualifying relative", then you can't be a dependent.

    2) If you pay over half of the total of your housing, schooling, food, etc., then you can't be claimed as a dependent.  It sounds like they pay for your housing but you pay for everything else.  (However, the housing could cost more than everything else, so you might not be paying over half the total.)

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  • Shay
    Lv 7
    2 months ago

    As a part time student, if you earned MORE than $4,300, they can NOT claim you and it doesn't even matter who paid for the majority of your support.

    You may also have the option to claim the stimulus money when you file your tax return too.   

  • Eva
    Lv 5
    2 months ago

    Over 19, part time student.  If you made more than $4300 your parents can't claim you.  If you were a full time student, they might be able to.  You can claim the stimulus payment as a recovery rebate credit on your tax return.

  • David K
    Lv 6
    2 months ago

    If they don't claim you, then you must. You file as an individual, nothing special there.

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