Should my mom have not claimed me as a dependent? (Florida)?

Question

I graduated from college in April 2006 and am now a teacher. I made $18,000 in 2006. Since I didn't get income until August, my mother said that she could claim me as a dependent. However, one of the criteria for dependent status is being a student for 5 months, but I was only in school for one semester in 2006 (4 months). Can I still qualify for dependent status for this year? Will that mean that all of my federal income withheld in 2006 will be refunded to me?

I am 23 and single.

Answer 1

For a parent to claim a child over the age of 18, they have to be full-time student for 5 months. You don't meet the qualification. The fact that you didn't start earning money until august doesn't enter into it.

If she already filed, and then you file and claim yourself, it will delay any refund you have, and it will flag her return for investigation. She'll owe money back to the IRS.

Yes, you would get more money back if you claimed yourself - but certainly not all of it. You'll have a taxable income of either $13000, or a little less than $10000 - depending on which way you file.

Answer 2

The rule for being a full time student is that you were in school for some portion of at least five months of the year. So if you were in school even one day in each of January thru May, then that test would be passed. If you lived with your mom for over half the year (time you were away at school counts toward that) and you didn't provide more than half of your own support for the year, then she can still claim you if you qualified as a student.

The part that might be trickiest is the support, whether you provided half of your own support or not. There's a worksheet in IRS Publication 17 (download at irs.gov, the worksheet is on page 32) to figure support. The question is not did she support you for more than half the year, it's did you pay more than half of your total support for the year. If you still live with her, and if she paid a lot of your school expenses, then she can probably claim you. If you've been out on your own in an apartment since August and if you paid your own school expenses, then she probably can't.

Since you made $18000 in 2006, it's very unlikely that you'll get all your federal income tax withholding back whether you are claimed as a dependent or not. The difference in what you get back is probably between $350 and $400 if you're a dependent or not. You'll probably owe around $1100-1600 in federal income tax so if you had more than that withheld, you'd get the extra back.

Answer 3

There are two ways in which your mom could claim you as a dependant. Only one of these categories could be chosen for the dependancy exemption, not both.These two exemptions are, dependant child exemption or the dependant relative exemption.

Under the dependant child exemption,one important factor is age. If, you are 24 yrs of age or under as a fulltime student in the year 2006 and if you have stayed in the same home as your mom for more than half of the year,then she can claim you as her dependant. Your income levels and how many months of the year you attended school dont matter for this particular exemption.

Whereas, for the qualifying relative dependancy,your mom must have provided more than half of your financial support for the year and you must not have earned more than 3300$ in the whole year, which is not the case, as I can see from the data tht you have given abt your income for the year.If you are under 19 yrs, this income limit is waived.For this exemption, you also must have attended school for a part of each of five months in the year. However,if you have lived with your mom under the same roof for the whole of 2006, she could claim you as her dependant under the qualifying relative exemption without worrying about the income limit the attending school limit or the support limit.

So, all in all, how many months you actually stayed in the same house with your mom is the key to getting either of the two exemptions coupled with whether you were 24 yrs of age or under in the yr 2006 as a full time student.
Hope this reply helps and doesnt confuse you further.

Answer 4

At first blush, it sounds like you mom should not have claimed you as a dependent.

Whether you are a dependent of your mother or not, you still need to file your tax return. Assuming you are single, I don't think you are going to get all your withholding back unless you have significant deductions. But there is no way to know without knowing your entire tax situation.

If you are a dependent of someone else, you will not be entitled to claim you personal exemption on your tax return. In other words, if you were a dependent, your tax return will probably end up with more tax than if you were not. (Depends, again, on what else is on your return...)

Answer 5

if you were living with her for at least 6 months and she was providing at least half of your suppport for the year she is entitled to claim you..i just went through this with the IRS and they explained it very thoroughly. If you call the IRS 800 number they will offer to do tests to tell if you are able to be claimed

Answer 6

You meet the IRS standards for claiming the newborn; in the adventure that your ex in spite of attempts to declare the newborn additionally he might desire to stand penitentiary time and different significant issues of the IRS. They do verify heavily in those circumstances to be certain with whom the newborn is dwelling and etc.