Can my parents claim me as a dependent or can I claim myself?

Question

Alright, so here's a summary of the facts. Looking to know if my parents can again claim me as a dependent or not.

- 20 years old
- full-time student (they pay about 2/3, I pay 1/3)
- employed full-time, salary this year of approximately $25,000
- lived at home from 01/01 until 09/01
- lived in own place 09/01 through present, and therefore they did not provide me with four months of support
- was on a month-long trip 06/29 through 07/25 and therefore they did not provide me with a month's worth of support then
- pay my own car payment, albeit under their name as I bought the car when I was 17
- pay my own car insurance; however, it is paid to my father who then pays it
- under father's health insurance

I believe I am entitled to not be claimed as a dependent. As far as I understand, if I pay more than 50% of my support myself, they cannot claim me. 4 months alone+1 month alone on road=5 months. Out of the remaining 6 months, I am sure I paid 1/6th of my support myself.

Please help

Answer 1

Your math is a little broad.

Go to IRS publication 501 and do the worksheet.

If you made $25000 and spent it all, your total support would have to be more than $50K in order for them to claim you. With tuition and room and board running $30-$50K, it's conceivable. (After all, you will also include your share of their housing expenses from 1/1 to 9/1.)

Answer 2

This one is going to be real close. It depends on whether or not you provided over half of your own support. You might have, and if so you can claim yourself and they can't claim you. But it doesn't just go on time, but on $$'s paid. And for the month you were on the trip, technically you were still living with them so while they weren't feeding you, they'd still get credit for the basic household expenses.

There's a chart in chapter 3 of IRS publication 17 to calculate support.

Answer 3

Who pays the groceries, utilities and rent for you to sleep there?
That is the true meaning of support.
If you pay them room and board of at least $300.00 per month, you have a valid claim, otherwise, let the poor old folks save up for their retirement.
After all, if they hadn't supported you, you would have nothing.

Answer 4

do not underestimate your parents. im 22, my mother ticked me off last year. i have not been living with her for over 2 years and last year when i went to file my taxes my accountant told me that i would only recieve x amount of dollars because my mother had file me as a dependent so that she could get a bigger return. i still filed but i didnt get as much as i should have gotten. i worked it out with her and got close to what i expected. long story short, tell your parents NOT to claim you and u can go ahead and get your return worry free.