The IRS goes by your age at the end of 2020. For a 2020 tax return you are 18.
And... there are other considerations to whether you can be a dependent. If you can still be claimed as a dependent on your parents' tax return and you do not say so on your own return you will mess up their return big time. So you need to understand what you are doing.
There are two kinds of dependents---qualifying child and qualifying relative. If you meet the criteria to be claimed as either kind you must say on your own tax return that you can be claimed. (and that means no stimulus for you).
For tax year 2020 do you meet the criteria to be someone else's qualifying child or qualifying relative?
WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?
You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiance (etc.) as a dependent on your 2019 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:
Qualifying child
• They are related to you.
• They cannot be claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They are not filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They are under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
- No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children
• They live with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
Qualifying relative
• They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
• They cannot be claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They are not filing a joint return with their spouse.
• They lived with you the entire year.
• They made less than $4300 (not counting Social Security)
• You provided more than half of their financial support. More info
When you add someone as a dependent, we'll ask a series of questions to make sure you can claim them.
Related Information:
• Does a dependent have to live with me?
• What does "financially support another person" mean?
• Can I claim a newborn baby?
If you can be claimed as a dependent and you answer the question in My Info incorrectly, here is what happens if you e-file first: Your Social Security number goes into the IRS system as having been used. When your parents try to e-file, their e-file is rejected and they will find it impossible to e-file their own tax return. Then they will have to print, sign and mail their return and wait for months for it to be processed. You, meanwhile, will have to file an amended tax return on a special form called a 1040X, which also takes months for the IRS to process. So make sure you know the correct answer to "Can anyone claim you as a dependent on their tax return?"
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
