My parents' tax preparer says I should have filed as an independent this year. I am a 22 year old graduate school student living off-campus and made $9700.00 last year.

[mzelenski]

My parents provided for more than half of my support (more than $9700) and paid for my tuition ($50,000). Their tax preparer is saying that if both my parents and I agree that I am independent, then I can file as one. But it seems like I simply don't meet the conditions of filing independent.

[MinhT]

From what you describe, your parents can and must claim you as a dependent as they provided more than half of your support and you are under 24 and a full-time student. They can also claim your education expenses.

You cannot file as an "independent"  as you did not provide for more than half of your own support.

[BobB7]

Not quite correct.  See below!

[BobB7]

If you are using Turbotax to do your return, it will ask "can anyone else claim you as a dependent".  The answer is yes (assuming you have no residence when you are not in school, other than your home).  Then it will ask are they claiming you.  The answer is no.  This means that you cannot claim yourself as an exemption, but you may still qualify for an education credit.

If you really have moved out for good, then their tax preparer is correct.

[mzelenski]

After I graduate school, I will not be moving back with my parents. So yes, I have moved out of my parents' house, for good, but I thought that if you lived away from home when in school, it counted as a "temporary absence" and not a full move out

[mzelenski]

Also I forgot to mention, when I'm not at school (which is during the summer), I move to wherever my summer job is, which wasn't been at my parents' home last year.

[BobB7]

OK.  Then if they don't claim you as a dependent, then you can't claim yourself.  But you can still (probably) qualify for the Lifetime Learning Credit by answering as I indicated.  That will probably bring your Federal income Tax down to zero.