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I was a full-time student. What qualifies a supported myself?

 
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2 Replies
MarilynG1
Expert Alumni

I was a full-time student. What qualifies a supported myself?

Supporting yourself means providing your own shelter, food, clothing, utilities, medical, etc. with your earned income (not student loans or scholarships/grants).

 

Here's more info on Did I Support Myself?  and What does Financially Support Mean?

 

 

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Hal_Al
Level 15

I was a full-time student. What qualifies a supported myself?

Very few full time students of college age are self supporting, for tax purposes. Scholarships are ignored in the support calculation. If the parent co-signed the loan, loan money is considered support from the parent. 

 

The support value of the home, provided by the parent, is the fair market rental value of the home plus utilities & other expenses divided by the number of occupants.

The IRS has a worksheet that can be used to help with the support calculation. See: http://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/teacher/worksheet_for_determining_support_4012.pdf

 

 

 

Even if you did provide more than half your own support, you probably still don't qualify for the refundable tuition credit.  More than half your support must come from your own earned income. 

A full time unmarried student, under age 24, even if you don't qualify as a dependent, is only eligible for the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit if he supports himself by working. You cannot be supporting yourself on parental support, 529 plans or student loans & grants. It is usually best if the parent claims that credit. 

You cannot claim a credit if you are, or can be, claimed as a dependent by someone else.

 

Reference: Line 7 instructions for form 8863. https://www.irs.gov/instructions/i8863

 

 

 

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