My parents can't claim me anymore, but they paid for my education. Should they file my education expenses or should I?

[xmasbaby0]

If you cannot be claimed as a dependent on your parents' tax return they cannot use the education credits.   Only the person who can claim the dependent can claim the education credit.  If you can say on your own return that you cannot be claimed as someone else's dependent then the education credit can go on your return.  You have not explained why they cannot claim you now.   Are you no longer a student?   Or did you turn 24 in 2021 and earn over $4300 in 2021?

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/dependents/help/when-do-i-have-to-answer-yes-to-being-claimed-as-a...

[Hal_Al]

If you cannot be claimed as a dependent on your parents' tax return they cannot claim the education credits.  But, you may use the money they paid in claiming the education credit on your return. Although the general rule, in taxes, is that you must be the one making the payment, to get the deduction, there is an exception for education.

But I agree with @xmasbaby0 , you should confirm whether they can claim you or not. 

There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and Other ("Qualifying Relative" in IRS parlance even though they don't have to actually be related). There is no income limit for a QC but there is an age limit, student status, a relationship test and residence test.

A child of a taxpayer can still be a “Qualifying Child” (QC) dependent, regardless of his/her income, if:

1. He is under age 19, or under 24 if a full time student for at least 5 months of the year, or is totally & permanently disabled
2. He did not provide more than 1/2 his own support. Scholarships are excluded from the support calculation
3. He lived with the parent (including temporary absences such as away at school) for more than half the year

So, it doesn't matter how much he earned. What matters is how much he spent on support. Money he put into savings does not count as support he spent on him self.

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

Furthermore, there is a rule that says IF somebody else CAN claim him as a dependent, he is not allowed to claim himself. If he has sufficient income (usually more than $12,550), he can & should still file taxes. In TurboTax, he indicates that somebody else can claim him as a dependent, at the personal information section.  TT will check that box on form 1040.

Even if he had less, he is allowed to file if he needs to get back income tax withholding. He cannot get back social security or Medicare tax withholding.

If you do not meet the QC rules, then your income must be less than $4300 for them to claim you under the Qualifying Relative rules. 

[dheil218]

My parents can't claim me anymore because I turned 24 in 2021. I also made more than $4300 in 2021.

[JillS56]

Yes, that is correct.   As both @Hal_Al and @xmasbaby0 said in order for your parents to claim the education credit, you must be listed on their tax return as a dependent.  If they are unable to claim the credit, then you can claim the education credit.   

Look at it this way, at least someone is getting the credit and it is not going to waste.   Also, I have seen it where the dependent claims the credit and then gives the refund to their parents.

@dheil218