You are confused by the standard deduction and by the concept of being claimed as someone else's dependent. The rule is if someone else CAN claim you then on your own tax return you must say that you can be claimed as someone else's dependent----even if they will not be claiming you.
Your parents do not "make too much money" to claim you----they just might make too much to get the education credit --which is not the same thing.
If you are a full-time college student under the age of 24, you can still be claimed as a qualifying child unless you personally paid for over half your own support.
Here is the criteria used by parents (and others) to determine if they can claim a dependent:
WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?
You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2023 tax return as long as they meet the following requirements:
Qualifying child
- They're related to you.
- They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
- They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
- They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
- They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
- No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
- They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
- They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.
Qualifying relative
- They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
- They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
- They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
- They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
- They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
- They made less than $4,700 in 2023.
- You provided more than half of their financial support.
**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.**
