@maurkilahinton Why do you think you need an answer to that question? That is, what are you trying to accomplish? The answer to the question is quite nuanced. In fact there are two separate questions: 1. did you provide more than half your own support and 2. did more than half your support come from your earned income (wages).
Your parent(s) cannot claim you as a dependent, if the answer to #1 is yes. You cannot claim the refundable education credit if the answer to #2 is no. The first question is usually academic. With the tax law change, effective 2018, most students will get the same refund whether they claim themselves or not. The personal exemption has been eliminated and the standard deduction increased.
The statement, at the other reply, "If you used unearned income or student loans to pay for most of your expenses, you did not support yourself" is incorrect. Unearned income (interest, dividends, capital gains), in your name is considered as support you provided; as are student loans, solely in your name (your parents did not co-sign). Scholarships, on the other hand, are considered third party support and not support provided by you..
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 The support value of the home, your parents provide, is the fair market rental value plus utilities, divided by the number of occupants.
