That is not quite correct. There is a question in TurboTax that asks, “can you be claimed as a dependent by another person this year?“ If you answer “yes“, you are disqualified from the stimulus payment. If you can be claimed as a dependent, you must answer yes, even if the other person will not actually claim you. To answer “no” when you can be claimed, so that you can get the stimulus rebate, is tax fraud, and if the IRS audits you, you will be required to repay the stimulus with interest and a penalty.
The rules to see if you qualify to be claimed as a dependent by someone else are complicated, but there are three general cases that will fit most people.
You can be claimed as a dependent by your parents if you live at home more than half the year, are under age 19, and don’t provide more than half your own financial support.
You can be claimed as a dependent by your parents if you are under age 24, live at home more than half the year, do not provide more than half your own support, and are a full-time student. Most college students are understood to live at home because college is considered a temporary absence.
You can be claimed as a dependent by any person who pays more than half your financial support if you have less than $4300 of taxable earnings. If that person is not your parents or a brother or sister, then you must also live in their home the entire year.
