@evolecap -
<< My twin got her taxes done by a professional & they told her she could claim herself if our parents hadn't.>>
either your twin misunderstood or the professional is playing loose with the law - and I'd get another professional because at the end of the day it is YOUR tax return - not the profressional's.
you (or your twin) don't have the option to "claim yourself" just because your mother doesn't. Note the check box on YOUR tax return - it says 'I CAN be claimed on someone else's tax return" - it doesn't say "WERE YOU claimed" - see the difference?
for 2021, your mother CAN claim you as you were a full time student (defined as in school for at least 5 months of the year) and she is paying more than 50% of your expenses (if she is paid your food and rent in 2021 then you would be hard pressed to argue you are paying more than 50% of your expenses)
for 2022, it is straight forward, you can claim yourself and you mother can't. Once out of school, as long as you make $4300, no one else can claim you.
<<if I can't claim the money and the people who are allowed to claim me don't- who gets the money from my taxes>>
the rest of us taxpayers, who follow the law, and are asked to pay less 😀
