Deductions & credits

"If you parents file a joint tax return solely to get a refund," means your parents were not required to file a tax return, but filed to get money withheld or a refund. A good example would be filing to receive the Stimulus in 2020.

You are not able to claim your parents because, you parent receive over $28K. While it is not taxable, the IRS considers that as income. A person's gross income for a year must be less than $4,400. With both parents, their combined income could not be more than $8,800 for a year.

For more Information: IRS Pub. 501