income has nothing to do with the support test. see the link @MinhT1 's response. You could be making a million dollars per year and still be a dependent of your parents if they are paying more than 50% of the costs to support you.
a question; if you lived at home, did you pay rent, utilities at a fair market level? Who paid for your college expenses? who paid your medical insurance? food? how do you rationalize you supported yourself for more than 50%?
normally, it is best for the parents to claim the student as it's a better tax outcome for the family. Parents can get up to $2500 for AOTC (student can't), parents can get up to another $500 as a other dependent tax credit.
Why are you trying you challenge all that? Why aren't you trying to see how you could be a dependent?
you can certainly file your taxes on your own. Depending on your income, that is a legal requirement. But determining whether or not your parents can claim you or not is THEIR responsibility - not yours. sorry for the bluntness, but given the tone of your question, I thought it was warrented.
