It depends. Whether a state stipend qualifies as supporting yourself for tax purposes depends on how the IRS defines "support." Generally, support includes expenses like housing, food, clothing, medical care, and education costs. However, the IRS typically considers earned income—such as wages from a job—as true self-support, while stipends, scholarships, and grants may not fully count.
If your stipend was used for tuition, fees, or required supplies, it might be non-taxable, but if it covered living expenses, it could be considered taxable income. Here is a worksheet the IRS provides to help you determine whether or not you provided your own support.
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