None of what you describe, being a student, being a dependent, living with your parent or being on FAFSA exempts you from having to file a tax return.
It goes strictly by your income. The amount does vary by dependent status.
If a dependent must file a tax return for 2015 if
he had any of the following:
1. Total income (wages,
salaries, taxable scholarship etc.) of more than $6,300 (2015-16).
2. Unearned income (interest,
dividends, capital gains) of more than $1050 (2015-16).
3. Unearned income over $350
and gross income of more than $1050
4. Household employee income
(e.g. baby sitting, lawn mowing) over $1900 ($6300 if under age 18)
5. Other self employment
income over $400, including box
7 of a 1099-MISC
Even if he had less, he is allowed to file if
he needs to get back income tax withholding. He cannot get back social security
or Medicare tax withholding.
He doesn’t get his own $4050 exemption
(deduction), when he files. In TurboTax, he indicates that somebody else can
claim him as a dependent, at the personal information section.
