Claiming myself instead of parents

There are two types of dependents. While you are not a "child", you may be a "relative".

 

Qualifying Child

 

Relationship — the taxpayer’s child or stepchild (whether by blood or adoption), foster child, sibling or step-sibling, or a descendant of one of these.

Residence — has the same principal residence as the taxpayer for more than half the tax year. Exceptions apply, in certain cases, for children of divorced or separated parents, kidnapped children, temporary absences, and for children who were born or died during the year.

Age — must be under the age of 19 at the end of the tax year, or under the age of 24 if a full-time student for at least five months of the year, or be permanently and totally disabled at any time during the year.

Support — did not provide more than one-half of his/her own support for the year.

 

 

Qualifying Relative

You can claim a child, relative, friend, fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2020 taxes as long as they meet all of the following requirements :

• You provided more than half of their financial support. More info
• They made less than $4,300 in gross income during 2020 unless they are a qualifying child.
• They live with you or they are related to you. (Your relative must live at your residence all year or be on the list of “relatives who do not live with you” in Publication 501.) 
• They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
• They aren't (or won't be) claimed as a dependent by someone else.
• They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
• You are not being claimed as a dependent on someone else's return.

 

 

They cannot claim you as a "Qualifying Child" because you are over 18 and not a fulltime student.

 

They cannot claim you as a "Qualifying Relative" if your total income.in 2020,was more than $4300.

 

So, you can and should claim yourself, for 2020.  And you should be eligible for the $1800 stimulus credit.  

You can also claim an education credit, although you may not be eligible for the most generous credit, The American Opportunity Credit, if your parents claimed it the maximum 4 times, in the past.

 

 

@ColeenD3 

 

thank you for the help. I assume since I was a part-time student in 2020 for 1 semester, and I’m 22, then my parents are not qualified to claim me as a qualifying child. Looking at the qualified relative portion, I made over  $4,300 in 2020 as well.

 

I just want to make sure I’m allowed to claim myself, so I can get the two stimulus payments. I just needed to verify that my parents are ineligible to claim me so I can claim myself.