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I paid for more than half of my living expenses for part of 2019 but at the beginning my parents still paid for me - Does this mean I did support myself in 2019?

 
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2 Replies
GiseleD
Expert Alumni

I paid for more than half of my living expenses for part of 2019 but at the beginning my parents still paid for me - Does this mean I did support myself in 2019?

You are considered to have supported yourself in 2019 if you provided more than 1/2 of your support for ALL of 2019. To learn more about support in this context, please visit IRS Publication 501 Dependents, Standard Deduction, and Filing Information.

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Hal_Al
Level 15

I paid for more than half of my living expenses for part of 2019 but at the beginning my parents still paid for me - Does this mean I did support myself in 2019?

No. If you paid half your expenses for part of the year and your parents paid all of your expenses for the other part, it's unlikely that your self support  adds up to more than half  for the whole year.

 

The IRS has a worksheet that can be used to help with the support calculation. See: http://apps.irs.gov/app/vita/content/globalmedia/teacher/worksheet_for_determining_support_4012.pdf The support value of a home is the fair market rental value, divided by the number of occupants.

 

What is it your are trying to gain? With the tax law change, effective 2018, most students will get the same refund whether they claim themselves or not. The personal exemption has been eliminated and the standard deduction increased.

 

There's a new urban myth among college students that says they can get a $1000 from the government just for filing a tax form. For most of them, they simply aren't eligible. A full time unmarried student, under age 24, is only eligible for the refundable portion of the American Opportunity Credit if he supports himself by working. You cannot be supporting yourself on parental support, 529 plans or student loans & grants. You must have actually paid tuition, not had it paid by scholarships & grants.  It is usually best if the parent claims that credit.  You cannot claim a credit if you are, or can be, claimed as a dependent by someone else.

 

 

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