How do I answer the "Did you support yourself in 2025?" question? Did I support myself?

We asked you this question because based on your age, you might qualify for an education tax break called the American Opportunity credit.

Think about the people who helped pay for your living expenses. Did anyone pay for your rent or food? Consider all your living expenses and what you contributed. If you paid for more than half of your earned income, you supported yourself.

If a parent or someone else paid for more than half of your living expenses, you didn't support yourself. If you used unearned income or student loans to pay for most of your expenses, you didn't support yourself.

If you're in the military, you may include your housing allowance and other nontaxable military pay.  Although it doesn't count as taxable income, it may increase your credits such as the American Opportunity Credit. If you paid for most of your living expenses with your income and housing allowance, you supported yourself.