Can my parents claim me as a dependent for 2018?

[pbear1294]

I will be 24 in December and have been a full-time student until I graduated in May of 18. I moved out right after graduation and supported myself starting in June. I want to file for myself but my parents say they are filing with me as a dependent, can they do that?

[Hal_Al]

No. As you apparently know, turning 24 before the end of 2018 is the key factor.

There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and standard ("Qualifying Relative" in IRS parlance even though they don't have to actually be related). There is no income limit for a QC but there is an age limit, student test, a relationship test and residence test. Only a QC qualifies a taxpayer for the Earned Income Credit. They are interrelated but the rules are different for each.

You are too old to be a QC. So, there is now an income limit, for you to be their dependent. If you made more than $4150 in 2018, you cannot be a Qualifying Relative dependent either.