Living away at school is only considered to be a "temporary absence" so if you meet the other criteria to be claimed as a dependent, it does not matter whether you live at home with them. Are you under the age of 24? A full-time student? If so---you can be claimed as a qualifying child on their tax return and they are the ones who get the education credit on their tax return.
Even if you are being claimed as a dependent you can still file your own tax return to seek a refund of tax that was withheld ---but you must say on your own return that you can be claimed as someone else's dependent.
This is the criteria your parents use:
WHO CAN I CLAIM AS A DEPENDENT?
You can claim a child, relative, friend, or fiancé (etc.) as a dependent on your 2023 taxes as long as they meet the following requirements:
Qualifying child
- They're related to you.
- They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
- They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
- They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
- They're under the age of 19 (or 24 for full-time students).
- No age limit for permanently and totally disabled children.
- They lived with you for more than half the year (exceptions apply).
- They didn't provide more than half of their own support for the year.
Qualifying relative
- They don't have to be related to you (despite the name).
- They aren't claimed as a dependent by someone else.
- They're a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
- They aren’t filing a joint return with their spouse.
- They lived with you the entire year (exceptions apply).
- They made less than $4,700 in 2023.
- You provided more than half of their financial support.
**Disclaimer: Every effort has been made to offer the most correct information possible. The poster disclaims any legal responsibility for the accuracy of the information that is contained in this post.**
