Regarding being claimed as a dependent; my mother whom doesn't live with me wants me to allow her to claim me. Will this make my tax return less money?

[jennaroyer]

I have made under 10k and am seeking the paycheck reimbursement. If this still grants me what I'm owed then I don't care, but if I'm getting robbed I would like to know before my mother makes me a dependent

[Bsch4477 · Accepted solution]

If you are not a full time student under age 24 she can’t claim you. 

[jennaroyer]

That’s what I told her, she’s saying since I’m on her insurance she still can? Idk.

[Bsch4477]

She is wrong. 

[Hal_Al]

What is "the paycheck reimbursement"?  There's no such thing on the 2022 federal tax return.

With the tax law change, effective 2018, most dependents will get the same refund whether they claim themselves or not. The personal exemption has been eliminated and the standard deduction increased. 

But that question is academic. Your mother claiming you is not optional.  If you do not qualify as her dependent, it would be fraudulent for her to claim you.

There are two types of dependents, "Qualifying Children"(QC) and Other ("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 and student status test, a relationship test and a residence test. Only a QC qualifies a taxpayer for the Earned Income Credit and the Child Tax Credit. The Other dependent (qualifying relative) credit is worth (up to) $500 per dependent and is non-refundable.  That is, it can only be used to reduce an actual tax liability.

A person can still be a Qualifying relative dependent, if not a Qualifying Child, if he meets the 6 tests for claiming a dependent:

1. Closely Related OR live with the taxpayer ALL year
2. His/her gross taxable income for the year must be less than $4400 (2022).
3. The taxpayer must have provided more than 1/2 his support
4. He must be a US citizen or resident of the US, Canada or Mexico
5. He must not file a joint return with his spouse or be claiming a dependent of his own
6. He must not be the qualifying child of another taxpayer

[Critter-3]

A child can be on the parent's insurance until they turn 26 ... being a dependent claimed on a return has nothing to do with it.  If you don't live with her and you made more than $4400 as a non student then she CANNOT claim  you as a dependent and if both you and her do claim you  then she will lose in an IRS audit ... advise her of the rules.