If someone rightfully claims you, you cannot claim yourself, and in that event, you will miss claiming your own $4,000 exemption which may increase your refund.
Actually, no one needs your permission to claim you as long as they have the right to do so. per the IRS. Based on the information you provided you would be classified as a Qualifying Relative Dependent.
The following guidelines are necessary for someone to claim you:
Qualifying Child Dependent:
- The child must be related to you. The child can be your son, daughter, stepchild, eligible foster child, brother, sister, half-brother, half-sister, stepbrother, stepsister, adopted child or an offspring of any of them.
- Your child must be under age 19 or, if a full-time student, under age 24. There is no age limit if your child is permanently and totally disabled.
- Your child must live with you for more than half the year, but several exceptions apply (ie. away at school).
- The child cannot provide more than half of his/her support.
- You must be the only person claiming the child
- The child must be a US citizen, resident alien, national, or resident of Mexico or Canada.
- The child cannot file a joint return with his or her spouse.
Qualifying Relative Dependent:
- You provided more than half of their support.
- They made less than $4,000 in gross income.
- They live with you or they are related to you.
- They aren’t a dependent on someone else’s taxes.
- They aren’t doing their taxes with a spouse (married filing jointly).
- They are a U.S. citizen, resident alien, national, or a Canadian or Mexican resident.
If, after examining the above guidelines, you determine that no one has the right to claim you as their dependent, you should file a paper return (which you can do through TurboTax), claiming yourself and send it in to the IRS. They will then contact you and whoever claimed you and decide who should get your exemption and adjust your tax result accordingly.
