So last year I was a full time student for most of the year with a job. I didn't have to pay anything to attend classes because my scholarships managed to cover everything. I'm filing as a independent this time and I'm curious if I'll get more back as a student or not?
It won't make a difference to say that you are a student if you don't have any educational expenses to claim. There is no special tax rate for students. The difference this year will be that you are claiming an exemption for yourself.
But please make sure that your parents are not able to claim you. If you were under 24, and a full time student and lived with them (other than when you were away at school) and you didn't pay for more than half your own support, they would still be able to claim you.
See this answer from TurboTax Hal_Al:
It won't make a difference to say that you are a student if you don't have any educational expenses to claim. There is no special tax rate for students. The difference this year will be that you are claiming an exemption for yourself.
But please make sure that your parents are not able to claim you. If you were under 24, and a full time student and lived with them (other than when you were away at school) and you didn't pay for more than half your own support, they would still be able to claim you.
See this answer from TurboTax Hal_Al: