NYS Resident – 19 Years Old – Can I check box 6a on my taxes? Why/why not?
I earned just under $15,000 in 2008.
My father WILL NOT be claiming me as a dependent this year.
I do not live at home, I am a full time student at an accredited college in my sophomore year.
When school is out, I live with family.
I held two jobs last year.
My student loans are in my name alone.
I provide 100% of my own support and pay for school/car/phone on my own.
So, I ran through turbo-tax deluxe two scenarios. One in which I said “I can be claimed as a dependent, but I will not actually be claimed.” The other, I said “I cannot be claimed as a dependent.”
My refunds in these two scenarios differed by $600 – the better of the two being with box 6a checked, or “I cannot be claimed as a dependent.”
Can I do this? I feel that legally I meet the guidelines of providing my own support. Please advise.
Also, I ask for possible citations. I’d like a confirmed answer. Thanks.
See 1040 instructions page 17. As you can see, you can’t be claimed as a dependent if you provided more than half your own support. And if you’re not a dependent then you can claim an exemption for yourself on line 6a.
http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1040gi.pdf
Tax 1040 Free Self-Calculating IRS Forms
http://www.pdftax.com/
