Hi, will claiming my daughter as a dependent on my taxes this year affect her Fafsa appl. She will be doing for the 2010-2011 school year. She is 23 and lived with me for 8 months last year & was a full time college student for 6 months in '09. She is now living on her own & would like to file as "independent" student since she will be turning 24 this September. I just don't want this to affect her being able to do this. Thanks!

I don't see how your claiming her as a dependent for 2009 would affect her ability to get student aid for 2010-2011. Looking at the dependency status worksheet on the fafsa.gov web site: it seems that as long as she was born in 1986 or earlier, is not married, and will be studying full time for her masters or doctorate for the 2010-2011 school year, she is defined to be "independent." See: FAFSA - Free Application for Federal Student Aid (http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/before015.htm)

However- did she have a job after graduation? If she provided more than half her own support during the year you can't claim her as a dependent.

OK, thanks... I think you just answered my question.