So my mom is a pathological liar... she beat me up, controlled me, & etc. during my entire teenaged life (I moved back in with her when my grandmother died in the 10th grade). I couldn't do anything about it though because she was a social services worker in the county in which I was residing; she was also in really good with the local police department and every time I'd try and leave, she'd call them, have me brought back home, etc. To make up for all of the bruises & etc. that were left on me, she blamed it on my boyfriend and he was arrested for domestic violence, etc.

Well now that I'm done rambling, I moved out when I turned 18 (became a legal adult) on March 8, 2008. My boyfriend is an accountant so I know that she can't claim me based on the following facts: (1) I didn't live at home with her for the whole year (after March 8); (2) she did not provide more than one half of my income for the year; (3) I was NOT enrolled in high school or college one single day throughout all of the year (Jan 1. - Dec. 31, 2008); , etc.

I actually am due a $993 federal refund and a $219 state refund (NC) and when I submitted my taxes through TurboTax just a few days ago, it rejected me and told me that I had been claimed as a dependent on someone else's return and that I needed to fix it. I know for a fact that the person that claimed me was my mother, and I intend to fight her on this.

Does she have a leg to stand on based on all the information that I've provided, and what is it that I need to do to get this mess straightened out? I really needed my refund to come through in the next couple of weeks, so what she's done makes this situation of mine even worse.

Thanks everyone...

If you are sure that you are not a dependent, then file your return by mailing paper return. Then IRS will contact both of you and figure out who is correct.
You should avoid making public statements like you have done here. You may get into problem.
A dependent can be your qualifying child or qualifying relative. There is no age limit for a qualifying relative. For the requirements to claim a dependent (as your qualifying child or relative), read: Your U.S. Tax Return: Requirements for claiming a dependent (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/03/requirements-for-claiming-dependent.html)

If you are sure that you are not a dependent, then file your return by mailing paper return. Then IRS will contact both of you and figure out who is correct.
You should avoid making public statements like you have done here. You may get into problem.
A dependent can be your qualifying child or qualifying relative. There is no age limit for a qualifying relative. For the requirements to claim a dependent (as your qualifying child or relative), read: Your U.S. Tax Return: Requirements for claiming a dependent (http://taxipay.blogspot.com/2008/03/requirements-for-claiming-dependent.html)

MukatA, thank you for your feedback, but I was wondering how exactly it is that I should go about proving that I was not a dependent of hers? I know that you say that I should not make public statements about her or the situation but I feel that it is necessary to disclose the fact that I know her well enough to know that she--right now--is fraudulently trying to prove that I lived with her and/or that she provided more than half of my support for the year... With that being said, what kind of documents, information, etc. will the IRS need from me to prove that I did not reside in her household for more than half the year and/or what will they need to prove that she DID NOT provide more than one half of my support for the year?

Because you were not yet age 19 at the end of '08, your mother can claim you as a dependent if she can show that you lived with her at least 1/2 the year and she provided at least half of your support. So you should be prepared to show receipts that prove you moved out in March and that you have been supporting yourself with your own money. Gather together evidence such as a copy of your lease or utility bills with your name on it dating from March, your drivers license with your new address, copies of pay stubs from your job with your new address, etc.