A dependent is a person who meets at least one of the following three requirements:

1. could be claimed as a dependent on someone else's 2008 federal income tax return
2. lived with a parent, grandparent, sibling, aunt or uncle for more than half the year, and was under 19 at the end of the year (24 if a full-time student), and did not provide more than 50 percent of his or her own support
3. had gross income of less than $3,500 in 2008, and had more than 50 percent of his or her support provided by:
a person he or she lived with for the entire year (not in violation
of local law), or
a parent, grandparent, child, grandchild, aunt, uncle, sibling, niece
or nephew

Additionally, you cannot claim a refund if you are a nonresident alien living in Minnesota, your gross income was less than $3,200 and you received more than 50 percent of your support from a relative.

My situation is that I lived with my parents until September of this year. Then moved out on my own, paying my own expenses. I'm over 20 and am not a student.

Since you were living apart from them for AT LEAST three months, then it is likely you made more than $3,500.

If so, then your parents cannot legally claim you as a dependent even if you want to let them do so.

Claim yourself on your tax return. Make sure your parents know that you are doing so, just to be safe.

Thanks for your response. However, I did not have a job in 2008 and still don't-- yet I have had more than that amount from savings from a previous job. The use of the word income is confusing.

If you had the money in savings, then the savings is NOT income.

The INTEREST from the savings is income; WAGES is income; DIVIDENDS is income; CAPITAL GAINS is income.

If the four income items listed above does NOT exceed $3,500, then LET YOUR PARENTS CLAIM YOU, as you do NOT NEED your personal exemption.