[wolfgangqpublic]

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.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

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.

[wolfgangqpublic]

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.

[AtlantaTaxExpert]

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.