<prompt> Human: Hello, I know tax season is over but I need you guys knowledge in navigating my tax filing responsibilities. So for the last two years, I went to college and had most of my tuition and expenses covered by Federal Pell Grant and Federal DL Subsidized. It was enough to pay for my tuition and all school-related needs because my mom paid for my apartment, other personal expenses and she also gave me a small weekly allowance. In return, she claimed me as a dependent. No problem with that. However, I just realized that in the last two years that she claimed me as a dependent, she didnt disclose the total financial aid I received and thus didnt get any tax credits for my schooling or did she? I just filled out my FAFSA for graduate school and there are no information about my part-time jobs, personal expenses, and scholarships. Is it really unnecessary to not itemized that on her tax return because Im just a dependent?I just need your help understanding what my dependency on my mother entailed in the last two years. Did I missed out on tax credits because I did not file on my own? Am I going to get in trouble for not disclosing my scholarships and income when I was an undergrad student?  <response>: You still have to file tax returns when youre a dependent. Its still your responsibility and not your moms.All being a dependent changes is that she gets to deduct your personal exemption and you dont. And some of the school related stuff does transfer, so thats definitely worth looking into.But your income is 100 unrelated to her and was not reported on her tax returns because it was supposed to be on your tax returns. Being a dependent doesnt tie your incomes together like youre imagining.You need to file your late returns. 