<prompt> Human: My parents tell me that they will claim me on their taxes first, then I can do my taxes and still claim myself? Something due to being a full time college student and living with them. Personally, I dont think its possible unless my tax returns are significantly diminished correct? But should they be able to claim me? I do live with them but worked near full-time making 16k last year and paying rent to them.  <response>: There are two possibilities, and which is appropriate depends on whether you can be claimed as a dependent. You should read the tests for qualifying child in IRS Pub 17 chapter 3. In particular, you will need to see support worksheet 3-1 to find out if you paid more than half the cost of your support.It turns out there is NO income limit test for qualifying child. You could earn 160,000 but if you didnt pay more than half the cost of your support, they could claim you as a dependent if you also meet the other tests.Option AYou did not provide more than half the cost of your support.You met all the other tests for being a qualified child.Your parents CAN claim you as a dependent.Your parents get to remove 4000 of their income as untaxed.You file and use a standard deduction but you do not claim a 4000 personal exemption.Option BYou did provide more than half the cost of your support. Or you failed any of the other tests for qualifying child: too old, or didnt live more than half the year with them, etc.You CANNOT be claimed by anyone as a dependent.Your parents do not claim an exemption of 4000. That means they pay taxes on 4000 more than other option.You do claim your personal exemption. So you remove 6300 standard deduction AND remove 4000 exemption to get to your taxable income number.Option CIllegal: Your parents claim 4000 exemption and you also claim 4000 exemption. If this happens, IRS sends you both letters in the mail, asking the filer who is in error to amend their taxes.PLT: if you are sure they cannot claim you as a dependent, you should file your taxes before they do. If you file online and claim your personal exemption, your parents will be locked out of claiming your exemption if they try to file online. They would have to file manually if they wanted to try claiming you. And theyd still have to amend their taxes anyway later, since their filing would be in error. You can avoid the drama by discussing the rules about dependents together with them. 