<prompt> Human: Hi, this is my first post here and while Im sure Ill get downvoted to hell, I figured Id ask a question because I dont know who to ask and google searches and trying to do my taxes online this year is confusing me. I did my taxes last year and got about 300 back. I work part-time at the moment and last year but last year I made about 5000 while this year I made about 9000. I tried doing my taxes first thing when I got my return but turbotax told me that I would only get 35 back. So I tried to see if I could go ask someone about that while they did my parents taxes but theyre putting it off and I am really trying to move out and become financially independent so I really need the money while I figure out getting a fulltime job. I thought that maybe I was getting less back from turbotax because I think I still can be claimed as a dependent and I googled that and found that there are different definitions. For instance, IRS says that to be considered a dependent, you have to be 19, a full time student and not providing half of your support. Hr block says you can be 23, a full time student and not providing half of your support. And I was working on my tax return on their site and they said I would get more back but I dont know if Im making a mistake or what. see if there was any So I am really confused. And apparently you cant claim exemptions like EIC if you are a dependent, which sucks. Yes, I know I am an idiot for being 23 and living with my parents. I totally fell for the staying home and saving up arguement. Made that mistake already and am attempting get out of this situation. I pay bills too though. I pay my own student loans, which my parents are not cosigners for. Ive paid about 450 in interest on those loans. I pay all of my car insurance and help with half of my car payment. I have had to pay tons of medical expenses on my own this year. My bad if anyone believes this irrelevant information but I want to explain my situation as much as possible so people arent making assumptions about me that arent true as has happened previously in another sub.Questions then : Can I be claimed as a dependent?If so, how will that impact my tax refund? Is there anyway I can get some money back and soon?Any ideas on why the turbotax and H r block estimated returns differ aside from error? Im going to try to do it again to see if its just that I made a mistake or not.Assistant: Yes, I know I am an idiot for being 23 and living with my parents. I totally fell for the staying home and saving up arguement.If you only made 9000 for the year, what do you think would be a better option?Trying to move out on your own without a full-time job is asking to be swallowed in debt and default on your loans. Have you thought about what your budget would be if you had to pay all of your own bills, and what about health insurance?Human: Yes. Thats why Im trying to find a full-time jobAssistant: Excuse me for butting in here, but I read your other thread on rorlando, and you seem really confused. You pay half of your car payment and a Macys store credit card, make 9000year yes, I realize that you are looking for FT work, but it sounds like the FT work you are going after wont pay more than 24Kyear, and get mad because they wont let you pay for anything else -- and yet you say you have 0 savings. Living alone gets expensive, and you wont be able to do it on 9000year and even doing it on 24Kyear would be frustrating.You say you have a degree in psychology -- can you put that to use anywhere that is more constructive than at Universal Studios? Do you have any other skills that youd like to develop? If I need to be blunt with you and it appears I need to, based on your other responses, its that you are ill-prepared to move out and dont have a long-term goal. Let your parents claim you as a dependent because they are paying your living expenses and half of your car payment, live at home, and think about where you want to be in 10 years.Human: I did not say I have no savings. They are claiming me as a dependent whether I like it or not. I am so tired of having people shoot me down because I dont know what the next 15 years are going to look like. If you did in the same exact situation, great. I dont but I am not going to let that stop me. Ive spent far too much time letting shit like that stop me. Ill figure it out along the way. I am still living at home. And I plan to until I can move out. Its not like Im packing my bags yet, it is a process that I am working on. I really wish people would stop assuming and actually be helpful on reddit and actually followed reddiquette. Go ahead and downvote me, it no longer matters to me. I dont need to take orders from anyone on how to do things, I just need to know bits of objective information. Thats it. If I needed anyones opinion I would ask for it. To answer your questions, unless youve stopped reading because I have corrected you like everyone else seems to get mad at :I have tons of skills. I know photoshop, dreamweaver , SPSS, basic HTML and PHP, some programming, but Im still working on that. Im fluent in Spanish , reading, writing and speaking. The only reason I want to stay and move up in the company I currently work in is because I already have an in there. It makes logical sense. Im about to apply to all the jobs I have relevant experience for in the course of the next few days.  <response>: As a third party let me please point out my observation:This is essentially what he said:here is some helpful truth. Based on your current situation you need to have a better plan for moving out because you seem to be struggling with your money while still living at home and having no housing expenses. Let your parents claim you as a courtesy since they are giving you a place to stay and helping with car paymentand theyd get back a decent sum of money for it and see if you can apply any skills you have to get a better paying job. Your response can essentially be summed up as fuck you man I dont need anyone keeping me down! And Ill have you know I do have plenty of skills ! 