Can I be considered an independent on my taxes?

-So someone told me that I can only be considered an independent on my taxes if I'm married or emancipated and I would like to know if this is true. I'm 20 years old at the end of the month. I would like to file my taxes as an independent, because I'd rather my parents not find out about my career (webcam model), which I started this year. I'm on their health insurance, but will start paying for my own if this would affect my dependency. I will be paying for my own school, but I have to use their salary info on the FAFSA for student aid, though I'd be willing to pay for it out of pocket if the aid would affect my dependency (it's a community college, so it's not that expensive). In October of last year, I moved out to a different state to live with my boyfriend, and next month I will be moving in another state with my boyfriend and his parents.' I pay for all of my own bills and I've moved out 9 months ago (as a permanent move, not temporary). Can someone please tell me if I can be considered an independent, and if not what can I do to be considered an independent? Of course, I would talk it over with my parents and let them know that I'm claiming myself. I'm not sure when I'm going to school, but I'm going to try to in the fall or in the spring of next year. Thanks!Yes you can claim yourself since you aren't living with them over half of 2011. If you aren't in school full time during at least five months of 2011, you could claim yourself even if you were still living with them.



And finally, even if they were still able to claim you, you could still file your own return and they wouldn't be able to see it unless you showed it to them.As long as your parents aren't claiming you (and it doesn't sound like they can since they aren't providing for 50%+ of your expenses this year), you can certainly claim yourself as a dependent. FAFSA does not affect this. Like you said, however, you will still need their salary and other info to fill out the FAFSA to be eligible for certain scholarships, grants, etc.



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What you were told is not true.



You must be considered as independent if you provide over 1/2 of your own support.



None of which is really relevant.



Even if you filed as a dependent, there would be no reason for your parents to learn of your "career".



The difference between being "independent" or not "independent" is who claims the "exemption" and whether certain credits are available. Either way, you must file your own return (even if you are not "independent") and you must report your webcam income on your tax return. You are not obligated to disclose it to your parents.
You have permanently moved out of your parents house, so you can claim your own personal exemption ( "independent' ) for 2011.*** You ARE an adult at age 18. {Emancipation is usually used for teenagers under age 18 who get the courts permission to not be under their parents rule, etc.}



Being on your parents health care insurance has no bearing on anything. It is your right and privilege until age 26 [single, married, living at home or not] under Obamacare as long as your parents will go with the plan (and you pay, they pay, the employer pays; whatever).



Going to college while truly living on your own (with a husband, bf, or by yourself) does not revert you back to the status of a dependent on your parents return.



*** re 2010 taxes, which you seem to be talking about; it depends on whether you were in school 5 or more months in 2010, and how much support your parents provided. See IRS guidelines for rules and worksheets. I am assuming your parents would have filed by now. The discussion (re your tax status) should have happened before they file, but on the surface it does sound like you can claim your own exemption. {But the IRS will come asking for proof if your parents already claimed you as an exemption.}



Dependents who make money file their own return, and there is no (legal) need for the parents to see it.
Tell your parents that you will be filing your own return, which means that they should not claim you as a dependent. They will not see what you file.



Unless you are a full time student, you are already too old for them to claim you as a dependent anyways.



You can file your own taxes at any age. One person, and only one person gets to claim you as a dependent (people filing as married filing jointly count as one person for this purpose). If you claim the standard deduction on your own taxes, you are claiming yourself. If you claim the standard deduction, nobody else can claim you as a dependent. (If they do, the IRS will send them a mean letter.)



Whether or not you file your own tax return and claim the standard deduction, you are too old for someone to claim you as dependent unless you are a full-time student (or disabled).



If you are indeed a full-time student, then let a parent (or both if they file married filing jointly) claim you as a dependent. You can still file your own return (which they will not see) as long as you don't claim the standard deduction.