I’m 19. I moved out of my mom’s house a little over halfway into the year so she’s filing taxes saying that I am a dependent. Soon after I moved out I got married. My mom says she will owe 4000 dollars if she doesn’t file me as dependent so I feel obligated to let her file me as dependent. However her and her husband together make about 70,000 a year and I make very little as I don’t have an actual job. I do various services for people. I’m worried that I won’t get any aid and will have to wait another year to attend college because I can’t afford it without aid. However my mom said that because I’m married they won’t consider her and her husband’s income. Which doesn’t make sense to me because if they file me as dependent won’t fafsa ask for their income information?
My husband and I aren’t filing together. Does that make any difference?
I just want to get my taxes filed and fill out fafsa already. Does anyone know how this works or know who I can contact that would know?
If you are married you are independent. They will not need to supply your parents income and assets on the FAFSA.
No. Being claimed as a dependent on someone else’s tax return and being independent for FAFSA purposes are two different and distinct thing.
No. If you meet the dependency test for taxes, your mother can claim you as a dependent on her tax return, even though you are married. This may be the case even if you and your husband file a joint return.
The IRS knows. See page 26:
Your parent income will NOT be required on the FAFSA if you are married.
BUT your spouse’s income WILL be required…and it doesn’t matter how you file your taxes. You will be required to list his income and assets on your FAFSA form.
If you lived with your mom and she supported you then she can claim you as a dependent for federal taxes.
I doubt that she will get a $4000 tax break for claiming you, but she can get a $4000 exemption for you.
For FAFSA you are considered independent because of being married and have to report your and husband’s income.
Next year if you don’t live with your mother and file joint with your husband I don’t think she can claim you as a dependent for taxes.
If you earned less than $6300 you will not benefit from personal exemption at all while your mother will save roughly $1000 if she claims you as a dependent on her tax return. She can claim you if she provided more than 50% of your support.
Assuming this is true when you use tax software indicate that you are a dependent of another person and the software will do the rest.
On page 29 of Publication 17 that @BelknapPoint linked to above is a chart that your mom can check out to determine if she can claim you as a dependent for taxes.
On the FAFSA you should put that you are married and put your household income (of you and husband).