Can I still file my taxes if I'm claimed as a dependent?

Yes, you absolutely need to file your own tax return! Being claimed as a dependent on your parents' return doesn't change your own filing requirement. Since you earned $13,500, you're above the filing threshold for dependents (which is much lower than for independent filers). The good news is that filing as a dependent won't mess up your parents' return at all. You'll just check a box on your return indicating that someone else can claim you as a dependent. Your parents claim you on their return, and you acknowledge being claimed on yours - the two work together perfectly. And yes, you can definitely still get a refund of any excess tax that was withheld from your paychecks! Being a dependent doesn't mean you forfeit your refund. The IRS will return any overpayment of your taxes to you, not to your parents.

I was in your exact situation last year and was super confused until I found taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai). Their software analyzed my W-2s and immediately told me that I could file as a dependent AND still get my own refund. The app actually explained that the "dependent" box on your return doesn't affect your refund eligibility - it just tells the IRS that someone else is also claiming you. Before using them, I was worried about the same thing - that filing would somehow mess up my parents' return or that I wouldn't get my withholding back. The tool walked me through exactly what forms I needed and how to handle the dependent status correctly.

Just wanted to update - I checked out taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here and it was actually super helpful! I uploaded my W-2s and it confirmed I should definitely file even though I'm a dependent. The best part was it showed me I qualified for the American Opportunity Tax Credit for some of my textbook expenses, which I had no idea about. Even after my parents claimed me, I was still eligible for a partial refundable credit. Ended up getting back almost $400 more than I expected! It also explained in really simple terms why the "dependent" checkbox doesn't affect my refund for taxes that were already withheld from my paychecks. Definitely cleared up my confusion.

Hey, I had the same problem last year trying to figure out the dependent thing. After weeks of trying to call the IRS and getting nowhere (literally spent hours on hold), I found Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) and it was a lifesaver. They got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes who confirmed everything about filing as a dependent. The agent explained that I not only needed to file my own return (since I had made over the threshold), but also that my parents claiming me wouldn't affect my refund at all. If you're still confused, I'd recommend checking out their demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c to see how it works.

Ok I have to eat my words. After seeing the comments here I decided to try Claimyr since I've been trying to get through to the IRS about my dependent status for weeks. It actually worked! I got a call back in about 30 minutes and spoke to an IRS representative who confirmed that: 1) I need to file my own return even though my parents claim me 2) Checking the "someone can claim you as a dependent" box doesn't stop me from getting my refund 3) The only real difference is I can't claim the standard deduction amount that independent filers get I was seriously shocked it worked after spending countless hours on hold before. For anyone struggling with dependent filing questions, definitely worth it if you need official answers directly from the IRS.

Something nobody mentioned yet - make absolutely sure you and your parents are on the same page about you being claimed as a dependent! If you file your return and don't check the box that you can be claimed as a dependent, but then your parents DO claim you, both your returns will likely get flagged and processing will be delayed. Had this happen to my brother last year and it was a whole mess to straighten out. The IRS sent letters to both him and my parents, and they had to figure out who was actually supposed to claim him.

Don't forget to look into education credits! Even as a dependent, you might be eligible for the American Opportunity Credit or Lifetime Learning Credit. Your parents would claim these on their return since they're claiming you, but it could save them a lot (up to $2,500 with AOTC) which maybe they'll share with you ;) Make sure they have all your 1098-T forms from your college and receipts for textbooks and required course materials.

Just to add some reassurance from someone who's been through this - you're definitely on the right track! I was in almost the exact same situation two years ago (college student, part-time jobs, parents claiming me as dependent) and I was so stressed about messing something up. The key things that helped me were: 1) Filing my own return and checking the "can be claimed as dependent" box, 2) Getting my refund for overwitheld taxes (which was awesome!), and 3) Making sure my parents had my 1098-T for education credits on their return. One small tip - if you're using tax software, most of them will ask you early on whether you can be claimed as a dependent, and then they automatically adjust everything else based on that answer. Makes it pretty foolproof. You've got this! The dependent filing thing seems scary at first but it's actually pretty straightforward once you understand the basics.

Yes, absolutely! The tax software handles the standard deduction calculation automatically based on your dependent status. For 2024 taxes, if you're claimed as a dependent, your standard deduction is limited to the greater of $1,150 OR your earned income plus $400 (but capped at the regular standard deduction amount of $14,600 for single filers). So in your case with $13,500 in earned income, your standard deduction as a dependent would be $13,900 ($13,500 + $400). This is actually pretty close to what you'd get as an independent filer anyway! The software will automatically use this calculation when you indicate you can be claimed as a dependent. You don't need to worry about doing the math yourself - just answer the dependency question honestly and let the software handle the rest. The main difference you'll notice is in tax credits (like education credits going to your parents instead of you), but for basic income tax calculation and refunds, being a dependent usually doesn't hurt you much, especially at your income level.