Can my father still claim me as a dependent even though I made $12,630 last year?

The tax preparer is mistaken. For a qualifying child dependent who is 21, not disabled, and not a student, you would need to make less than $4,700 for 2024 (the threshold amount). Since you made $12,630, you exceed this limit and cannot be claimed as a qualifying child. Your father could potentially try to claim you as a qualifying relative, but there's a support test - he would need to provide more than half of your total support for the year. With your income level, unless you had very high expenses that he covered, it's unlikely he provided more than half your total support. This needs to be corrected. Your father should file an amended return (Form 1040-X) removing you as a dependent. If he doesn't and you file your own return claiming yourself (which you should), the IRS will flag the discrepancy and both returns will likely be audited.

I was in almost the exact same situation last year with my mom trying to claim me. Found this tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that really helped clear things up. It analyzed both our tax situations and confirmed what I suspected - that I couldn't be claimed as a dependent because of my income. What was helpful is that it gave me specific IRS rules to reference when I had to explain this to my mom and her accountant. The site shows you the exact qualifications for dependents and runs your numbers to give you a definitive answer. It even generates a report you can show your dad and his tax preparer to prove your point.

Just wanted to update - I took everyone's advice and checked out taxr.ai since my situation was complicated with supporting my younger brother. The site actually confirmed I CAN claim him (didn't expect that!) and showed me exactly which tests he passed/failed. It was way more specific than the generic IRS guidelines I was finding online. The site generated a detailed report I was able to show my brother and it cleared up all our confusion. Turns out I was misinterpreting the support test calculations. Saved us both a lot of stress and potentially incorrect filing!

I had this exact issue with my stepdad last year! After going back and forth for weeks, I finally got nowhere with the tax preparer. Ended up calling the IRS directly using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com) which got me through to an actual person at the IRS in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours or days. They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c The IRS agent confirmed exactly what people are saying here - at 21 with that income, you definitely don't qualify as a dependent unless you're disabled or a student. Having that official word from the IRS was what finally convinced my stepdad's tax guy to fix the returns.

Wow, I feel like an idiot now. After posting my skeptical comment, I decided to try Claimyr anyway since nothing else was working. And...it actually connected me to an IRS agent in 35 minutes while I was watching TV! The agent looked up my case immediately and confirmed my ex was wrongly claiming our son as a dependent after he aged out (he's 24 and not a student). She gave me specific instructions on how to resolve it and what forms I needed. They're sending me a letter to document this that I can show him. Just wanted to admit I was wrong and this service actually delivered exactly what it promised.

My brother went through this exact thing. If you file your taxes claiming yourself (which you should), the IRS will flag both returns since your SSN is being claimed twice. They'll send letters to both you and your father asking for documentation to support your positions. You should talk to your dad ASAP and try to convince him to file an amended return. Show him the specific IRS rules about qualifying children over 19. If he refuses, file your return correctly anyway and be prepared to provide documentation showing your income and living situation when the IRS contacts you. Don't sign anything from that tax preparer if it incorrectly lists you as a dependent on someone else's return!

Just wondering, does your dad's tax preparer work at a major chain or are they independent? I worked at one of the big tax prep companies and we had specific training on dependent tests. This mistake seems really basic for a professional.

This is definitely a frustrating situation, but you're absolutely right to question this. The tax preparer is incorrect about the income limits for dependents your age. Since you're 21 and not a student, the income test for qualifying child status is $4,700 for 2024 - not the standard deduction amount. Your income of $12,630 far exceeds this limit, so you cannot be claimed as a qualifying child dependent. For qualifying relative status, your father would need to provide more than half of your total support for the year. Given your income level, this seems unlikely unless you had very high expenses that he covered. Here's what I'd recommend: 1. Don't sign any tax documents that list you as someone else's dependent 2. Show your father and his tax preparer the official IRS Publication 501 which clearly outlines these rules 3. Request that your father file an amended return (Form 1040-X) to remove you as a dependent 4. File your own return claiming yourself If your father refuses to amend his return and you file correctly claiming yourself, the IRS will send correspondence to both of you to resolve the duplicate claim. You won't be penalized for filing correctly, but be prepared to provide documentation of your income and support situation. Don't let anyone pressure you into filing incorrectly just to avoid conflict. The rules are clear, and you have every right to claim your own exemption.