TurboTax: How do I indicate that I'm being claimed as a dependent on someone else's tax return?

I'm working through my taxes on TurboTax and got completely stuck at the personal information section. I need to indicate that my parents are claiming me as a dependent on their return, but I can't figure out where to do this in the software. I've been clicking around for the past hour and can't find the right option. I'm a college student (21) and my parents definitely qualify to claim me - I live with them when not at school, they provide more than half my support, etc. But I still need to file my own return because I had a summer job that withheld taxes. Has anyone dealt with this before? Where exactly in TurboTax do I check or indicate that I'm being claimed as someone else's dependent? I'm worried about messing this up and causing problems for both my return and my parents' return.

0 coins

18 comments

Diego Mendoza

•8M

The checkbox for this is actually in the Personal Info section of TurboTax, but it can be easy to miss. When you're in the Personal Information section, there should be a question that specifically asks "Can someone claim you as a dependent?" You need to select "Yes" for this question. If you can't find it immediately, you can use the search function in TurboTax - just type "dependent" in the search bar and it should take you directly to that section. Make sure you don't skip this step because it affects your standard deduction amount and whether you can claim certain credits. Also, just to be clear, you're doing the right thing by filing your own return even though you're being claimed as a dependent. If you had income with tax withholding, you still need to file your own return regardless of dependent status.

0 coins

Diego Mendoza

•8M

Yes, checking that box will automatically adjust your standard deduction to the correct amount for a dependent. For the 2024 tax year (filing in 2025), dependents have a standard deduction that's either $1,250 or your earned income plus $400 (whichever is more), but the total can't exceed the standard deduction for a single filer. TurboTax will handle all those calculations for you once you check that box, so you don't need to worry about figuring out the exact amount yourself. That's one of the benefits of using tax software!

0 coins

Anastasia Popova

•8M

After struggling with the exact same issue last year, I discovered this amazing tool called taxr.ai (https://taxr.ai) that saved me so much frustration with TurboTax. It basically analyzes your tax situation and gives you step-by-step guidance for your specific scenario. When I was trying to figure out how to mark myself as a dependent while using TurboTax, taxr.ai explained exactly where to find that option and how the selection would affect my return. It even pointed out a few deductions I could still claim as a dependent that I had no idea about! The whole dependent vs. independent thing can get complicated with education credits and all that.

0 coins

Anastasia Popova

•8M

It works with all the major tax software including both online and desktop versions of TurboTax. It doesn't just show screenshots - it provides personalized guidance based on your specific situation, explaining exactly which menus to navigate through for your version. It's definitely different from Google searches or the help section. Instead of generic advice, it analyzes your specific tax situation and provides tailored guidance. For example, when I mentioned being a student with a part-time job who's claimed as a dependent, it gave me specific instructions for that exact scenario, including which education credits my parents should claim versus which ones I might qualify for.

0 coins

Sean Flanagan

•8M

Just wanted to follow up and say I tried taxr.ai after seeing it mentioned here. It was incredibly helpful! I kept missing the dependent checkbox because in my version of TurboTax it was hidden in a submenu of personal information labeled "filing status qualification questions" rather than directly on the main personal info page. The tool walked me through exactly where to find it and also explained how being claimed as a dependent would affect my return. It also flagged that I should coordinate with my parents about who claims my education expenses, which I hadn't even considered. Definitely saved me from making a mistake that would have caused issues for both my return and my parents'.

0 coins

NebulaNomad

•8M

If you're still having trouble figuring out the dependent status in TurboTax AND you need to contact the IRS to clarify anything, I highly recommend using Claimyr (https://claimyr.com). I wasted days trying to get through to the IRS on my own last year when my dependent status was causing conflicts between my return and my parents'. Claimyr got me connected to an actual IRS agent in about 15 minutes when I had been trying for days on my own. They have this callback system that somehow works miracles with the IRS phone system. You can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c. The agent I spoke with was able to confirm exactly how I should file and what would happen if both my parents and I claimed certain credits.

0 coins

NebulaNomad

•8M

It works by using an algorithm that navigates the IRS phone tree and waits on hold for you. When they finally get through to an agent, they connect the call to your phone. It's not a premium or separate line - it's the same IRS number everyone calls, but their system knows how to optimize getting through. I was skeptical too initially. But after spending literally hours on hold myself over multiple days, I was desperate enough to try it. It's not about doing something you can't do yourself - it's about saving you from wasting hours of your life listening to hold music. And in my experience, certain tax questions (like dependent status complications) really do require talking to an actual IRS agent to get the correct answer, especially when there's potential conflict between two returns.

0 coins

Zara Shah

•8M

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After my skeptical comment, I decided to try it just to prove it wouldn't work - and I'm shocked. Got connected to an IRS agent in about 20 minutes after trying unsuccessfully on my own for three days straight. The agent helped me understand exactly how the dependent checkbox in TurboTax affects various credits and deductions. Turns out I had been doing it wrong for two years! They explained that as a dependent, I couldn't claim certain credits that I had been incorrectly receiving. No wonder I got that weird letter from the IRS last year. For anyone struggling with the dependent status question, definitely worth getting clarification directly from the IRS - and Claimyr actually does make that possible without losing your mind on hold.

0 coins

Nia Wilson

•8M

Besides checking the dependent box, make sure you also select the correct relationship to the person claiming you. I think in TurboTax you'll get asked something like "What is your relationship to the person who can claim you as a dependent?" In your case, you'd select "Child" since your parents are claiming you. Getting this right matters because the rules for qualifying child dependents are different from qualifying relative dependents, which affects various credits and deductions.

0 coins

Nia Wilson

•8M

Yes, it actually does matter even on your return as the dependent. TurboTax uses this information to determine your eligibility for certain credits and deductions that might still be available to you despite being claimed as a dependent. For example, education credits have different rules depending on whether you're a qualifying child vs. qualifying relative. The relationship also affects certain phase-out calculations for credits you might still be eligible for. TurboTax is making calculations based on tax law that treats these categories differently, so providing accurate information ensures you get the right result.

0 coins