AboutJohn Stancil, CPA Expertise I can answer questions on personal income taxes, partnerships, and some corporate income taxes. I can deal with some state tax questions. Limited gift and estate tax questions. I am also familiar with ministerial and church tax reporting issues. I teach tax and accounting at a small church-related college. Sales taxes and property taxes are state and local issues so I am not likely be be able to give you an in depth answer on those types of taxes. I have maintained a part time tax practice for over 30 years. I am a member of the AICPA, National Society of Tax Professionals, and the Institute of Management Accountants.
Experience I hold a doctorate in Accounting, and four professional certifications: CPA, CMA, CFM, and CIA. I passed all certification examinations on the first attempt, and received honorable mention for my scores on the CIA exam. I write a monthly tax column for the local newspaper.
Expert: John Stancil, CPA Date: 7/16/2008 Subject: Claiming Independent
Question I'm a 19 year old college student who was born and raised in Ohio, but am attending school in Kentucky. Long story short, out-of-state tuition is killing me, and the school's requirements are that I live off campus for a year and be independent of any out-of-state parents. I've heard a lot of different things about the rules to claiming independency and most of them contradictory. What are the rules for claiming independent? For instance, my parents are paying my loan payments for undergrad until I finish school, and my cell phone bill, but otherwise I am on my own. Is that helping too much?
Answer Sarah,
Thanks for your question.
First, there is really no such category as claiming independent. Your dependency exemption is claimed by your or by someone else.
Your parents have the right to claim you if they provide over half your support. They apparently meet all the other criteria. You would need to make a list of what they provide and a list of what you provide toward your support to see who provides over half.
