Just because they didn't pay rent, doesn't mean they didn't necessarily have expenses on your behalf. Did they provide any of your tuition and books, and/or was their income including in any financial aid paperwork for which you received grants or loans? Did they provide you with tangible items such as an automobile, tuition, books, dorm fees, etc? Do they provide health insurance for you? If so, then yes, they *can* claim you. It doesn't mean they *have* to. If you are in a dispute with them, file your own taxes, and claim yourself as your exemption. Let them know you are doing this. Accurate filing of their taxes is their responsibility, and if they claim they supported you, and didn't, then it is between them and the IRS.

Re: "he was asking about the US" 1. No location specified in question. 2. Information of use to individuals anywhere. You have been downrated this answer for petty reasons, Beverlyof hills (aka Answers101). Typical. ------------------------------------------------------------ In Canada, they cannot claim you as a dependent because you are over 18, but any of your unused education deductions can be transferred to them. When you file your income tax, you include any allowable education expenses as deductions. These consist of tuition fees and an allowance for each month of full- ($400/month) or part-time study ($120/month). If your taxable income reaches zero before you have claimed all of your education deductions, the unused portion may be transferred to one of your parents. Take the example of a person who was in a full-time study course for 8 months and paid $4,000 for tuition. The 8 months in full-time study provides a tax credit of 8x$400 or $3,200. If their taxable income reached zero after deducting their tuition ($4,000) and two monthly allowances ($800), the remainder of the allowance allowance (6 months x $400 or $2,400) can be transferred to one of their parents or other qualified person.

If you provided more than half of your own support then you can file on your own. However, if you are a full time student and your parents paid for your education and housing, then they can claim you. It is hard to support yourself when you are attending school full time.