robert.grant3[at]gmail.com wrote:

- quote -

In order for you to be a qualifying child to your father for
the dependency exemption, you would have had to been under
age 19 at year end (unlikely) or under age 24 and a full
time student (full time as the college defines it and for
any part of 5 months) and you must have resided with your
father for more than half the year (absences to attend
school count as time at home) and you could not have
provided more than half of your own support. Based on the
facts you presented it is highly likely you are a qualifying
child and the exemption belongs to your father. You haven't
mentioned your mother. Unless you post any additional
information I will disregard any impact on the above
equation.

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

<robert.grant3[at]gmail.com> wrote:

- quote -

No. The criterion is whether you were a full time student
in at least 5 calendar months of the year.

- quote -

That means you meet the test for a full time student for
2005.

- quote -

Your feelings are irrelevant. Your residence at school is
considered a temporary absence, which means it counts as
time spent in your father's household.

What matters is whether you provided more than half your own
support for the total year. See IRS Publication 501 for
what constitutes support. If you did, your father can't
claim you as a dependent. If you didn't, you are his
"qualifying child," and only he or your mother can claim
your personal exemption.

Not that you asked, but if you're still living in his house,
do you really want to stir this up?

--
Phil Marti
Clarksburg, MD

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >

I was wondering if the criteria for being a full time
student is to be enrolled in classes full time at the year
end. I graduated from college in May, 2005 and moved back
home in july of 2005. I don't want my father to claim me as
a dependent, and I don't feel he can because I was living at
college for more than half of the year. What are the
specifics regarding living with someone? Thank you.

<< ================================================== ===== > << The foregoing is intended for educational purposes only > << and does NOT constitute legal OR professional advice. > << > << The Charter and the Guidelines for submitting > << messages to this newsgroup are at www.asktax.org. > << Copyright (2006) - All rights reserved. > << ================================================== ===== >