Should I feel guilty that I filed as Independent on my Taxes?
I’m 21, live with my parents, and I don’t pay rent. Last year, I worked part time for the most part, was a full time student, and not only payed my personal bills like cell phone, gas, insurance, and extras, but I also payed the PG&E and water bill at my parent’s house for 5 months during which I was employed full time. I was accepted into a 2 year nursing program for which my parents always said they’d help me pay for, until they saw my income summary. Their change of mind was so last minute that now, as a full time nursing student, I am stuck in a rut, stuck with automobile expenses, cell phone, tuition, books, uniforms… the works. I had money saved, but only to cover the above, so now I’ve maxed my credit card. I’ve been paying for my own clothes and extras since I was in middle school, and this is the second semester my parents don’t help me pay for school. With no income, and no help from my parents to pay for school expenses, I filed as Independent on my 2009 taxes before they filed theirs. I haven’t told them (I plan to after a major exam), but they haven’t filed yet. The only difference it seemed, was being able to claim my educational expenses, which have been approved and will help me a great deal with my debt. I have a feeling that they’ll be angry with me, and that I may have disabled them to recieve some compensation for me living with them. They may even kick me out. They’re like that. But, should I feel guilty?
I just talked to my mom about it. She said it was fine as long as I only claimed what I payed for. They will not be claiming me as a dependent this time. Can they get in trouble?
2009 Income: 221.00
I don’t eat at home, and I shared a room.
It’s not that I didn’t pay rent because I didn’t want to or because they didn’t ask for it. We talked about it, and they preferred me pay certain bills and do chores than pay rent.
Tags: 5 months, amp, automobile expenses, cell phone, chores, educational expenses, full time, last minute, mom, own clothes, parents, part time, personal bills, pg, school expenses, second semester, t pay, time student, uniforms, water bill