Can I file as an independent?

Can my parents claim my sister as in the household and can my sister still file taxes as independent?

• I am filling my taxes and fafsa, and I noticed that to be counted as in the household, you must have half you income coming from the household. My sister gets more than half of her income from my parents, so can she file as independent and still be counted as in the household for fafsa purposes?

• Answer:

  Independence for tax filing and fafsa are two different circumstances. For tax filing, you can claim yourself if you made above a certain amount or claim certain deductions. A lot of students claim themselves on taxes, but they are still dependents on fafsa because they aren't over the age of 24, no children or not married. So, to answer your question, yes, can be placed in the household as a dependent and file taxes independent as long as she meets the guidelines for both.