Should my parents claim me as a dependent or should I claim myself in 2025?

This is not an either/or choice. Whether your parents can claim you depends on IRS rules, not preference. And you can file your own return regardless of whether they claim you.

When your parents CAN claim you as a dependent (qualifying child):

• You are under 19 at the end of the tax year, OR under 24 and a full-time student for at least 5 months
• You lived with your parents for more than half the year (temporary absences like college count as living with them)
• You did not provide more than half of your own support
• You did not file a joint return with a spouse (except solely to claim a refund)

What happens if they claim you:

• Your parents get a $500 Credit for Other Dependents (if you are 17+) or $2,000 Child Tax Credit (if under 17)
• You can still file your own return and get a refund of withheld taxes
• You must check the box "Someone can claim you as a dependent" on your own return
• Your standard deduction is limited to the greater of $1,300 or your earned income plus $450, up to the normal standard deduction ($14,600 for 2024)

When it makes sense for parents NOT to claim you:

• If you earned significant income and would benefit from education credits (American Opportunity or Lifetime Learning) on your own return. However, only one taxpayer can claim these credits per student, so compare which return yields more savings.
• If you provide more than half your own support, your parents cannot claim you regardless.

The bottom line: Run the numbers both ways. In most cases where the student earns modest income, the family saves more when parents claim the dependent and take the education credits on their return.