Nope. FAFSA imposes much stricter requirements than simply filing taxes as independent.

I was wrong about age, it’s age 24 not 26 though.

Here are the factors that will get you out of having parental income count against you:

• being 24 or older as of Jan 1 of the school year
• being married
• being a grad student
• having dependents yourself
• being in the military or a veteran
• Having been recently orphaned/put into foster care/emancipated
• being homeless or self-supporting and at risk of being homeless

*If you don’t answer “yes” to any of the questions above, you’re still considered a dependent student for purposes of applying for federal student aid even if you don’t live with your parents, are not claimed by your parents on their tax forms, or are paying for your own bills and educational expenses.

Maybe tax filing status affects how much money you get even if it doesn’t change your dependent status, but you aren’t considered actually independent at all unless one of the above applies