The Schedule 5 tax form was a one-year attachment to Form 1040 used only for the 2018 tax year to report “Other Payments and Refundable Credits.” Starting with 2019 returns, the IRS folded it into Schedule 3, where the same items now appear in Part II.1Internal Revenue Service. 2019 Instruction 1040 If you’re filing for any year after 2018, you won’t need Schedule 5.
What Schedule 5 Reported in 2018
The 2018 form collected five specific items, each on its own line, with the total flowing to Line 17 of that year’s Form 1040:2Internal Revenue Service. Schedule 5 (Form 1040) 2018 – Other Payments and Refundable Credits
- Line 70, net premium tax credit, calculated on Form 8962 for Marketplace health coverage.
- Line 71, any payment made with Form 4868 when requesting an extension.
- Line 72, excess Social Security and RRTA tax withheld when combined wages from multiple employers pushed withholding over the annual cap ($128,400 for 2018).3Social Security Administration. Contribution and Benefit Base
- Line 73, the fuel tax credit claimed on Form 4136 for federal excise taxes paid on fuel used for qualifying off-highway or farming purposes.4Internal Revenue Service. Instructions for Form 4136 and Schedule A
- Line 74, a catch-all for credits from Form 2439 (undistributed long-term capital gains) and Form 8885 (the health coverage tax credit).
Where Each Item Lives on Schedule 3 Today
Every line from the old Schedule 5 has a direct counterpart in Part II of the current Schedule 3. The substance is nearly identical, but the numbering changed:5Internal Revenue Service. Schedule 3 (Form 1040) – Additional Credits and Payments
- Net premium tax credit: Line 9, attach Form 8962.
- Extension payment: Line 10.
- Excess Social Security and RRTA tax withheld: Line 11.
- Fuel tax credit: Line 12, attach Form 4136.
- Other refundable credits: Lines 13a through 13z, which now also cover the Section 1341 credit for income repayments, net elective payment elections from Form 3800, and deferred amounts of net 965 tax liability.
The total from Part II carries to Line 31 of the current Form 1040. Tax software handles the mapping for you; if you’re filing on paper, attach Schedule 3 behind your 1040 along with any supporting forms.
One Item That Has Since Expired
The Health Coverage Tax Credit, which was claimed on Form 8885 through the Line 74 catch-all in 2018, expired on December 31, 2021, and is no longer available.6Internal Revenue Service. Health Coverage Tax Credit (HCTC) Has Expired on December 31, 2021 If you’re reviewing an old 2018 return that used it, the credit was valid then; it just can’t be claimed on current returns.
Getting a Copy of the 2018 Schedule 5
If you need the original form to amend a 2018 return, respond to an IRS notice, or reconcile old records, the IRS keeps prior-year forms in its online archive. Search “Schedule 5 Form 1040 2018” on irs.gov; the form and its instructions are available as PDFs.2Internal Revenue Service. Schedule 5 (Form 1040) 2018 – Other Payments and Refundable Credits
The IRS generally expects you to keep supporting records for at least three years from the date you filed the return, or two years from the date you paid the tax, whichever is later.7Internal Revenue Service. How Long Should I Keep Records For a 2018 return filed in April 2019, that basic window has already closed for most filers, but longer retention periods apply if you’re facing an audit, filing an amended return, or handling an unfiled year.
Checking Excess Social Security Withholding
The excess Social Security line is the item that most often catches filers off guard, because each employer withholds independently and none of them knows what the others withheld. To check whether you overpaid in any year, add the Social Security tax withheld from every W-2. If the total exceeds 6.2% of that year’s wage base, the difference is your excess and goes on Schedule 3, Line 11 (or Schedule 5, Line 72, for 2018). The 2026 Social Security wage base is $184,500.8Social Security Administration. What Is the Current Maximum Amount of Taxable Earnings for Social Security If you worked for a single employer, this doesn’t apply; your employer stops withholding once your wages hit the cap.9Social Security Administration. Social Security Tax Limits on Your Earnings