Lines 1 and 2: expenditures
Line 1 is the qualified railroad track maintenance expenditures paid or incurred. Line 2 is 40% (0.40) of line 1.
8900
Qualified Railroad Track Maintenance Credit
- Agency
- IRS
- Revision
- Rev. December 2023
- Fillable fields
- 12
- Pages
- 1
- Official source
- IRS form page
- Checked
- October 21, 2026
Form 8900: Qualified Railroad Track Maintenance Credit
Form 8900 is used to claim the railroad track maintenance credit (RTMC) for qualified railroad track maintenance expenditures (QRTME) paid or incurred during the tax year. The instructions say an assignor of miles of eligible railroad track files Form 8900 even if it does not claim any RTMC.
The instructions say to use the December 2023 revision for tax years beginning in 2023 or later, until a later revision is issued. That revision reflects a credit rate of 40%, reduced from 50% for tax years beginning after 2022, and the credit was extended to cover QRTME paid or incurred in all tax years beginning after 2022.
The credit on line 5 is the smaller of 40% of QRTME or $3,500 per mile of railroad track. You can fill out Form 8900 free in your browser on this page and download it without an account.
What's on Form 8900
Lines 3a to 3d: track miles
Miles of railroad track owned or leased (3a), less miles assigned to other eligible taxpayers (3b), plus miles assigned to you by the owner or lessee (3c), combined on line 3d.
Line 4: mileage limit
Line 3d multiplied by $3,500.
Line 5: smaller amount
The smaller of line 2 or line 4.
Lines 6 and 7: pass-through credit and total
Line 6 is the credit from partnerships and S corporations. Line 7 adds lines 5 and 6 and goes to Schedule K for partnerships and S corporations, or to Form 3800, Part III, line 4g for all others.
How to fill out Form 8900
- 1
Line 1
Enter QRTME paid or incurred during the tax year. The instructions say a payment by an assignee to a Class II or Class III railroad for an assignment of track miles is treated as QRTME paid or incurred by the assignee, not the assignor.
- 2
Line 3a
A Class II or Class III railroad enters the eligible railroad track miles it owns or leases. The instructions say 1 mile of single track is 1 mile, but 1 mile of double track is 2 miles.
- 3
Line 3b
The railroad enters miles assigned to other eligible taxpayers. Each mile can be assigned only once during the tax year, and an attached statement gives each assignee's name and taxpayer identification number and the miles assigned.
- 4
Line 3c
An assignee enters miles assigned to it, with an attached statement of the total miles and an attestation that it keeps each assignor's details in writing. The instructions say the assignee cannot reassign miles.
- 5
Lines 4 and 5
Multiply line 3d by $3,500, then enter the smaller of line 2 or line 4. A member of a controlled group enters its share on line 5, attaches a statement, and writes "See Attached" next to line 5.
- 6
Lines 6 and 7
Enter credits from Schedule K-1 (Form 1065), box 15 (code AJ) and Schedule K-1 (Form 1120-S), box 13 (code AJ) on line 6, then add lines 5 and 6 on line 7.
Why fill Form 8900 on indox
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- Fill the form right in your browser, no software to install
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- The official blank straight from the IRS, not a copy someone retyped
- Works on a phone, tablet or computer
Where it goes and what to know
Attach to your return
The form says to attach it to your tax return. Its attachment sequence number is 144.
Where line 7 goes
Partnerships and S corporations report it on Schedule K. All others report it on Form 3800, Part III, line 4g.
Basis reduction
The instructions say to use the amount of RTMC to reduce the basis of a qualifying railroad structure asset or intangible asset, limited to the QRTME capitalized for the asset.
Controlled groups
The instructions say all members of a controlled group of corporations or a group of businesses under common control are treated as a single taxpayer, and each member's credit is proportionate to its share of the group's QRTME.
Which revision
The instructions say to use the December 2023 revision for tax years beginning in 2023 or later, until a later revision is issued, and prior revisions for earlier tax years.
Related forms
3800
General Business Credit
1,921 fields, 9 pages
1065
U.S. Return of Partnership Income
440 fields, 6 pages
1120-S
U.S. Income Tax Return for an S Corporation
390 fields, 5 pages
1065
Partner's Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc.
111 fields, 1 page
1120-S
Shareholder’s Share of Income, Deductions, Credits, etc.
114 fields, 1 page
Who files Form 8900?
The instructions say eligible taxpayers use the form to claim the credit. They are businesses tied to Class II or Class III railroads, as these terms are defined by the Surface Transportation Board.
Official sources and the blank
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Questions about Form 8900
What is the credit rate on Form 8900?
The instructions say the rate on line 2 is 40% for tax years beginning after 2022, reduced from 50%.
Is there a limit per mile of track?
Yes. Line 4 multiplies the miles on line 3d by $3,500, and line 5 takes the smaller of line 2 or line 4.
Does a railroad that assigns miles file Form 8900?
The instructions say an assignor of miles of eligible railroad track files Form 8900 even if it does not claim any RTMC, with the statement described for line 3b.
Do partners and S corporation shareholders file Form 8900?
The instructions say they are not required to if their only source for this credit is a partnership or S corporation. They can report it on Form 3800, Part III, line 4g.
Which railroads are Class I?
The instructions list six: BNSF, Canadian National, Canadian Pacific Kansas City, CSX, Norfolk Southern and Union Pacific.
Does double track count twice?
Yes. The instructions say 1 mile of single track is 1 mile, but 1 mile of double track is 2 miles.