Stumbulis Rebatus/Creditorandum Esoterica

[Bees Knees]

I think that excess FICA may be *called* a refundable credit, but it's treated as a payment. See line 3 of the Form 2210. Line 3 has "refundable credits" excluding withholding and excess FICA, doesn't it?
I think we may have a definitional problem here. The EIC is considered a "refundable credit" and it reduces "total tax". See line 3 of Form 2210. Excess FICA - and withholding, too, for that matter - are under the category "Refundable Credits" in the IRC, but they certainly don't *reduce* your "total tax", they only pay it. See line 6 of Form 2210.

Where I'm going is that I think the "credit" that's allowed for the EIC is *different* from the "credit" that's allowed for withholding. But the IRC describes them very very very very similarly. Sec IRC sections 31 and 32...

Obviously, I'm struggling with this. Don't ask why, okay?

OK, I missed the excess FICA part. Line 6 instructions clearly lump withholding and excess FICA together. All other refundable credits are on line 3 and DO reduce total tax.

So the question is, will the stimulus credit, a refundable credit, be lumped in with withholding and excess FICA, or will it be lumped into the category of EIC, additional child tax credit, and federal fuels credit?

If I were to guess, I'd say its more like EIC than withholding. Federal withholding and excess FICA are actual amounts withheld from pay. EIC and the stimulus credit are free government give a ways.

I'd plan not to use the credit for estimated tax purposes, just to be safe.