How is form 1040 Schedule 5, Line 72 populated

[vito4cal]

I am trying to figure out where in the step by step process the entry for Schedule 5, line 72 is populated.  I am trying to determine if I made a data entry error (most likely) or if Turbo Tax pulled this number from thin air.

Thank you,

~ John

[VolvoGirl]

Are you married and filed Joint?  And you both had W2s?  The IRS is probably right.  They usually are in this case.  You assigned both spouse's W2 to the same person so it looked like that person went over the max.

For 2018.  Do you still have copies of all the W2s?  Look at box 4.  Did either of you have more than 1 employer?  You only get excess SS back if one person had more than 1 employer and those employers took out more than the max of  $7,960.80.  So add up your W2 box 4.  Is it more?  Then add up your spouse's W2 box 4.  Is their box 4 more than $7,960.80?

Or check W2 box 12.  You may have entered Code A by mistake.

[vito4cal]

VolvoGirl - thank you!

Yes am married and filed joint.  We both had W2's, working for different employers, and we each only had one employer during 2018.

Yes, it appears that both amounts for SS taxes were combined.  Each of our employers withheld less than 7,960.80.  However, combined amount exceed $7,960.80 creating a phantom credit and now the IRS wants the money.  Looks like I owe more . . . . . 

Box 12 was not checked Code A.

So why did Turbo Tax generate this credit?

[VolvoGirl]

As I said you assigned both spouses W2 to the same person so it looked like that person went over the max SS.

THEN for 2019 next year, if you transfer over from 2018 you should delete ALL the W2s and re-enter them from scratch making sure to assign them to the right spouse.

[vito4cal]

Shoot!  You were right and I screwed up.  Had both W2s assigned to me.

Thank you for your time and advice.  Much appreciated!

~ John