Yes, exemptions are 0 now. That was part of the tax reform changes.
Line 17 on Form 8379 refers to credits. Credits will include both line 12 and line 17 on Form 1040, except for the Earned Income Credit that is a part of line 17a if applicable. You may need to look at Schedule 3 of Form 1040 to see more detail about the credits shown on line 12 if there is an 'x' in the box on line 12b.
Line 20 on Form 8379 refers to payments. Payments will include the amount on line 17 of Form 1040 that is reported on Schedule 5 of Form 1040. The most common payment would be if estimated payments were made for the tax year.
Do you mean line 17 of the schedule 5 sheet or the 1040 that is actually submitted? Because on the submitted 1040 my line 17 is federal income tax withheld and I can’t seem to find a schedule 5 sheet.
Line 17,column a, on Form 8379 is the sum of: Schedule 3, line 7 and line 18b of the form 1040 from the original filed return.
Line 20, column a, is derived by starting with Schedule 3, line 14 and subtracting the following,
tax withheld (line 17 1040)
EIC (line 18a 1040),
Excess SS, (Schedule 3, line 11)
Add'l child tax credit (line 18b 1040)