IT-RTM: Railroad Track Maintenance Tax Credit (Revision 2021-07)
Georgia · Georgia DOR · Used for tax years 2024, 2025, 2026
Georgia Form IT-RTM calculates the Railroad Track Maintenance Tax Credit using qualified maintenance expenditures and miles of railroad track owned or leased in Georgia. It reports the credit generated, the preapproved amount, and any adjustment to that amount.
Who files this form
Use Form IT-RTM to claim Georgia’s railroad track maintenance tax credit. The form must be submitted electronically with the tax return.
Qualified expenditures cover maintenance and improvements to railroad track in Georgia, including roadbed, bridges, and related track structures, owned or leased as of January 1, 2018, by a Class III railroad.
The credit applies to taxable years beginning on or after January 1, 2019, and ending on or before December 31, 2026.
What you'll need
Have the following information ready to complete the form:
- Taxpayer name, address, and Federal Employer Identification Number or Social Security Number.
- Business type and tax year end.
- Contact person’s name and telephone number.
- Preapproval certificate number and amount preapproved.
- Qualified railroad track maintenance expenditures paid or incurred during the taxable year.
- Miles of railroad track owned or leased in Georgia by the taxpayer at the close of the taxable year.
The form does not list separate supporting documents to attach.
How to file
Submit Form IT-RTM electronically with your return at the time you electronically file the return. The form does not provide a mailing address or paper-filing option.
To calculate the credit:
- Enter qualified expenditures on line 1 and multiply by 50% to complete line 3.
- Enter eligible track mileage on line 4 and multiply by $3,500 to complete line 6.
- Enter the smaller of line 3 or line 6 on line 7. This is the credit generated for the tax year.
- Enter the preapproved amount on line 8.
- Subtract line 8 from line 7 to determine the adjustment to the preapproved amount on line 9.
Common mistakes
- Trying to carry unused credit forward. The form states that no unused railroad track maintenance tax credit may be carried forward.
- Leaving the form out of the electronic return filing. Form IT-RTM must be submitted electronically with the return when the return is electronically filed.
Questions people ask
How is the credit amount calculated?
The credit generated for the tax year is the smaller of 50% of qualified expenditures or $3,500 multiplied by the miles of railroad track the taxpayer owns or leases in Georgia at the close of the taxable year.
Do improvements count as qualified expenditures?
Yes. The definition includes improvements to qualifying railroad track, roadbed, bridges, and related track structures, as well as maintenance.
What is a Class III railroad?
The form defines it as a rail carrier classified as a Class III railroad by the United States Surface Transportation Board under Section 1-1 of 49 C.F.R. 1201, as it existed on January 1, 2018.
How do I report the preapproved amount?
Enter the preapproval certificate number in the identifying information and the amount preapproved on line 8. Subtract line 8 from line 7 and enter the adjustment on line 9.