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Level 2
February 2, 2026
Solved

Review section shows error saying I need to enter Vehicle basis

  • February 2, 2026
  • 9 replies
  • 199 views

Been using TurboTax for over a decide for our personal taxes along with using it for my wife's small business and I've never had this issue. 

 

I answered all the questions about her vehicle as usual. We bought it in June of 2024 and she used it for her business then as well is personal. 

In 2025 about 20% of the miles on the car were used for her business. The questionnaire didn't have anything about vehicle basis. But now when I do my review it says there is one error. When I go to the error it says, "vehicle basis must be entered" and it takes me to line 33c of the car and truck expenses worksheet. 

What am I doing wrong here?

    Best answer by PatriciaV

    In some instances, calculations are not completed until you finish a section. Running Smart Check allows the program to review those calculations to be sure it has all the necessary information. Manual input is not unusual in these situations.

    9 replies

    KrisD15
    Level 15
    February 3, 2026

    What was the percentage of business use of the vehicle for tax year 2024? 

     

    Since the vehicle was purchased and paced into service in Tax Year 2024, you may have taken a Section 179 Deduction if the vehicle was used 50% or more, as well as possibly Bonus Depreciation on the vehicle. 

     

    When the business use drops below 50%, any Section 179 and/or bonus depreciation may need to be recaptured for the tax year the business use drops. 

     

    In order to calculate that recapture,  the TurboTax program needs to know the basis. 

    The vehicle basis would be the purchase price times percentage of use, for example, a vehicle that cost 30,000 used 60% business use would have a basis of 18,000.  

     

    Please be aware that TurboTax cannot keep track of basis when a vehicle is used different business ratios over different years. Those are things you should keep a log of and save with your business accounting records. 

     

    Link about recapture

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    gottifireAuthor
    Level 2
    February 3, 2026

    Thank you for replying

     

    In 2024 the percentage of business use was around 30%. I've never take a section 179 deduction

     

    But even if I had, why didn't the turbotax questionnaire as me about it instead of making me input it into the actual page on the form.

    PatriciaV
    PatriciaVAnswer
    Level 15
    February 3, 2026

    In some instances, calculations are not completed until you finish a section. Running Smart Check allows the program to review those calculations to be sure it has all the necessary information. Manual input is not unusual in these situations.

    **Say "Thanks" by clicking the thumb icon in a post. **Mark the post that answers your question by clicking on "Mark as Best Answer"