puppycat
Returning Member

Traded in a business vehicle that was financed

I am having trouble finding the right answer for this.  I had a business vehicle that was 100% for the business.  I paid 70k for it and depreciated 50k so far.  I dissolved my business so I traded in the vehicle for a personal use vehicle.  They gave me 32k for the trade in.  However, I owed 36k on the loan.  They paid the loan off directly (so I never had cash in hand).  What amount should I put for the sales price?  If it is 32k, is there anywhere else I can deduct the loan payment?  Right now, it is saying I owe about 7k in taxes due to the gain in the sale I never actually had the cash from.

ColeenD3
Expert Alumni

Business & farm

Your loan payment is irrelevant to the sale. The only things that matter are the purchase price, depreciation and sale price (trade in value).

puppycat
Returning Member

Business & farm

Thank you.  That is what I thought.  There is no way to write off the loan either, correct?

ColeenD3
Expert Alumni

Business & farm

No, not once it ceases to be a business asset.