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Level 4
posted Jan 31, 2022 5:18:13 AM

Sale of vehicles used in rental properties

Own two rental properties and use multiple vehicles for each.  Each year I apportion travel (standard expense deduction)  to each property using both vehicles.  Sold one and traded in the other. 

 

Do I enter the sales under each property or just under one property?  If just one, how do I dispose of the vehicles on the other property?  The sold vehicle was used on one property since 2008, the trade-in was placed in service in 2018. 

 

Thanks! 

 

 

0 27 1979
3 Best answers
Employee Tax Expert
Feb 1, 2022 6:47:33 AM

Yes, if the vehicles were not used exclusively for your Rental property, then you will need to apply the business use percentage to the sales price for each vehicle for each property.

Employee Tax Expert
Feb 2, 2022 11:22:19 AM

We can make sense of this.  First, yes you should use the worksheet and change line 33a to the actual cost of the vehicle when purchased. 

  • Side note: The correct result can also be accomplished by entering the difference as sales expense when asked for that amount.  This would eliminate direct entry change on the worksheet.

Depreciation deduction for the current year would be zero unless the vehicle was used for business in 2021. See the following information.

 

Next, if you used the standard mileage rate for the business miles on the vehicle then depreciation does exist.  The chart attached below will allow you to determine the depreciation portion of the standard mileage rate for all business miles.  Once calculated, you can enter the prior (and current amount if the vehicle was used in 2021) total depreciation claimed on the vehicle. The formula you used was unclear.

Expert Alumni
Feb 2, 2022 12:50:35 PM

I would advise waiting until your 2022 return.  Changing it in 2021 could lead to more complexity, but since it has not been used in 2022 there will be no mixed use.

24 Replies
Employee Tax Expert
Jan 31, 2022 11:09:55 AM

You will need to allocate each sale between the businesses where each vehicle was used.

Use any reasonable method to allocate. Total vehicle mileage over the life of the vehicle is probably the most common choice.

For example:

  1. Business 1: 1500 total miles reported
  2. Business 2: 500 total miles
  3. Sum of miles = 2000 (1500 + 500)
  4. Total Sales proceeds = $4000
    1. Business 1 = $4000 x (1500/2000) = $3000 sales proceeds
    2. Business 2 = $4000 x (500/2000) = $1000 sales proceeds

When you report this sale in the Vehicle Expense section of your Business, you can indicate that you 'stopped using the vehicle' for business, and enter details about the Sale or Trade In.

 

Click this link for more detailed info on How to Enter a Business Vehicle Trade In.

Level 4
Jan 31, 2022 1:46:52 PM

Thanks for the quick reply, but I'm still confused after reviewing your example!  FYI - I am working on the Rental Income Vehicle screen (not the business section if that is applicable).

 

Total mileage when sold was 55,786.

 

Property A:  4,504 business miles driven.   Placed in service 2008     FMV $7,500  

Property B:  4,075 business miles driven.   Placed in service 2010      FMV $6,000

 

The sales screen (after indicating no longer in service) instructs me to calculate business portion.  

 

Property A: 7.30%  (55,786 - 4,504 = 51,282).

 

If this is correct, would I then multiply the sales price by 7.30% to get the business portion of the sales price for Property A?

 

I greatly appreciate your help and sorry to be such a dunce!  Math is not my forte!

Employee Tax Expert
Feb 1, 2022 6:47:33 AM

Yes, if the vehicles were not used exclusively for your Rental property, then you will need to apply the business use percentage to the sales price for each vehicle for each property.

Level 4
Feb 1, 2022 8:26:42 AM

Thanks so very, very much!  I really appreciate the help!

Level 4
Feb 2, 2022 6:08:51 AM

Need more help, please!   I followed the interviews and believe I've done something very wrong!  My total prior depreciation taken on the truck (since 2008 on one property and 2010 on the other) is $1,996.  TT has calculated that the Ordinary Income Recapture is $437 for the first property and $393 on the 2nd?????

 

The truck was 27 years old when sold - all I can figure out is that by subtracting the business miles from the ending mileage does not account for the fact that when placed in service (Property A) the vehicle had 40,335 miles of personal use already. That calculation would result in 15,451 miles driven since 2008.  I drove

the vehicle 4,750 business miles for Property A and 4,504 for property B.  Respectively, that would give me a business use of 29.15% on Property A rather than the 7.3% business use based on ending mileage not adjusted for the 40,335 personal use prior to placed in service. 


Hopefully, you will be able to clarify what I'm doing wrong here!  Very much appreciate any guidance!  

 

 

If I subject my

 

 

Employee Tax Expert
Feb 2, 2022 7:03:39 AM

Yes.  Here is the formula based on your actual mileage numbers.  Keep in mind that you did have that much personal use of the vehicle before converting it to business use. The sales price and cost basis need to be prorated with the following percentages, or the number you arrive at based on this example. The depreciation will be actual numbers based on your deductions.

 

Total miles driven all years = 55,786 (40,335 + 15,451) // Personal use percentage = 83.42 %

Business miles Property A = 4,750 // Business use percentage = 8.515%  (4,750/55,786)

Business miles Property B = 4,504 // Business use percentage = 8.074%  (4,504/55,786)

 

The percentages in total equal 100% of the vehicle. If there is an overall gain, you will have taxable gain. You will use the actual cost of the vehicle to determine the amount of gain if any.

 

Please update here if you would like further assistance.

Level 4
Feb 2, 2022 10:46:44 AM

Thank you.  Yes, need additional help!  You state "You will use the actual cost of the vehicle to determine the amount of gain if any."

 

The interview states "since you didn't claim depreciation for this vehicle ... (I'd selected varied business use earlier)  it asks that I enter the Vehicle Total Cost when placed in service - which would be $7,500 FMV.  The interview does not ask for initial purchase price.  However, the Schedule E  Car and Truck Expense Worksheet, Part IV (Vehicle Depreciation Information) indicates Lines 33 A and B should be completed if the vehicle was converted from personal use.  33a is total cost when acquired 33b FMV when placed in service and 33c Vehicle basis contains my $7,500 entry. 

 

Should I complete the information directly in the form or may I have made a wrong choice earlier?  Also Line 37 - Prior Depreciation was calculated by me using the formula and I entered $1,045.00,  Line 38 - Depreciation Deduction is 0 - is that correct? 

 

Oh my, once I get this correct, we traded in a second vehicle also used in business :(  

 

Thanks in advance!

 

Employee Tax Expert
Feb 2, 2022 11:22:19 AM

We can make sense of this.  First, yes you should use the worksheet and change line 33a to the actual cost of the vehicle when purchased. 

  • Side note: The correct result can also be accomplished by entering the difference as sales expense when asked for that amount.  This would eliminate direct entry change on the worksheet.

Depreciation deduction for the current year would be zero unless the vehicle was used for business in 2021. See the following information.

 

Next, if you used the standard mileage rate for the business miles on the vehicle then depreciation does exist.  The chart attached below will allow you to determine the depreciation portion of the standard mileage rate for all business miles.  Once calculated, you can enter the prior (and current amount if the vehicle was used in 2021) total depreciation claimed on the vehicle. The formula you used was unclear.

Level 4
Feb 2, 2022 12:16:24 PM

Yes, that is the chart that I used!  Hopefully I have it all straightened out now.  Next comes the trade-in vehicle used in both businesses  - ugh - hopefully it will go smoother. 

 

I do not know if you are able to answer this question, but I still own two vehicles that are available for use in business.  After this fiasco, would it be best to remove one from service and convert to personal use now (it has not been used in 2022 as of yet) on my 2021 taxes or wait until I file my 2022 return?  I want to simplify by only using one vehicle for business in the future.   

 

Many thanks again for the help! 

Expert Alumni
Feb 2, 2022 12:50:35 PM

I would advise waiting until your 2022 return.  Changing it in 2021 could lead to more complexity, but since it has not been used in 2022 there will be no mixed use.

Level 4
Feb 3, 2022 9:17:16 AM

I'm now working on the second vehicle and am unsure that I have computed this correctly.  I'd really appreciate a quick check as TT is showing I have a $4,092 loss.  I have just calculated the figures for one property and since there is a similar use on the 2nd property, I want to be sure I am correct since it may result in a $10,000 loss when I complete the 2nd??????


Vehicle purchased used in 2018 for $32,500 and immediately placed in service - mileage at purchase 45,136.  To determine biz basis I subtracted 1,436 biz miles (Prop A) from mileage at sale 58,791 resulting in a 2.4% business use.  I then used $32,500 minus $780 (2.4% biz use) = $31,720.  I then subtracted prior depreciation taken of $482.35 resulting in a net tax basis of $31,237.65.   (There is no place for entry of this number).

 

I traded in the vehicle for $25,000.  Multiplying that value times 2.4% results in a $600 business sales price.

 

Line 35 shows $922 depreciation amount. 

 

I very much appreciate the help! 

Level 8
Feb 3, 2022 3:35:44 PM

You have been taking the mileage deduction until sale. There is an option for "disposed of vehicle" when you go under the business section.  If you have been allocating the vehicle expenses under a property, then the disposal will happen under the same property.

Level 4
Feb 4, 2022 5:50:54 AM

Your "answer" didn't answer my question at all. 

 

I am asking if I am using the correct calculations since the result is a $4,000. loss!  FYI - this is a rental property so I am following the interview in TT under that heading, not the business section. 

 

Level 4
Feb 4, 2022 11:30:12 AM

DianeW777 - would it be possible for you to review my latest question?  I did get an "answer" from someone but it did not address my question.  I'm concerned that I may have miscalculated or entered incorrect information. 

 

Thanks so much!

 

 

Employee Tax Expert
Feb 4, 2022 8:33:38 PM

If your Business Vehicles were used for over 5 years, they are fully depreciated. 

 

Just indicate in the Rental section that they were 'converted to 100% personal use'.

 

There will be no Gain/Loss to report.

 

When you add a replacement Business Vehicle, you could reduce the Cost Basis by the amount you sold the old vehicle for.  

 

Click this link for more info on Business Depreciation

 

 

 

 

Level 4
Feb 5, 2022 7:22:28 AM

This vehicle was only used for TWO years in business and remained in service until it was sold in May 2021 so it was never "converted to personal use".  


Below is a screenshot of the question that I am trying to get an answer to!

 

Level 14
Feb 5, 2022 11:05:31 AM


@Benjamine wrote:

This vehicle was only used for TWO years in business and remained in service until it was sold in May 2021 so it was never "converted to personal use".  


Below is a screenshot of the question that I am trying to get an answer to!

 


 

TurboTax is not set up to report the sale of an asset (including a vehicle) that varies in business percentage from year to year.

 

In the vehicle section, tell the program you converted it to personal use.  Then report the sale using your manually calculated amounts in the "Sale of Business Property" section.

 

 Your purchase price was $32,500 x 2.4%.

The business depreciation will then lower that Basis amount, but not below zero.

Your selling price was $25,000 x 2.4%.

 

Level 6
Feb 21, 2024 9:36:10 AM

How about the vehicle total cost (fair market value) when I placed it in service?

Suppose the FMV of the vehicle in service for business 1 is $40,000, and the FMV of the same vehicle in service for business 2 is $30,000

Should I enter

  1. Business 1 =  $40000 x (1500/2000) = $30000 cost of the vehicle (FMV)
  2. Business 2 = $30000 x (500/2000) = $7500cost of the vehicle (FMV)

Employee Tax Expert
Feb 21, 2024 9:42:53 AM

All business miles for all years and then total miles for all years - divide business miles by total miles to arrive at your overall business use percentage for the life of the vehicle. You will use this percentage times the selling price (trade-in value) to arrive at the business selling price. Use the same percentage to arrive at your business portion of the cost before depreciation. 

 

Then follow the steps in the other post and added here for your convenience. 

 

Yes, my advice is to say the vehicle was removed from service and then do not indicate it was sold or say 'Yes' it was converted to personal use.  This takes care of the vehicle in the rental section(s).  This will eliminate any sales information in the vehicle itself. Next you will enter the sale one time using the steps below.

  1. Calculate the standard mileage rate depreciation portion for the business miles each year (see chart below)
  2. Go to Less Common Business Situations
  3. Scroll to Sale of  Business Property
  4. On the next screen select Any Other Property Sale
  5. Use the information from step one and the depreciation from step 1 to complete your sale
  6. If the personal portion of your vehicle is a loss there is nothing to report for that portion of the sale/trade.

          

Level 6
Feb 21, 2024 9:48:35 AM

How about the vehicle total cost (fair market value) when I placed it in service?

Suppose the FMV of the vehicle in service for business 1 is $40,000, and the FMV of the same vehicle in service for business 2 is $30,000

Should I enter

  1. Business 1 =  $40000 x (1500/2000) = $30000 cost of the vehicle (FMV)
  2. Business 2 = $30000 x (500/2000) = $7500cost of the vehicle (FMV)

Employee Tax Expert
Feb 21, 2024 9:58:42 AM

It's best to report one sale as suggested and the actual cost should be used when entering the sale (not the fair market value).  This also allows you to enter only one sale and it's reported correctly in the location it should be in on Form 4797 only once.

 

@manbeing 

Level 14
Feb 21, 2024 9:30:59 PM


@manbeing wrote:

when I placed it in service?


 

As you pointed it, it is based on when YOU put it in service.  That means the first business.  It does not change based on when the second business started to use it.

 

Was it personal use before it was converted to business use?  If so, that is yet ANOTHER aspect that TurboTax does not support.  It requires multiple calculations, depending on if you have a gain, loss, or something else.

Level 3
Mar 29, 2024 7:09:24 PM

Hi Diane,

I need help in reporting the sale of my vehicle that I used both in business and personal. I used this same vehicle in 3 different properties, and I used standard mileage in all of my year.  

 

I followed your method in prorating sell price and cost basis of the vehicle. Since I got quite a bit of mileage when I disposed my vehicle, total driven mileage was 201,340. I had lots of personal miles on this vehicle. so that my business percentage are very small, for instance Property A business miles 8444/201340 = 4.19%.

So that:

Prorated Sale price : 1000*4.193%= 41.93

Cost (adjusted basis when I placed my car in business): 5500*4.193%= 230.66

So that I should enter sale price of the vehicle in property A: 42, and Vehicle Total Cost 231, correct? 

 

Do I need to enter anything in Basis for gain/loss (enter 100% basis) and Basis for AMT gain/loss (enter 100% as basis) ?

Do I need to put any amount for Prior Depreciation Equivalent? (Per the table provided by Turbo Tax). As I used standard mileage. 

 

Thank you in advance. I really need help and I am struggling right now. 

Employee Tax Expert
Mar 29, 2024 7:45:49 PM

Add up the Business Use % of the vehicle over all three properties (5%, 4%, 6%, for example) for a total Business Use % of 15%.

 

Multiply your original Cost Basis by 15%.   This is your Business Cost Basis. 

 

Multiple your Sale Proceeds by 15%.  This is your Business Sale Price. 

 

Multiple your total Business Miles by .25 (average amount of depreciation for Standard Mileage).  You didn't give a number for 'Business Miles'.

 

For example 200K x .15 (Business Use) = 30,000 Business Miles.  30K x .25 (average per mile depreciation when using Standard Mileage) = $7,500 in depreciation. 

 

In the vehicle asset section under rentals, mark the vehicle as 'taken out of service' and the date.

 

Now that you have your numbers, report the sale data in the 'Sale of Business Property' section. 

 

Here's more info on Sale of a Business Vehicle.

 

@VickyD10