How do I elect a section 179 deduction for a vehicle purchased in 2017 in Turbo Tax Home & Business?

While in the Business Tab in Turbo Tax Home & Business, scroll down to Business Expenses 

Select Business Vehicle Expense

From here you will enter the information about the vehicle, including business miles.  You will have to answer all the questions about the vehicle and eventually you will get to a screen where you tell Turbo Tax you want check actual mileage calculation or actual expenses.  See screen shot #1 attached.

Once you enter actual expenses, you will eventually be asked to put in your cost for the vehicle, and then the 179 option will show up. See Screen #2 attached.

Note my screen shots got out of order, so I numbered them.

Thanks for the response & screen shots--but I have yet to see the 'section 179' screen

Did you not get to screen shot #2?  There really is no section 179 in Turbo Tax.  You just try to select actual expenses for your vehicle which will allow depreciation.  Section 179 is part of depreciation section.  It is hidden well!

Thanks so much! Question for you. I’m on this screen and it’s askimg me how much Secrion 179 deduction to take. I have a Tesla Model X heavy SUV (>6000 lb GVWR) which qualifies for $25k section 179 PLUS 100% bonus depreciation. In that event, do I list here $25,000 and let TurboTax calculate the 100% bonus depreciation OR do I list the 100% (business use was 100%) value of the car that I paid when I acquired it? Thanks!!

Thanks so much! Question for you. I’m on this screen and it’s askimg me how much Secrion 179 deduction to take. I have a Tesla Model X heavy SUV (>6000 lb GVWR) which qualifies for $25k section 179 PLUS 100% bonus depreciation. In that event, do I list here $25,000 and let TurboTax calculate the 100% bonus depreciation OR do I list the 100% (business use was 100%) value of the car that I paid when I acquired it? Thanks!!

No matter what I do I don't get the 179 deduction screen.

Same here, I don't get to section 179. TurboTax asks me if I wanna go back to the standard mileage or stay with the recommended actual expenses.  The moment I select actual expenses and click continue, TurboTax just keeps churning and it hangs forever until I go to another page. The only way to get back to the vehicle expense page is to manually delete the form from Texas Tools then go back and enter a new Vehicle Expense.  But it will not allow me to get to section 179.

Anyone find a solution for the Section 179 screen not appearing when entering vehicle expenses?  I am also looking for it

Ok, KerilP

As you can see your answer did not work and we are still all in the same boat. some lets go over this step by step and explain just exactly how do we get to section 179. I did what you said as other replies to you and it constantly only gives me two options. mileage @ $150 deduction or actual = a $54 deduction. No where does it ask me if I want to take the 179 for a $10000 deduction like the IRS is saying I can do!

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So just exactly why am i paying for this program if I have to fill out the form by hand?

@Dodgei 

The Form 4562 Depreciation and Amortization is not yet finalized for tax year 2019.  Section 179 is reported on the Form 4562 when using Actual Expenses for the vehicle.

DoninGA,

I am not sure how this is supposed to help. The current rules for sec 179 go back to 2017. If what your showing me is that turbo tax has not finished a way to enter the information to claim Sec 179, and they had all this time,  then its time to find a new software. 

It's not as if  I need tax help; I know the law, the program is not doing what it is supposed to do in/at the location it is supposed to do it dispute what kerriP says. 

Just stating that the IRS Form 4562 has yet been finalized for filing by TurboTax since it has to be approved by the IRS for e-filing.

There are multiple IRS forms that have not yet been finalized for tax year 2019.  See this TurboTax support FAQ for IRS Forms Availability when using the online editions - https://care-cdn.prodsupportsite.a.intuit.com/forms-availability/turbotax_fed_online_individual.html

ps......This is a new forum layout. Some posts that have June 2019 dates are really older posts from the old forum that got moved over. So they might be for prior years and not current info. When they migrated over the dates got changed to June 2019. And the screen shots got deleted. 

DoninGA,

Thank you for the help. I'm actually working on 2017

VolvoGirl,

Thank you for that info; I did notice someone asking a 2015 question in 2019. Ultimately, What your telling me, is that there is no way to get real time help from this product. But also, I'm noticing that you and others like you are not even employees or are you?

Because, if I'm getting answers by users then I'm done with this product.  

Yes most of us here are other users.  Sometimes an employee will answer.  It will say employee by their name or Moderator, etc.  

You can get help for different years.  Have you updated your program?  Go to Online - Check for Updates.

Or Contact Customer Service
5am-5pm Pacific Time (8-8 Eastern) Monday - Friday
https://support.turbotax.intuit.com/contact/

What is the Turbo Tax phone number
https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/using-turbotax/help/what-is-the-turbotax-phone-number/00/25632

@Dodgei 

You may want to delete the vehicle and re-enter.

Using TurboTax 2017 Premier edition I entered a vehicle using the actual expense method and the Form 4562 has the section 179 amount calculated.

Vehicle Purchase price $50000  Placed in service 01/01/2017  100% Business Usage

Form 4562 Line 26 Elected Section 179 cost - $11,560

Schedule C Line 13 Depreciation and Sec 179 expense deduction - $11,560

Wow this person is correct,

-hickmanjb- 

https://ttlc.intuit.com/community/tax-credits-deductions/discussion/does-anyone-know-where-to-put-in-the-vehicle-179-deduction-for-a-business-in-turbo-tax-self-employed/00/586629

Competently  a Clich! 

I'm switching to H&R Block. I should charge Turbotax for this. I've spent over 6 hours on this topic

The person who answered Hickmanjn didn't even got back to him in confirmation or apology. People who answer question on this forum don't have the autonomy to be responsible for their answer because they are not payed. 

So upset now; what am I Paying for! 

Are all of my taxes done wrong now?

DoninGA

Thank you Donin,

Shouldn't have to enter Jan first.

I have had this issue before with TurboTax and think that I have finally figured it out....at least for 2019. Your version of TurboTax matters. I used Deluxe 2019 and was not given the option for the 179 election. I switched to Home and Business 2019 and was given the option when you enter the cost like the person said above. BUT...I had to delete the vehicle asset that I created in Deluxe because it still would not give me that option in Home and Business for the vehicle that I created in Deluxe. So, I deleted and reentered the same vehicle and it then gave me the option. I hope this helps someone because it was driving me crazy as well. I am not sure about the other versions. 

I am having the same issue. Is there away you can send me the screen shot that shows where to enter the depreciation?

thanks 

Section 179 is a depreciation option you can take when you first place an asset in service.   To enter your business vehicle, and calculate the 179 deduction, please follow these steps:

TurboTax CD/Download

1. Click on the Business tab > Continue > I'll choose what to work on
2. In the Business Expenses section, click the Start/Update button. 
3. If you have already started adding information about your business, you will see the screen Here’s the business info we have so far.  Click on the Edit box next to the business. 
4. If you haven't already started adding business information, continue through the screens to enter the needed information.
5. You will now be on the Your [XX] Business screen. 
6. In the Business Expenses section, click the Start box next to Business Vehicle Expense.
7. Continue through the screens.  TurboTax will first calculate the standard mileage deduction and then ask you if you want to calculate actual expenses.  [TT Online: Mark the Yes radio button and click Continue.  
8. On the screen, How much do you want  to deduct for the business use of this vehicle, TurboTax will indicate the max amount of 179 and special depreciation allowance.  Enter the amount you wish to take.  [See Screenshot below.]
9. On the next screen, indicate whether you want to take standard mileage or actual expenses (including 179)

TurboTax Online

1. Click Wages & Income
2. Under the Self-Employment section, click the Start/Revisit box next to Self-employment income and expenses.
3. On the Your 2020 self-employed work summary screen, click on Edit next to your business. 
4. In the Expenses section, click Edit next to Vehicle.  If you don’t already have Vehicle listed on this page, click the Add expenses for this work box
5. On the Here's your [business] info screen, click on the box Add expenses for this work. 
6. On the next screen, click the radio button next to Vehicle and click Continue.
7. Continue through the interview, entering the requested information.
8. On the screen, Now let's select your vehicle deduction, mark the button Help me estimate my actual expenses and click Continue.
9. On the screen, How much do you want to deduct for the business use of this vehicle? TurboTax has calculated the allowable 179 deduction and you will be able to indicate the amount you wish to take. 

@Galateanu

The "How much do you want to deduct for the business use of this vehicle" screen does not come up for me when I go through this process. I am using Windows version of Home and Business Turbotax 2020 software.

Is there a reason why this screen will not come up for me?

At the screen You've got a standard mileage deduction, did you click Yes, I'd like to see if my actual expenses give me a bigger deduction?  You have to elect actual expenses before you are given the section 179 option.

Perhaps you do not qualify for section 179 because you are already reflecting a net loss for the self-employment activity?

See this TurboTax Help.

The deduction cannot be more than your earned income (net business income and wages) for the year.