Why sign in to the Community?

  • Submit a question
  • Check your notifications
Sign in to the Community or Sign in to TurboTax and start working on your taxes
New Member
posted Mar 20, 2023 3:54:56 AM

My car was totaled out in an accident and I had to pay the difference or balance left of 7112.00 How do I show this for accident occurred on 04/01/2022

0 2 404
2 Replies
Expert Alumni
Mar 20, 2023 5:39:45 AM

Unless you used your car for your self-employment business, you don't report it on your tax return at all. If this was a business use vehicle follow the directions below to report the loss. 

 

As of 2017, you can't deduct a personal loss unless it occurred as part of a federally declared disaster. 

 

If it was a business use vehicle, you can claim part of your loss as part of your itemized deductions. If your itemized deductions are not more than your standard deduction, it won't affect your taxes. 

 

This is how to enter a loss on your business use vehicle:

 

 

  1. Open you tax return and select Federal from the left side menu.
  2. Select Deductions & Credits. 
  3. Scroll down to Other Deductions and Credits and expand the section.
  4. Click Start or Revisit to the right of Disasters, theft, and other property loss or damage.
  5. Answer the first question Yes.
  6. Enter a description of your car, the date of the accident and check the box next to Income-Producing Property (e.g. Business property, Investment property), click Continue.
  7. Use the following screens to report the details of the loss.

Level 15
Mar 20, 2023 12:57:17 PM

No insurance? if you had insurance but did not file a claim you can not deduct the loss. you do not get a deduction for paying off the balance of the car loan. it's question of tax basis after any business depreciations, business use % and insurance.