NOTE: The information supplied here is provided by your local Ford Dealer as a public service to its customers. It should not be construed as tax advice or as a promise of potential tax savings or reduced tax liability. Individual tax situations may vary. Federal rules and tax guidelines are subject to change. For more information about the Section 179 expense write-off or other business vehicle expense write-offs, you should consult your tax professional for complete rules applicable to your transaction and visit the Internal Revenue website at www.irs.gov.
1. Under Section 179 of the Internal Revenue Code, companies may be eligible to fully expense the cost of vehicles purchased for business use. Companies are limited to a maximum aggregate Section 179 deduction of $500,000 during a single tax year on all eligible property purchased. The $500,000 maximum is reduced if the company spends more than $2,000,000 on capital expenditures (including vehicles) during the year. SUVs over 6,000 pounds GVWR are limited to a deduction of $25,000 under Section 179(b)(5) with the remaining basis in the vehicle depreciated under normal MACRS methods (including 50% bonus depreciation in the year placed in service). Passenger automobiles (other than trucks and vans) are limited to $11,160 of depreciation in the year of purchase with normal MACRS depreciation on the remaining basis in the vehicle in subsequent years. Trucks and vans that are considered passenger vehicles are limited to $11, 560 of depreciation in the year of purchase with normal MACRS depreciation on the remaining basis in the vehicle in subsequent years. A vehicle is not considered a passenger vehicle, and is thus not limited to the lower depreciation amounts, if it is considered a “qualified non-personal use vehicle”. Qualified non-personal use vehicles are vehicles that, by virtue of their nature or design, are not likely to be used more than a de minimis amount for personal purposes. Examples of qualified non-personal use vehicles include 1) a vehicle than can seat nine-plus passengers behind the driver’s seat, 2) a heavy non-SUV vehicle with a cargo area of at least six feet in interior length or 3) a vehicle with a fully enclosed driver’s compartment/cargo area, no seating behind the driver’s seat, and no body section protruding more than 30 inches ahead of the leading edge of the windshield. For more information, see IRC Section 280F(d)(7), Income Tax Reg., Sec.1.280F-6(c)(3)(III), Income Tax Reg. Sec. 1.274-5T(k), and Revenue Ruling 86-97, and contact your tax advisor for details. Consult your tax advisor as to the proper tax treatment of all business-vehicle purchases.
