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Installment Sale Tax Deferral Calculator

Installment sales spread tax over payments.

$
$
%
%

Deferred tax PV benefit

$225,688

Total tax (same regardless)

$980,000

Year 1 tax (vs full up-front)

$294,000

How the math works

Gain = price − basis. GP ratio = gain / price. Each payment × GP ratio = gain; × tax rate = tax. PV of spread tax vs lump sum = deferral benefit.

$6M − $2.5M = $3.5M gain. $980k total tax if lump sum. Spread over 10 yr at 8% discount: saves ~$250k in PV.

How to Use

  1. Enter total sale price.
  2. Enter tax basis.
  3. Enter down payment %.
  4. Enter note years.
  5. Enter tax rate %.
  6. Read deferred tax value.

Frequently Asked Questions

How does it work?

Section 453 of IRC: seller finances buyer. Tax recognized pro-rata as payments received. Each payment = gross profit ratio × payment; portion is return of capital, portion is gain. Allows spreading gain recognition over multiple tax years at potentially lower rates.

When to use?

Seller wants to defer tax. Buyer can't qualify for bank loan. Interest rate environment favors seller financing (seller earning higher rate than depositable). Family transactions. Business-ownership sales. Be careful: recapture accelerated, depreciation mostly year-of-sale.

Risks?

Buyer default. Seller holds note risk. No liquidity for seller until collected. Interest rate risk if fixed rate vs rising market. Estate planning complications. Some gains (dealer property, inventory) don't qualify. Specialist tax advisor required.

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