Sales Tax Changes in Illinois
Illinois law has changed so that sales tax applies to the down payment and monthly lease payments.
- If the down payment is $2,000, the tax on that would be $165
- If the monthly payment is $300, the sales tax would be $24.75 each month
- The total tax for a 36-month lease would be $1,056, or $1,419 less than under the current formula
What They Gave You Before is Now Taken Back
Another new wrinkle in Illinois for 2015 is that trading in a vehicle will no longer affect the sales tax on a lease
- Currently, because a trade-in lowers the capitalized cost, it also reduces the applicable sales tax
- That provision ends with the new law because the cap cost is no longer taxed
Comparison to Other States
With the changes in Illinois, Texas will be the only state that still taxes the capitalized cost of a leased vehicle
In other states, generally only the monthly lease payments are taxed, similar to the new law in Illinois
Types of Lease Plans
Two general types of lease plans are available. The major factor that distinguishes these plans is how they are treated for tax purposes
Operating Lease
- Calls for a series of regular payments, usually annual or semi-annual, for a period of years
- At the end of the lease period, you may:
- Purchase the machine at fair market value
- Return the machine
- Extend the lease
The lease payments are reported as ordinary expenses on your tax return
If the purchase option is exercised:
The machine is placed on your depreciation schedule with a beginning basis equal to the used purchase price
Finance Lease
- Treated as a conditional sales contract by the IRS
- You are considered the owner of the machine, and it is placed on your depreciation schedule
- Payments must be divided into interest and principal, with interest being tax deductible
Many finance leases are essentially installment loans with balloon payments after three to five years
At the end of the lease, you can:
- Return the machine (give up ownership)
- Make the balloon payment (take ownership)
Since it is not taxed as a true lease, the final buy-out price (balloon payment) can vary significantly
Advantages of Leasing
Although leasing may not be for everyone, there are several advantages:
- Lower payments compared to most conventional loans
- Utilizes operating capital instead of investment capital
- Payment schedules can match periods of high cash flow
- Cash requirements are constant and known in advance
- Beneficial for high volume, low equity operators
- Useful if you routinely trade machinery every few years
- Ideal if you’re near retirement and want to avoid income tax recapture
- Allows you to try out a machine for a few years without buying it
Expense Method Depreciation
You may be eligible for expense method depreciation during the first year:
- Available for machinery purchased or leased under a finance lease
- Not available under an operating lease
If you buy other property that can also utilize the expense method depreciation, you may have already reached your limit for the year
Include on the Balance Sheet
While leasing is sometimes referred to as “off balance sheet financing”:
- An operating lease is not a loan, but it does represent an obligation to pay
- The Farm Financial Standards Council recommends:
- Do not show leases of capital assets as a liability
- Do not show leased equipment as an asset
- Add a footnote to the balance sheet explaining lease terms
Illinois Sales Tax on Lease
Ansari Tax (888) 577-1482