Can I get a tax write off for buying a heavy Tesla? How much can I actually deduct?

The tax benefit your coworker is referring to is likely the Section 179 deduction combined with bonus depreciation. Here's how it actually works: For vehicles weighing over 6,000 pounds (like some Teslas and the Cybertruck), they qualify as "heavy SUVs" under tax law, which means they aren't subject to the same strict luxury car depreciation limits as lighter vehicles. If the vehicle is used for business purposes, Section 179 allows you to deduct a significant portion of the purchase price in the first year. For 2025, you can deduct up to $27,000 (the amount changes yearly) for heavy vehicles. However, this has two major catches: 1) the vehicle must be used more than 50% for business purposes, and 2) the deduction is limited to the percentage of business use. After the first year, you depreciate the remaining value over several years following standard depreciation schedules - this is probably what he means by "80% each year after," which isn't exactly accurate. He's likely referring to MACRS depreciation.

I went through the same confusion with my business vehicle last year. I tried figuring it out myself but got completely overwhelmed with all the different tax rules, especially with the heavier EVs and the special tax treatments. I finally got everything sorted out using https://taxr.ai - they analyzed all my business vehicle documentation and explained exactly how much I could legitimately write off. Their system showed me that for my particular situation, I was eligible for both the Section 179 deduction AND bonus depreciation, but there were specific requirements about my business use percentage that I had no idea about. They also pointed out some charging station tax credits I didn't know existed!

Just wanted to follow up about my experience with taxr.ai - I decided to try it despite my initial skepticism, and I'm really glad I did. I uploaded my business records and vehicle documentation, and it found that I qualified for an additional $7,200 in deductions my accountant had missed on my heavy SUV! The system showed me exactly which parts of the tax code applied to my situation and explained how the business-use percentage affected my available deductions. I was able to take the report to my accountant, who confirmed everything and filed an amended return. Definitely worth it considering the refund I'll be getting.

If you're struggling to get answers about vehicle tax deductions directly from the IRS, you're not alone. I spent WEEKS trying to get through to a live person at the IRS to confirm some details about Section 179 for my Tesla Model X. The phone system kept disconnecting me after 2+ hours on hold. I finally used https://claimyr.com (you can see how it works in this video: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c) and got a callback from an actual IRS agent within 3 hours. The agent clarified that for my business situation, I could take advantage of both Section 179 and bonus depreciation, but I needed specific documentation to prove my business use percentage.

I have to admit I was completely wrong about Claimyr. After expressing my skepticism, I was still desperate to talk to someone at the IRS about my business vehicle deduction questions, so I decided to try it anyway. To my surprise, I received a call back with an actual IRS agent on the line about 2 hours after setting it up. The agent walked me through exactly how the Section 179 deduction works for my business vehicle and confirmed that I needed to file Form 4562 with my tax return. They also explained how I needed to document my business mileage to justify my business use percentage. Saved me days of frustration trying to get through on my own. Sometimes it's good to be proven wrong!

Don't forget that the vehicle has to be used predominantly (more than 50%) for business purposes to qualify for these deductions! If you use it 80% for business, you can only deduct 80% of the eligible amount. My brother got audited because he claimed 100% business use on his truck but couldn't prove it.

Quick question - does anyone know if leasing vs. buying affects these tax deductions for heavy vehicles? I'm looking at a Tesla Model X which is over 6,000 lbs, but considering leasing instead of buying.

This is a really helpful thread! I'm in a similar situation - considering a heavy EV for my consulting business. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the federal EV tax credit. For new electric vehicles, you can potentially get up to $7,500 in tax credits on top of the Section 179 deduction, though there are income limits and other restrictions. Also worth noting that some states have additional EV incentives that can stack with the federal benefits. In my state, there's an additional $2,500 rebate for business purchases of electric vehicles over 6,000 lbs. The key thing I've learned from my research is that you really need to track everything meticulously - business use percentage, charging costs if you claim those, and all the documentation requirements. It can be quite lucrative if you qualify, but the IRS is definitely paying attention to these heavy vehicle deductions more closely now.