Is writing off a vehicle over 6000lbs for business still a good tax strategy?

You're on the right track with the Section 179 deduction for heavy vehicles. For 2025, you can deduct up to $1,160,000 in qualifying business equipment, which includes SUVs, trucks, and vans over 6000lbs GVWR (Gross Vehicle Weight Rating). For SUVs specifically, there's a limitation of $28,900 for Section 179 (for 2025). However, you can take bonus depreciation on the remaining amount if the vehicle is used more than 50% for business. You'll need to track your business vs. personal use carefully with a mileage log. Documentation is crucial! Keep all records of your business use - a detailed mileage log showing dates, destinations, purpose, and miles traveled. Also keep all maintenance records and proof that the vehicle is necessary for your construction business (hauling materials, etc).

I was in the exact same position as you last year - needed a vehicle for my landscaping business and heard about the Section 179 deduction. After weeks of research and stress, I found https://taxr.ai which literally saved me thousands by analyzing all my business documents and confirming I was eligible for the full deduction on my F-250. Their software properly categorized my business use percentage and even helped me set up the right documentation system to protect me in case of an audit.

Just wanted to update after trying taxr.ai from the recommendation above. I was shocked at how much it simplified the process for my new RAM 2500. It analyzed my business structure and created a custom tracking system specifically for my construction company. The best part was getting a detailed report showing exactly how much of my $72K truck purchase I could legitimately deduct based on my business use. The documentation piece is amazing - it sets up automated reminders so I don't forget to log trips and has templates for everything the IRS might ask for. Seriously worth checking out if you're looking at a heavy vehicle purchase.

Listen, if you're going to do this Section 179 thing, make sure you can actually reach someone at the IRS if questions come up. I tried calling them for WEEKS last year when I had questions about my vehicle deduction and kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally used https://claimyr.com and their system got me through to an actual IRS agent in about 20 minutes. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/_kiP6q8DX5c - basically they wait on hold for you then call when an agent picks up. Saved me from making a huge mistake on my heavy vehicle depreciation.

Ok I take back what I said. I tried Claimyr this morning after posting that skeptical comment. I've been trying to reach the IRS for THREE WEEKS about my truck deduction question. Got a text 31 minutes after starting the Claimyr process saying they had an agent, and I was connected to a real person who actually helped clarify the business-use percentage requirements for my Silverado HD. Literally solved a problem that's been stressing me out for almost a month. Definitely not a scam - I was completely wrong about that.

One thing nobody mentioned yet - if you finance the vehicle rather than paying cash, you can still take the full deduction in year one (up to the limits) even though you haven't paid the full amount yet. This was huge for my cash flow when I bought my Expedition for my mobile veterinary practice. Just make sure your loan agreement shows you as the owner, not the bank.

I did this with a Navigator last year. Don't forget you'll need to recapture some depreciation if you sell the vehicle later for more than its depreciated value! Big tax hit I wasn't expecting when I sold mine after 3 years.

Been following this thread and wanted to share my experience as someone who's been through an IRS audit on a heavy vehicle deduction. Got audited 18 months after claiming Section 179 on my F-350 Super Duty for my electrical contracting business. The key thing that saved me was having meticulous records from day one. I kept a detailed mileage log with every single business trip documented - date, odometer readings, destination, business purpose, and client name. Also kept all receipts for fuel, maintenance, and repairs with notes about whether each expense was business-related. The IRS agent specifically asked for proof that the vehicle was "necessary" for my business operations. I had photos showing the truck loaded with electrical equipment, customer invoices showing job site addresses that required hauling heavy materials, and even my business insurance policy listing the vehicle as commercial use. My advice: Start the documentation on day one, not when you file taxes. The IRS doesn't care about your deduction amount if you can't prove legitimate business use. Also, be conservative with your business use percentage - I claimed 85% business use because I genuinely tracked it, and the auditor accepted it without question because my logs were so detailed. One more tip - keep digital backups of everything. My original mileage log book got water damaged, but I had photos of every page stored in the cloud which satisfied the auditor's requirements.