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Key Takeaways

The deduction amount depends on how much of the vehicle was used for business purposes. Personal use and commuting are not deductible, regardless of who owns the vehicle.

Understand that your year-one deduction decision might be permanent, passenger car depreciation caps affect the math and the vehicle’s weight creates more deduction possibilities.

Verify the weight classification of the vehicle before you buy it, choose the method of deduction in year one, keep business use above 50% if you need to deduct with acceleration, document business miles immediately, and take the business portion only as allowed by law.

Every year, around this time, the same type of question appears from business owners: “Can I write off the entire cost of a car if I buy it before December 31?” It usually accompanies a video featuring someone leaning against an SUV promising that the government will pay for the whole thing.

The short answer is no.…