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Level 4
June 19, 2026
Question

Sale of Business - How to report interest on loan to purchaser by seller

  • June 19, 2026
  • 1 reply
  • 39 views

Client sold his vending machine route and equipment (truck and machines) for $100,000 with $25,000 down and payments of $1,000 plus $150 “interest” per month.

How do I account for the interest since this does not make sense as far as an amortization schedule and normal interest rate is concerned?

I just don’t know how to report the $150 of “interest.” Is it OK to go with what the buyer and seller agreed upon or do I need to figure out something different? 

1 reply

sjrcpa
Level 15
June 19, 2026

I’d run an amortization schedule using the Applicable Federal Rate and see if the $150/month is at least what the schedule computes. If it is, I’d use it. technically you have a note for $75,000 plus the present value of the $150/month payment stream.

The more I know the more I don’t know.