Tax Deferral (for the seller): One of the most compelling reasons to consider an installment sale is the ability to defer capital gains tax.
Computer Service Contracts: Contracts for computer or technology services, such as software subscriptions, often involve installment payments being made over a set period of time; Agricultural Sales Contracts: In these contracts, the goods are subject to seasonal cycles, such as produce or agricultural goods.
Under this financial arrangement, the purchaser takes equitable title to the real property and has the right to possession and use of the real property while making installment payments to the seller.
But it also can be beneficial for a seller because the taxable gain from the sale can be spread out over several years. Here's a close-up on the federal income tax implications for installment sales for sales of businesses, business ownership interests and other eligible assets.
One of the biggest benefits of an installment sale is that it helps the buyer place themselves into a lower tax bracket. The sale of some sizable property or property of sizable value—whether it's commercial real estate or residential real estate—can bump an investor into a tax bracket they'd like to avoid.
Installment land contract; An installment land contract, or contract for deed, allows the buyer to make payments over time to the owner, while the owner holds legal title to the property. No deed or title is transferred until all, or a specified portion of, payments have been made.