An installment contract is a single contract that is completed by a series of performances–such as payments, performances of a service, or delivery of goods–rather than being performed all at one time. Installment contracts can provide that installments are to be performed by either one or both parties.
Use Form 6252, Installment Sale Income to report an installment sale in the year the sale occurs and for each year of the installment obligation. You may need to attach Form 4797 and Schedule D (Form 1040) to your Form 1040, U.S. Individual Income Tax Return or Form 1040-SR, U.S. Tax Return for Seniors.
Generally, you will use Form 6252 to report installment sale income from casual sales of real or personal property during the tax year. You will also have to report the installment sale income on Schedule D (Form 1040), Form 4797, or both.
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.
Tax Deferral (for the seller): One of the most compelling reasons to consider an installment sale is the ability to defer capital gains tax.
An instalment sale agreement between you and a credit provider allows you to buy a vehicle or asset using the principal debt, which you repay by means of regular instalments over an agreed period, with fees and interest.