In certain situations, you are considered to have received a payment, even though the buyer does not pay you directly. These situations occur when the buyer assumes or pays any of your debts, such as a loan, or pays any of your expenses, such as a sales commission. Buyer pays seller's expenses. If the buyer pays any of your expenses related to the sale of your property, it is considered a payment to you in the year of sale. Include these expenses in the selling and contract prices when figuring the gross profit percentage.
Buyer assumes mortgage.
If the buyer assumes or pays off your mortgage, or otherwise takes the property subject to the mortgage, the following rules apply. Mortgage less than basis. If the buyer assumes a mortgage that is less than your installment sale basis, it is not considered a payment to you. The contract price equals the selling price minus the mortgage. This difference is all you will directly collect from the buyer.