Utah TC-843 — Bill of Sale

About TC-843

Official name: Utah Form TC-843 — Bill of Sale

Issued by: Utah Division of Motor Vehicles

Purpose: Documents a private vehicle sale in Utah. Submitted with the signed title at the DMV; establishes the actual price (and any trade-in allowance) as the sales tax base — without it, the DMV uses Fair Market Value.

When required: Every Utah private sale benefits from one. The DMV requires the bill of sale to show the buyer's name and address; the seller's name, address, and signature; the full vehicle description with VIN; any trade-in and its allowance; the purchase price; and the net purchase price — in ink, not pencil.

What TC-843 is

TC-843 is Utah's one-page Bill of Sale, published by the Utah State Tax Commission. It has three sections: the vehicle, the seller and the buyer. Both of you sign it, and the form tells you to make a copy for your records.

The form also reminds sellers to report the sold vehicle online at mvp.tax.utah.gov.

Section by section

• Section 1, vehicle: year, make, model, body type, VIN or hull ID number, and license plate number.
• Section 2, seller: name and address, sale price and date of sale, and whether the license plate goes with the vehicle. If a personalized plate is included, Form TC-840 is also required.
• Odometer (required): the reading with no tenths, in miles or kilometers (kilometers are converted to miles on the title), and whether it is the actual mileage, over the mechanical limits, or not the actual mileage. The form warns that a blank or false reading can bring fines or prison.
• The seller certifies that they transfer all their rights to the buyer, that the title is free of claims except any new lien, and that the odometer and sale details are correct. Then the seller signs and dates it.
• Section 3, buyer: name and address, then a signature confirming they know the sale and odometer details and that the vehicle is sold "as is, where is" with no guarantees or warranties.

Why the bill of sale changes your tax

Utah charges sales tax on the net purchase price shown on an acceptable bill of sale. Without one, the DMV charges tax on the vehicle's fair market value instead, which is usually higher.

To count, the bill of sale must show the buyer's name and address, the seller's name, address and signature, a full vehicle description with the VIN, any trade-in and its allowance, the purchase price and the net price. Fill it in with ink, not pencil.

Before you drive it

• The buyer must apply for a new title and registration before driving the vehicle on a highway.
• Bring the signed title and the bill of sale to the DMV. The buyer pays the sales tax there; a private seller does not collect it.
• For vehicles of model year 2011 and newer, the federal odometer disclosure uses Form TC-891.

What to Include in a Utah Bill of Sale

A complete bill of sale usually includes:

• Seller name, address, and signature
• Buyer name and address
• Year, make, model
• VIN
• Odometer (Form TC-891 for the federal disclosure; model year 2011 and newer)
• Sale price
• Trade-in description and allowance (if any)
• Net purchase price
• Date of sale