We’ve had a couple of stabs at suggesting what various vehicles can be financed at different price caps, but this time will be focusing on leasing instead.

Why? As tax time comes around people start to think about how best to minimize (legally) their tax burden. One method is by setting a car lease through your work/business – that’s where the limit comes in. The CRA maximum deductible lease amount can be as much as $800 depending on your particular circumstances, but we went with a safe, low $700 – it’s important to stay on the tax man’s good side.

Leasing offers a few benefits over financing. Generally smaller monthly payments, shorter terms and the ability to walk away at the end rank highly. As does the money-saving tactic of not needing to include an extended warranty since the standard bumper-to-bumper should cover most leases both for time and mileage limits.

But leasing really makes sense for entrepreneurs, consultants and tradespeople too, who can write off a portion of their monthly payments and expenses. That’s why we’ve included everything from basic work vans to luxury cars, to try and cover off a whole range of possible uses.

We’ve tried to collect all available information, including extra fees and taxes where possible. These deals were all done using Toronto prices, so the actual totals in other provinces may vary. And because we started with the MSRP, there’s always room for negotiation to make those payments smaller. If you get too creative though, the CRA has a nifty table to make sure you don’t over claim your due, so make sure your lease terms are realistic.

We haven’t locked it in to just one interest rate or term because the CRA sets no such limits and you might want to be creative when you try to fit your lease payment under the cap. But remember, you can only claim the portion of the payment that reflects business use of the vehicle, so consult with a certified accountant familiar with your business to ensure you stay within the proscribed limits.

All calculations are done with no down-payment or trade.

The Workman’s Write Off

The ‘original’ compact cargo hauler, the Ford Transit Connect, is two years into its second generation. The basic idea remains the same – tall hauling machine based on Focus and Escape guts. The optional 1.6L turbocharged EcoBoost with 178 hp is plenty poky, especially with standard six-speed automatic transmission sending power to the front wheels. The long-wheelbase cargo version is completely customizable with bins, shelves racks and more. Anyone from an urban delivery service to a mobile pet washing setup and any other thousand customers would find it useful.

In pretty loaded XLT spec, the LWB Cargo runs $30,149, or $32,227. With a 36 month term at 2.99 percent and 20,000 kilometres annually, it runs $719 a month.

Although due to be replaced reasonably soon, the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter remains one hell of a Swiss Army knife. A bevvy of wheelbase, body lengths, roof height options and more allow for intense customization, but what’s even cooler is the available 4×4 system, something unique in this part of the world. The new-ish 2.1L four-cylinder turbodiesel offers 161 hp and 265 lb-ft of torque mated to a seven-speed automatic transmission in the base 2500 model.

Choosing a standard roof, ‘regular’ 144-inch wheelbase, and no-window two-seat body has a starting MSRP of $49,900. On a 48-month lease at 5.99 percent, we picked the middle mileage option of “between 40,000-55,000 km annually.” Yes, annually. That works out to $696 a month.

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