An asset sale is the purchase of individual assets and liabilities, whereas a stock sale is the purchase of the owner's shares of a corporation. A stock purchase is a complete purchase of a company, including all the assets and liabilities.Stock purchases thus have different tax outcomes. In an asset sale, sellers are subject to potentially higher taxes than in a stock sale. Stock sales tend to be faster and less expensive in comparison to an asset sale since the business is valued and sold as a whole. Unlike asset sales, stock sales do not require conveyances of each individual asset. Learn the tax implications for each type of sale. An asset sale is the purchase of individual assets and liabilities. A stock sale is the purchase of the owner's shares of a corporation. In general, an asset sale allows the transfer of specific assets and liabilities while the seller remains the owner of the legal entity.