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. In a stock sale, the buyer acquires equity from the target company's shareholders.In this case, the stock sale is ignored for tax purposes, and both buyer and seller will be treated as though an asset sale occurred. Learn the tax implications for each type of sale. The term "sales tax" actually refers to several tax acts. Asset Sale lets buyers choose specific assets and liabilities; Stock Sale doesn't.