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. Asset Sale lets buyers choose specific assets and liabilities; Stock Sale doesn't.While an asset sale outshines a stock sale in company structure support, it loses a fair amount of points when it comes to tax implications. The main difference between asset sales vs. In an asset sale, the buyer's basis for depreciation is the allocated purchase price of the transferred assets. With an asset sale, the buyer is buying the assets of the business. These assets will be identified in the purchase and sale agreement. Learn the tax implications for each type of sale. The seller must pay taxes on the difference between the basis in the assets and the price paid for the company. A stock sale is when the owner sells off stock shares.