On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued its highly-anticipated leasing standard1 for both lessees and lessors. Under its core principle, a lessee will recognize lease assets and liabilities on the balance sheet for all arrangements with terms longer than 12 months. Lessor accounting remains largely consistent with existing U.S. GAAP. The new standard takes effect in 2019 for public business entities and 2020 for all other entities. The ASU is available here.Main Provisions
Lessee Accounting Model
The new standard applies a right-of-use (ROU) model that requires a lessee to record, for all leases with a lease term of more than 12 months, an asset representing its right to use the underlying asset for the lease term and a liability to make lease payments. The lease term is the noncancellable period of the lease, and includes both periods covered by an option to extend the lease, if the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise that option, and periods covered by an option to terminate the lease, if the lessee is reasonably certain not to exercise that termination option.
Observation: “Reasonably certain” has the same meaning as “reasonably assured” under existing U.S. GAAP, and includes an assessment of economic incentives.
For leases with a lease term of 12 months or less, a practical expedient is available whereby a lessee may elect, by class of underlying asset, not to recognize an ROU asset or lease liability. A lessee making this accounting policy election would recognize lease expense over the term of the lease, generally in a straight-line pattern.
At inception, lessees must classify all leases as either finance or operating. Balance sheet recognition of finance and operating leases is similar, but the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement will differ depending on the lease classification. A finance lease is a lease arrangement in which the lessee effectively obtains control of the underlying asset. In an operating lease, the lessee does not effectively obtain control of the underlying asset.
If any of the following criteria is met at commencement, a lessee effectively obtains control of an underlying asset and will account for the lease as a finance lease:
For leases with a lease term of 12 months or less, a practical expedient is available whereby a lessee may elect, by class of underlying asset, not to recognize an ROU asset or lease liability. A lessee making this accounting policy election would recognize lease expense over the term of the lease, generally in a straight-line pattern.
At inception, lessees must classify all leases as either finance or operating. Balance sheet recognition of finance and operating leases is similar, but the pattern of expense recognition in the income statement will differ depending on the lease classification. A finance lease is a lease arrangement in which the lessee effectively obtains control of the underlying asset. In an operating lease, the lessee does not effectively obtain control of the underlying asset.
If any of the following criteria is met at commencement, a lessee effectively obtains control of an underlying asset and will account for the lease as a finance lease:
- The lease transfers ownership of the underlying asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term.
- The lease grants the lessee an option to purchase the underlying asset that the lessee is reasonably certain to exercise.
- The lease term is for the major part of the remaining economic life of the underlying asset.
- The sum of the present value of the lease payments and the present value of any residual value guaranteed by the lessee amounts to substantially all of the fair value of the underlying asset.
- The underlying asset is of such a specialized nature that it is expected to have no alternative use to the lessor at the end of the lease term.
| Financial Statement | Finance Lease | Operating Lease |
| Balance Sheet | Recognize ROU asset and lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. Include initial direct costs in the initial measurement of the ROU asset. | Recognize ROU asset and lease liability, initially measured at the present value of the lease payments. Include initial direct costs in the initial measurement of the ROU asset. |
| Income Statement | Recognize interest on the lease liability separately from amortization of the ROU asset. | Recognize a single lease cost, calculated so that the cost of the lease is allocated over the lease term, generally on a straight-line basis. |
| Cash Flows | Classify repayments of the principal portion of the lease liability within financing activities and payments of interest on the lease liability and variable lease payments within operating activities. | Classify all cash payments for leases within operating activities. |
Observation: Finance leases will result in a “front-loaded” expense effect due to straight-line amortization and front-loaded interest, while operating leases will result in straight-line expense recognition over the lease term, similar to today’s operating lease treatment.
After inception, the lessee’s right-of-use asset will be assessed for impairment under Topic 360.
Lessor Accounting Model
The new standard requires a lessor to classify leases as either sales-type, direct financing or operating, similar to existing U.S. GAAP. Classification depends on the same five criteria used by lessees plus certain additional factors. Based on that evaluation:
With respect to impairment, Topic 310 applies to a lessor’s net investment in the lease. Topic 360 continues to apply to long-lived assets of lessors.
The previous accounting model for leveraged leases will continue to apply only for those leveraged leases that commenced before the effective date, but will not be available for leases that commence after the effective date.
Additional Considerations
Identification of a Lease – The new standard defines a lease as a contract that conveys the right to use an underlying asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.
Observation: Determining whether a contract contains a lease at inception is critical under the new guidance because of the requirement to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. While this assessment will be straight-forward in most cases, it may require judgment in some situations, such as contracts that include services.
Components – Lessees and lessors are required to separate the lease components from the nonlease components (for example, maintenance services or other activities that transfer a good or service to the customer) in a contract, and account for the nonlease components according to other applicable guidance. However, a practical expedient is available whereby lessees may elect, by class of underlying asset, not to separate lease components from nonlease components, and to account for all components as a single lease component.
Sale and Leaseback Transactions - For a sale to occur in the context of a sale and leaseback transaction, the transfer of the asset must meet the requirements for a sale in ASU 2014-09. If there is no sale for the seller-lessee, the buyer-lessor also does not account for a purchase.
Modifications – The new standard provides guidance for determining whether lease modifications should be accounted for as separate leases. It also specifies the modification accounting for both lessees and lessors.
Disclosures – Lessees and lessors are required to provide certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures to enable users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.
Observation: SEC registrants are also required to disclose the impact that recently issued accounting standards will have on the financial statements when adopted in a future period.
Other – The new standard provides guidance on combining contracts, purchase options, reassessment of the lease term, and remeasurement of lease payments. It also contains comprehensive implementation guidance with practical examples.
Effective Date and Transition: The amendments are effective for public business entities3 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments are effective for all other entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted.
In transition, a lessee and a lessor will recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach includes a number of optional practical expedients. These practical expedients relate to identifying and classifying leases that commenced before the effective date, initial direct costs for leases that commenced before the effective date, and the ability to use hindsight in evaluating lessee options to extend or terminate a lease or to purchase the underlying asset.
An entity that elects to apply the practical expedients would, in effect, continue to account for leases that commenced prior to the effective date in accordance with previous guidance unless the lease is modified, except that lessees would recognize an ROU asset and a lease liability for all operating leases at each reporting date based on the present value of the minimum rental payments that were determined under previous guidance.
The new standard also provides transition guidance specific to sale and leaseback transactions, build-to-suit leases, leveraged leases, and leases recognized as a result of a business combination.
International Convergence: The lease project began as a joint project with the IASB. The IASB released its final standard, IFRS 16 Leases, in January 2016. Although many aspects of the two standards are converged, there are significant differences, the most notable of which is the lessee accounting model. IFRS 16 does not differentiate between finance and operating leases, but rather treats all leases of assets with values greater than $5,000 as finance leases. This means leases classified as operating leases under U.S. GAAP will be accounted for differently than under IFRS, resulting in different patterns in the income statement and cash flow statement.
For questions related to the above topic or any business advisory services contact Aaron Waller, CPA at 334-887-7022.
1 Leases (Topic 842)
2 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)
3 The public business entity effective date also applies to (1) a not-for-profit entity that has issued, or is a conduit bond obligor for, securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an-over-the-counter market, and (2) an employee benefit plan that files or furnishes statements with or to the SEC.
After inception, the lessee’s right-of-use asset will be assessed for impairment under Topic 360.
Lessor Accounting Model
The new standard requires a lessor to classify leases as either sales-type, direct financing or operating, similar to existing U.S. GAAP. Classification depends on the same five criteria used by lessees plus certain additional factors. Based on that evaluation:
- A lease will be treated as a sale if it transfers all of the risks and rewards, as well as control of the underlying asset, to the lessee.
- If risks and rewards are conveyed without the transfer of control, the lease is treated as a direct financing.
- If the lessor doesn’t convey risks and rewards or control, an operating lease results.
With respect to impairment, Topic 310 applies to a lessor’s net investment in the lease. Topic 360 continues to apply to long-lived assets of lessors.
The previous accounting model for leveraged leases will continue to apply only for those leveraged leases that commenced before the effective date, but will not be available for leases that commence after the effective date.
Additional Considerations
Identification of a Lease – The new standard defines a lease as a contract that conveys the right to use an underlying asset for a period of time in exchange for consideration.
Observation: Determining whether a contract contains a lease at inception is critical under the new guidance because of the requirement to recognize ROU assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet. While this assessment will be straight-forward in most cases, it may require judgment in some situations, such as contracts that include services.
Components – Lessees and lessors are required to separate the lease components from the nonlease components (for example, maintenance services or other activities that transfer a good or service to the customer) in a contract, and account for the nonlease components according to other applicable guidance. However, a practical expedient is available whereby lessees may elect, by class of underlying asset, not to separate lease components from nonlease components, and to account for all components as a single lease component.
Sale and Leaseback Transactions - For a sale to occur in the context of a sale and leaseback transaction, the transfer of the asset must meet the requirements for a sale in ASU 2014-09. If there is no sale for the seller-lessee, the buyer-lessor also does not account for a purchase.
Modifications – The new standard provides guidance for determining whether lease modifications should be accounted for as separate leases. It also specifies the modification accounting for both lessees and lessors.
Disclosures – Lessees and lessors are required to provide certain qualitative and quantitative disclosures to enable users of financial statements to assess the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases.
Observation: SEC registrants are also required to disclose the impact that recently issued accounting standards will have on the financial statements when adopted in a future period.
Other – The new standard provides guidance on combining contracts, purchase options, reassessment of the lease term, and remeasurement of lease payments. It also contains comprehensive implementation guidance with practical examples.
Effective Date and Transition: The amendments are effective for public business entities3 for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. The amendments are effective for all other entities for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2020. Early adoption is permitted.
In transition, a lessee and a lessor will recognize and measure leases at the beginning of the earliest period presented using a modified retrospective approach. The modified retrospective approach includes a number of optional practical expedients. These practical expedients relate to identifying and classifying leases that commenced before the effective date, initial direct costs for leases that commenced before the effective date, and the ability to use hindsight in evaluating lessee options to extend or terminate a lease or to purchase the underlying asset.
An entity that elects to apply the practical expedients would, in effect, continue to account for leases that commenced prior to the effective date in accordance with previous guidance unless the lease is modified, except that lessees would recognize an ROU asset and a lease liability for all operating leases at each reporting date based on the present value of the minimum rental payments that were determined under previous guidance.
The new standard also provides transition guidance specific to sale and leaseback transactions, build-to-suit leases, leveraged leases, and leases recognized as a result of a business combination.
International Convergence: The lease project began as a joint project with the IASB. The IASB released its final standard, IFRS 16 Leases, in January 2016. Although many aspects of the two standards are converged, there are significant differences, the most notable of which is the lessee accounting model. IFRS 16 does not differentiate between finance and operating leases, but rather treats all leases of assets with values greater than $5,000 as finance leases. This means leases classified as operating leases under U.S. GAAP will be accounted for differently than under IFRS, resulting in different patterns in the income statement and cash flow statement.
For questions related to the above topic or any business advisory services contact Aaron Waller, CPA at 334-887-7022.
1 Leases (Topic 842)
2 Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)
3 The public business entity effective date also applies to (1) a not-for-profit entity that has issued, or is a conduit bond obligor for, securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an-over-the-counter market, and (2) an employee benefit plan that files or furnishes statements with or to the SEC.
