Audit

In our articles about leasing, we have already written about the classification of leases on the balance sheet and the economic life of leased assets according to balance sheet law. On a few examples we have shown how to interpret the regulations in this area in order to have the most reasonable estimation. This time we will take a look at discounting cash flow related to the lease agreement and the relation between that cash flow and the market value of the lease object.

The end of the year is approaching fast, and for most businesses it means they need to close their accounts and prepare their financial statements. Unfortunately, this year there may be some trouble around the corner: due to exceeding predefined thresholds, many organisations will be burdened with additional obligations arising from the requirement to have their financial statements audited by a statutory auditor.

Under the balance sheet law, if lease was concluded for a period of more than 75% of the economic life of the leased asset, it should be recorded in the balance sheet as finance lease. How can the entrepreneur check if the lease they concluded meets this requirement and thus must be recognised accordingly in the books?

Leasing is a unique form of business financing, where companies do not need to purchase the assets in order to use them. With the growing popularity of lease, many entrepreneurs are considering the pros and cons of this type of financing, also in the context of tax costs. What is very important yet often overlooked here is that your lease must be recognised on your balance sheet properly. What do you need to focus on?

Last year we wrote a lot in our blog about the new IFRS 16 standard that significantly changes the concept behind considering contracts in terms of the necessity to disclose transactions in the lessee’s balance sheet.  We are going to continue on this topic, answering another batch of the most frequently asked questions concerning this standard.

The last time we discussed lease contract modifications. The next thing that should be addressed and is present in the economic reality is the leaseback. It is very often the case that entities first purchase a given fixed asset (a building, specialist equipment or manufacturing machine) but then, given the lack of funds or as a consequence of streamlining the financing of their investments, decide to sell this asset and lease it back later.

In this article, resuming the topic of IFRS 16, we will have a look at situations in which a lease contract has been modified. In the opening remarks it is worth recalling that any changes of the interest rate, being the basis for calculating the lessor’s interest, or any changes of the index (e.g. inflation level), being the basis for calculating lease payments, are already included in the variable payments and shall not be discussed here any further. Any such changes result only in the need to make adjustments to the outstanding liabilities and adjust the right-of-use assets accordingly.

Previously, we focused on the establishing of the starting value of the right to use an asset. We have mentioned the fact that the value of the obligation should be discounted. And how to calculate the discount? What rate of discount to apply?

In the previous part of our considerations, we raised the issue of simplifications in the application of IFRS 16, when assets and liabilities are not recognized. Entities benefitting from the simplifications charge payments directly into costs - usually, on a straight-line basis over the period of the lease. Operating leases are settled in a similar manner (in accordance with the IAS 17 regulations, still in effect). For the record, below please find a handful of information.

In the previous article devoted to leasing, several sample questions were asked by members of management boards and accountants regarding the recognition, valuation and presentation of leasing under the new IFRS 16 standard. Below please find the answers to the inquiries received.