The IASB has published IFRS 16 ‘Leases’, completing its long-running project to overhaul lease accounting.
IFRS 16 will require lessees to account for leases ‘on-balance sheet’ by recognising a ‘right-of-use’ asset and a lease liability. For many businesses, however, exemptions for short-term leases and leases of low value assets will greatly reduce
the impact.
IFRS 16 also:
- changes the definition of a lease;
- sets requirements on how to account for the asset and liability, including complexities such as non-lease elements, variable lease payments and option periods;
- changes the accounting for sale and leaseback arrangements;
- largely retains IAS 17’s approach to lessor accounting; and
- introduces new disclosure requirements.
