Lease Modifications & Remeasurements

Understanding Lease Modifications and Remeasurements

Lease modifications and remeasurements under ASC 842 occur when there are changes to the lease agreement that alter the scope or the consideration (payment amounts) of the lease. These changes can significantly impact the financial statements of both lessees (the ones who lease the assets) and lessors (the ones who own the assets).

A lease modification happens when the lessee and lessor agree to change the terms and conditions of the lease agreement. Modifications can include changes to the lease term, changes to the leased asset (like adding or subtracting assets), or changes to the lease payments.

Remeasurement is the process of adjusting the lease liability and right-of-use (ROU) asset on the balance sheet to reflect changes in the lease's terms or assessments. This can occur due to a lease modification, a change in the lease term (like exercising an extension option), or a change in the future lease payments (e.g., due to changes in an index or rate used to determine those payments).

Modification and Remeasurement Journal Entries

When a lease modification is made under ASC 842, certain journal entries are required to reflect the changes in the financial statements accurately. These entries depend on whether the modification is treated as a separate lease or a remeasurement of the existing lease. For a modification that results in a remeasurement, the lessee needs to adjust both the lease liability and the right-of-use (ROU) asset on their balance sheet. The lease liability is adjusted to reflect the present value of the future lease payments, using the discount rate at the modification date. The corresponding entry to the ROU asset reflects the adjustment in the lease liability, and any difference between these adjustments is recognized in the income statement. For example, if the lease liability increases due to the modification, the ROU asset is increased by the same amount. If this adjustment leads to a decrease in the value of the ROU asset, any excess decrease is recognized as a loss in the income statement. Conversely, for modifications treated as separate leases, a new lease liability and ROU asset are recognized for the additional right of use granted by the modification, without altering the original lease's accounting. These journal entries ensure that the financial statements present the lease's current terms and conditions accurately, maintaining the integrity of financial reporting under ASC 842.

Examples of Lease Modifications and Remeasurements

Example 1. Lease Extension
A company extends the lease term of its office building without any changes to the lease payments relative to the current market rates. This extension is not considered a separate lease. The company must remeasure the lease liability using the revised lease term and adjust the ROU asset accordingly.

Example 2: Addition of Another Floor
Suppose a business leasing two floors in a building decides to lease an additional floor under the same lease agreement, with the lease payments increasing by an amount commensurate with the standalone price of leasing the additional floor. This would be treated as a separate lease for the additional floor, requiring recognition of a new lease liability and ROU asset.

Example 3: Change in Lease Payments
If the lease payments for an asset change due to a modification in the terms (e.g., an adjustment based on a new index or rate), the lessee must remeasure the lease liability using the updated lease payments and adjust the ROU asset accordingly. This adjustment reflects the new expectation of future lease payments.

Lease modifications and remeasurements under ASC 842 are critical aspects that require careful consideration by both lessees and lessors. They ensure that the financial statements accurately reflect the terms and conditions of lease agreements as they evolve over time. By understanding how to account for these changes, organizations can maintain compliance with ASC 842 and provide transparent reporting to stakeholders. Whether it's extending a lease, adding new assets, or adjusting lease payments, the way these modifications are accounted for has a significant impact on an organization's balance sheet and income statements. Through practical examples, we've seen how these adjustments are made, providing clarity to a complex process and ensuring organizations can navigate their lease accounting with confidence.

At iLeasePro, our leasing experts have worked with both ASC 840 and ASC 842 for years, and we understand the changes, the logic behind them, and why they’re important.

We can help explain them to you to make sure you get them right, and we can provide the right software products to help you record and implement the ASC 842 changes correctly.

To do this, you can call iLeasePro at 888-351-4605, or you can go to iLeasePro and access our excellent information about our software products and how they can help you with ASC 842. We’ll give you all the information you need to simplify the recording process and show you how to use it to improve your bottom line.