ASC 842 Lease Accounting: Practical Real Estate & Equipment Examples With Journal Entries

ASC 842 in practice: Success with the standard requires more than knowing the rules—it’s about executing a consistent process. Accountants and controllers must identify lease scope, gather the right inputs, calculate the lease liability and right-of-use (ROU) asset, classify the lease, and then post repeatable journal entries tied to an amortization schedule. This article illustrates the process with both real estate and equipment leases, so you can see the mechanics in action. For background, revisit our Ultimate Guide to ASC 842 Lease Accounting in the iLeasePro Knowledge Base.

What ASC 842 Changed

Prior to ASC 842, operating leases were largely kept off the balance sheet and shown only in disclosures. ASC 842 changed the landscape by requiring nearly all leases to appear on the balance sheet.

• Right-of-Use (ROU) Asset – the company’s right to use the asset over the lease term.
• Lease Liability – the obligation to make future lease payments.

This requirement applies to both real estate leases (offices, warehouses, retail locations) and equipment leases (vehicles, servers, forklifts, copiers). The difference lies in how expenses flow to the income statement: Operating leases produce a straight-line expense, while Finance leases separate interest and amortization.

Step 1 — Determining Lease Scope

The first question under ASC 842 is whether an arrangement contains a lease. To qualify:

• There must be an identified asset that is physically distinct (a specific office suite, a VIN-numbered vehicle, a designated server).
• The customer must obtain substantially all economic benefits from using the asset.
• The customer must have the right to direct how the asset is used.

Also consider the enforceable lease term, including non-cancelable periods and options to renew or terminate that are reasonably certain to be exercised. Service contracts may include embedded leases—such as outsourcing agreements that give exclusive use of equipment. See our explainer on ASC 842 embedded leases.

Step 2 — Gathering the Key Inputs

• Lease term – include all reasonably certain renewals and purchase options.
• Fixed lease payments – plus variable payments based on an index (e.g., CPI), measured at commencement.
• Discount rate – use the implicit rate if known; otherwise use your incremental borrowing rate (IBR). For details, see our IBR calculation guide.
• Adjustments – any prepaid rent, initial direct costs, and lease incentives.

Step 3 — Initial Measurement

• Lease Liability: Present value of lease payments over the term using the discount rate.
• ROU Asset: The lease liability adjusted for prepayments, incentives, and direct costs.

Controllers should validate that the liability calculation ties back to the amortization schedule. Auditors often focus here because it anchors all future entries.

Step 4 — Lease Classification

• Finance lease if: ownership transfers, a bargain purchase option exists, lease term covers a major part of useful life, PV of payments ≈ substantially all fair value, or asset is specialized.
• Operating lease if none of the above criteria are met.

Balance sheet recognition is identical; only the income statement differs.

Example 1 — Real Estate (Operating Lease)

Facts

• 5-year non-cancelable office lease
• $10,000 monthly payments (end of month)
• No incentives or direct costs
• Monthly IBR = 0.50%
• PV of payments = $530,000

Day-1 Entry

Dr Right-of-Use Asset — Operating Lease   530,000
    Cr Lease Liability — Operating        530,000

Month 1

• Cash payment = $10,000
• Interest = $2,650 ($530,000 × 0.50%)
• Straight-line lease expense = $10,000
• ROU amortization = plug ($10,000 − $2,650 = $7,350 principal; $2,650 amortization)

Monthly Entry

Dr Lease Expense                          10,000
    Cr Lease Liability — Operating        7,350
    Cr Amortization — ROU Asset           2,650

Note: The liability reduces each month, while amortization adjusts so the expense stays flat.

Example 2 — Equipment (Finance Lease)

Facts

• 3-year copier lease
• $1,000 monthly payments
• Monthly IBR = 1.00%
• PV of payments = $11,255.10
• ROU amortized straight-line over 36 months

Day-1 Entry

Dr Right-of-Use Asset — Finance Lease     11,255.10
    Cr Lease Liability — Finance          11,255.10

Month 1

• Interest = $112.55
• Principal = $887.45
• ROU amortization = $312.64

Monthly Entries

Dr Interest Expense                          112.55
Dr Lease Liability — Finance                 887.45
    Cr Cash                                 1,000.00

Dr Amortization Expense — ROU Asset          312.64
    Cr Accumulated Amortization — ROU Asset  312.64

Note: Finance leases split expense recognition—front-loading interest—while operating leases show a flat expense profile.

Policy Elections & Practical Expedients

• Short-term leases (≤12 months): may elect not to recognize ROU assets/liabilities, expensing payments directly.
• Package of expedients: relief options available on transition.
• Non-lease component expedient: option to combine lease and non-lease components by class of asset.

Presentation & Disclosure Checklist

• Separate presentation (or disclosure) of Operating vs. Finance lease ROU assets/liabilities.
• Maturity analysis of lease liabilities.
• Weighted-average remaining lease term and discount rate.
• Disclosure of lease cost by type (Operating, Finance, short-term, variable).
• Explanation of significant judgments and policy elections.

Sample Disclosure Note Format

1. Lease Cost (in thousands)

2. Maturity Analysis of Lease Liabilities (undiscounted)

3. Weighted-Average Disclosures

• Weighted-average remaining lease term: Operating = 4.2 years; Finance = 2.7 years
• Weighted-average discount rate: Operating = 4.8%; Finance = 5.2%

Audit Readiness Checklist (For Private Companies)

• Amortization schedules reconcile to the GL and match recorded entries.
• Lease classification assessments (Operating vs. Finance) are documented.
• “Reasonably certain” renewals and options are supported with memos or management judgment.
• Discount rate assumptions (implicit rate vs. IBR) are clearly documented.
• Any lease modifications or remeasurements are tracked with supporting calculations.
• Policy elections (short-term, non-lease components) are consistently applied and disclosed.
• Disclosure tables (lease cost, maturity analysis, weighted-average) are prepared in draft form.

Common Pitfalls

• Missing reasonably certain renewals or termination options.
• Using an outdated discount rate (see our IBR guide).
• Overlooking embedded leases in service agreements (see our embedded lease explainer).
• Mishandling modifications and remeasurement (see our lease modification guide).

Key Terms & Internal Links

For a full reference, revisit our Ultimate Guide to ASC 842 Lease Accounting in the iLeasePro Knowledge Base.

• Incremental borrowing rate → IBR guide
• Embedded leases → embedded leases explainer
• Lease modifications → modifications & remeasurement article

Disclaimer: The examples, disclosure formats, and checklist provided are for illustration only. Always tie journal entries and disclosures back to your company’s actual amortization schedules, policies, and auditor guidance.