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Guidance Note on Accounting for Leases (Revised) * Introduction 1. This Guidance Note deals with accounting for leases, except for the following specialised types of leases:
2. The Council of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India recognizes the need for issuance of an accounting standard on the subject of accounting for leases with a view to establish sound accounting principles and practices in the leasing industry. The matter is under consideration of the Council, but it is recognised that issuance of such a standard will take some time. It is also recognised that the existing accounting practices in the leasing industry have mainly resulted keeping in view the relevant provisions of the Income‑tax Act, 1961, regarding permissibility of the depreciation allowance only to the owners of the assets. in this context, this Guidance Note is being issued only as an interim measure. In making the recommendations in the Guidance Note, the Committee recognizes that they do not preclude accounting for lease transactions in accordance with International Accounting Standard ‑ 17 (IAS‑1 7) on Accounting for Leases, even during the interim period. Definitions 3. The following terms are used in this Guidance Note with the meanings specified:
Explanation 4. A lease is classified as a finance lease if it secures for the lessor the recovery of his capital outlay plus a return on the funds invested during the lease term. Such a lease is normally non-'cancellable and the present value of the minimum lease payments at the inception of the lease exceeds or is equal to substantially the whole of the fair value of the leased asset. 5. A lease is classified as an operating lease if it does not secure for the lessor the recovery of his capital outlay plus a return on the funds invested during the lease term. 6. Since the transaction between a lessor and a lessee is based on a lease agreement common to both parties, normally, the two parties will classify the lease in the same way. Nevertheless, the application of these definitions to the differing circumstances of the two parties may sometimes result in the same lease being classified differently by lessor and lessee. 7. Residual value is the value estimated at the inception of lease, of the leased asset, at the expiry of the lease term. Such estimate can be made with reference to the terms of lease agreement, type of the asset, and proportion of the lease period to the life of the asset as per the technical/commercial evaluation and such other considerations. It may be possible for the enterprise to estimate the residual value as a fixed percentage of the value of the asset on the basis of its experience over a period of years. 8. There may be certain situations where the ability to assess the ultimate collection with reasonable certainty is lacking in respect of any lease rental. In such cases, according to the accrual basis of accounting, revenue recognition is postponed to the extent of uncertainty involved and it may be appropriate to recognise revenue, in respect of such rentals, only when it is reasonably certain that the ultimate collection will be made. Accounting for leases in the Books of a Lessor Finance Leases 9. Assets leased under finance leases should be disclosed as, "Assets given on lease", as a separate section under the head "Fixed Assets" in the balance sheet of the lessor. The classification of 'Asset given on lease' should correspond to that adopted in respect of other fixed assets. In addition to the particulars required by statute, e.g., Schedule VI to the Companies Act, 1956, particulars relating to Lease Adjustment Account should be disclosed as stated in para 11. 10. Lease rentals (those received and those due but not received) under a finance lease should be shown separately under 'Gross Income' in the profit and loss account of the relevant period. 11. It is appropriate that against the lease rental, a matching lease annual charge is made to the profit and loss account. This annual lease charge should represent recovery of the net investment / fair value of the leased asset over the lease term. The said charge should be calculated by deducting the finance income for the period (as per park 12 below) from the lease rental for that period. This annual lease charge would comprise (i) minimum statutory depreciation (e.g., as per the Companies Act, 1956) and (ii) lease equalisation charge, where the annual lease charge is more than the minimum statutory depreciation, a lease equalisation credit would arise. In this regard the following accounting entries / disclosures should be made:
The method of income measurement suggested in this paragraph, is in consonance with the inherent nature of a finance lease. The above method is illustrated in the Appendix to this Guidance Note. 12. The finance income for the period should be calculated applying the interest rate implicit in the lease to the net investment in the lease during the relevant period. This method would ensure recognition of net income in respect of a finance lease at a constant periodic rate of return on the lessor's net investment outstanding in the lease. However, some lessors use a simpler method for calculating the finance income for each of the periods comprising the lease term by apportioning the total finance income from the lease in the ratio of minimum lease payments outstanding during each of the respective periods comprising the lease term. (The total finance income from the lease is the difference between the aggregate minimum lease payments receivable over the lease term and the fair value of the leased asset at the inception of the lease.) This method may be used where the finance income in respect of all individual periods as per this method approximates the finance income for the corresponding periods determined according to the former method. It is however clarified that where this method is used, overdue lease rentals, i.e., lease rentals falling due but not collected should not be taken into account for determining the amount of minimum lease payments outstanding during each of the respective periods comprising the lease term. 13. Net Investment in the 'ease may often be equal to the capital cost / fair value of the asset at the inception of the lease. However, as per the definition, net investment is the difference between the gross investment in the lease (i.e., the aggregate of the minimum lease payments from the standpoint of the lessor and any residual value accruing to the lessor) and the unearned finance income (i.e., the difference between the lessor's gross investment in the lease and its present value). 14. Initial direct costs such as commissions and legal fees, often incurred by lessors in negotiating and arranging the lease should normally be expensed in the year in which they are incurred. Similarly, income on account of lease, e.g., management fees, should be recognised in the year in which they accrue. Finance Leasing by Manufacturers or Dealers 15. Manufacturers or dealers may offer to customers the choice of either buying or leasing an asset. A finance lease of an asset by a manufacturer or dealer lessor gives rise to two types of income:
16. The profit or loss referred to in para 15(a) above should be recognised at the inception of a finance lease by a manufacturer or dealer lessor. The finance 'income referred to in para 1 5(b) should be allocated on the basis of paras 10 to 14 above. Assets given on finance lease during the year by a manufacturer or dealer lessor maybe shown in the profit and loss account on credit side under the title "Assets given on finance lease transferred to Fixed Assets Account" and disclosed in the balance sheet as suggested in para 9 above. Operating Leases 17. A lease is classified as an operating lease if it does not secure for the lessor the recovery of his capital outlay plus a return on the funds invested during the lease term. Therefore, the asset should be treated by the lessor as a fixed asset and rentals receivable should be included in income over the lease term. 18. Costs, including depreciation, incurred in earning the rental income should be charged to income. Rental income should normally be recognised on a systematic basis which is representative of the time pattern of the earnings process contained in the lease. In many cases, recognition of rental income on a straight line basis over the lease term would be representative of the time pattern. 19. A leased asset for an operating lease should be depreciated on a basis consistent with the lessor's normal depreciation policy for similar assets. 20. Initial direct costs incurred by lessor in negotiating and arranging the lease should be expensed in the year in which they are incurred. Sale and Leaseback 21. A sale and leaseback transaction involves the sale of an asset by the vendor and the leasing of the same asset back to the vendor. The rentals and the sale price are usually interdependent as they are negotiated as a package and may not represent fair values. 22. If in the case of a leaseback, the rentals and the sale price are established at fair value, there has in effect been a normal sale transaction and any profit or loss is normally recognised immediately. If the sale price is below fair value any profit or loss is recognised immediately, except that, if the loss is compensated by future rentals at below market price, it is deferred rid amortized in proportion to the rental payments over the useful life of the asset. If the sale price is above fair value, the excess over fair value‑is deferred and amortized over the useful life of the asset. Disclosures 23. Apart from the disclosures recommended in the above paragraphs, the lessor should disclose the accounting policies followed with regard to accounting for income under finance lease, valuation of assets given on lease and charge for depreciation. Accounting for leases in the Books of a lessee Finance Leases 24. A lessee should disclose assets taken under a finance lease by way of a note to the accounts, disclosing, inter alia, the future obligations of the lessee as per the agreement. 25. Lease rentals should be accounted for on accrual basis over the lease term so as to recognise an appropriate charge, in this respect in the profit and loss account, with a separate disclosure thereof. The appropriate charge should be worked out with reference to the terms of the lease agreement, type of the asset, proportion of the lease period to the life of the asset as per the technical/commercial evaluation and such other considerations. The excess of lease rentals paid over the amount accrued in respect thereof should be treated as prepaid lease rental and vice versa. Operating Leases 26. Lease rentals should be accounted for on accrual basis over the lease term so as to recognise an appropriate charge in this respect in the profit and loss account with a separate disclosure thereof. In other words, aggregate of the lease rentals payable over the lease term should, unless another systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern, be spread over the term on straight line basis, irrespective of the payment schedule as per the terms and conditions of the lease. The excess of lease rentals paid over the amount accrued in respect thereof should be treated as prepaid lease rental and vice versa. Computation of Taxable Income 27. 1t is clarified that the specific treatments for determining taxable income would have to be in accordance with the provisions of the taxation laws; such treatments may differ from the recommendations contained in the Guidance Note. Effective Date 28. The recommendations of this Guidance Note apply to all assets leased during accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 1995. In respect of assets leased during accounting periods which commenced prior to the aforesaid date, the recommendations of the Guidance Note apply in respect of accounting periods beginning on or after April 1, 1996; earlier adoption of the recommendations is, however, encouraged. APPENDIX Illustration of Accounting for Finance leases in the Books of the Lessor This Appendix does not form a part of the Guidance Note and is merely illustrative. A. Particulars about the Lease
The lease term is four years. The rental is Rs.35,000; Rs. 16,000; Rs. 8,000 and Rs. 4,500 respectively in these four years, payable in advance every year. the estimated residual value of the computer at the end of the lease term is 5 per cent of the cost of the asset to the lessor. the lessee has the right to continue the lease at the end of the aforesaid lease term at a nominal rent. The relevant statutory WDV depreciation rate is 40 per cent. B. Whether the above lease should be classified as a Finance Lease or an Operating Lease? Since the present value of the minimum lease payments, at the inception of the lease, is approximately equal to the fair value of the leased asset (see calculations in section C), the lease should be classified as a finance lease. C. Accounting for the Finance Lease where finance income is calculated as per the first method contained in para 12. (i) Calculation of the implicit rate of interest in the lease This rate is often known to the lessor. However, in the present case it is not given. it may therefore be calculated as follows:
Minimum lease payments including residual value receivable during the lease term discounted at 14% (by trial and error).
Since minimum lease payments at the end of the lease, discounted at 14 per cent, are equal to the fair value of the leased machine at the inception of the lease, the interest rate implicit is 14 per cent. (ii) Gross Investment in the lease This is equal to the aggregate of the minimum lease payments (i.e.
lease rentals and residual value) accruing to the lessor. (iii) Unearned finance income = Gross investment in the lease minus its present value. Rs. 66,500 - Rs. 60,000 = Rs. 6,500 (iv) Net investment in the lease = Gross investment in the lease minus unearned finance income. = Rs. 66,500 - Rs. 6,500 = Rs. 60,000 In the present case therefore the cost of the leased computer to the lessor, its fair value and the net investment in the lease are the same. (v) Profit and loss account and the balance sheet of the lessor. (a) Lease rentals received should be shown under "Gross Income" in the profit and loss account of the respective years. (b) The corresponding annual lease charge, statutory depreciation etc. over the lease term are calculated as below:
(c) Profit and Loss Account of the lessor will appear as follows: Profit and Loss Account of M/s. __________________________
Profit and Loss Account of M/s. __________________________
Profit and Loss Account of M/s. __________________________
Profit and Loss Account of M/s. __________________________
(d) Balance Sheet of the lessor will appear as follows: Balance Sheet of M/s. __________________________
Balance Sheet of M/s. __________________________
* This amount is after adjustment of Lease Equalisation Credit of Rs. 150. Balance Sheet of M/s. __________________________
* This amount is after adjustment of aggregate Lease Equalisation Credits of Rs. 1665 Balance Sheet of M/s. __________________________
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