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ASU 2016-02 Section A—Leases: Amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification® Section B—Conforming Amendments Related to Leases: Amendments to the FASB Accounting Standards Codification® Section C—Background Information and Basis for Conclusions Post-Issuance Activities and Amendments	FASB In Focus Project Summary Understanding Costs & Benefits Press Release
FASB Investor Video: Leases Why a New Leases Standard? Putting Leases on the Balance Sheet Leases: A Quick Example of the Display Approach

WHAT ARE THE CORE PRINCIPLES OF THE NEW STANDARD?

The new standard will require organizations that lease assets— referred to as “lessees”—to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases.

The new standard will require organizations that lease assets— referred to as “lessees”—to recognize on the balance sheet the assets and liabilities for the rights and obligations created by those leases.

Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for leases with lease terms of more than 12 months.
Consistent with current Generally Accepted Accounting Principles (GAAP), the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease.

However, unlike current GAAP—which requires only capital leases to be recognized on the balance sheet— the new ASU will require both types of leases to be recognized on the balance sheet.

The ASU also will require disclosures to help investors and other financial statement users better understand the amount, timing, and uncertainty of cash flows arising from leases. These disclosures include qualitative and quantitative requirements, providing additional information about the amounts recorded in the financial statements.

The accounting by organizations that own the assets leased by the lessee—also known as lessor accounting—will remain largely unchanged from current GAAP. However, the ASU contains some targeted improvements that are intended to align, where necessary, lessor accounting with the lessee accounting model and with the updated revenue recognition guidance issued in 2014.

HOW WILL THE NEW GUIDANCE IMPROVE LEASE ACCOUNTING?

  

WHO WILL BE AFFECTED BY THE NEW GUIDANCE?

Leasing is an important activity for many organizations—whether a public or private company, or a not-for-profit organization. It is a means of gaining access to assets, obtaining financing, and reducing an organization’s exposure to the risks of full ownership of the underlying asset.

The ASU affects all companies and other organizations that lease assets such as real estate, airplanes, ships, and construction and manufacturing equipment.

WHEN WILL THE FINAL ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATE BE EFFECTIVE?

The new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years, for any of the following:

1. A public business entity, as defined in generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP)
2. A not-for-profit entity that has issued, or is a conduit bond obligor for, securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an over-the-counter market (with an exception for those entities that have not yet issued their financial statements or made financial statements available for issuance as of June 3, 2020)
3. An employee benefit plan that files financial statements with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

For not-for-profit entities that has issues or is a conduit bond obligor for securities that are traded, listed, or quoted on an exchange or an over-the-counter market that has not yet issued financial statements or made financial statements available for issuance as of June 3, 2020, the new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019, and interim periods within those fiscal years.

For all other organizations, the new guidance is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2021, and interim periods within fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2022.

Since issuing Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), in February 2016, the FASB has issued two effective date deferrals for certain entities: one in June 2020 and one in November 2019. During the November 10, 2021 Board meeting, the Board decided not to provide a third effective date deferral of Topic 842 for entities within the scope of paragraph 842-10-65-1(b) (referred to as “all other organizations” in the preceding paragraph).

Early application is permitted for all entities.