Modify Line Lease For Free

The straight-line method of expense is a way to recognize lessee lease payments on the income statement. With the straight-line method, all lease payments are distributed evenly across the term of the lease, regardless of when the lessee actually makes their lease payments.

What is deferred rent? Deferred rent is a liability resulting from the difference between actual cash paid and the straight-line expense recorded on the lessee's financial statements for an operating lease. This was an account specifically used under ASC 840 lease accounting.

Under U.S. GAAP, rent in a company's financial statements should be recorded on a straight-line basis. To calculate monthly rent expense on a straight-line basis, you must first calculate the total cash paid for rent over the entire lease life and then divide by the number of months (i.e. 4 years = 48 months).

However, to calculate straight-line rent expense, you simply add up total cash rent paid and divide by the lease term in months. For example, if rent is $50,000 total for a 5 year lease and the first year is free, then you would pay the $50,000 over 4 years at $12,500 per month.

Account for the lease modification as a termination of the original lease and creation of a new lease from the effective date of the modification. Measure the carrying amount of the underlying asset as the net investment in the original lease immediately before the effective date of the modification.

Under current US GAAP , the FASB states that when rents are not constant, the lease expense should be recognized on a straight-line basis throughout the life of the lease. This method of rent expense recognition is applicable under both ASC 840 and ASC 842 for leases classified as operating leases.

IFRS 16 Leases contains detailed guidance on how to account for lease modifications. A lease modification is defined as a change in the scope of a lease, or the consideration for a lease, that was not part of the original terms and conditions of the lease.

Adjust the monthly straight-line amount for the remaining period by the amount of the monthly increase. For example, if your monthly payment was $1500 and increased by $150 per month, you should record $1,650 per month going forward.