POST-ISSUANCE ACTIVITIES AND AMENDMENTS TO ACCOUNTING STANDARDS UPDATE NO. 2016-02, LEASES (TOPIC 842)

 

Overview

On February 25, 2016, the FASB issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). The new guidance establishes the principles to report transparent and economically neutral information about the assets and liabilities that arise from leases. Read Update 2016-02 at the links below:

• 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

Unlike other recently issued, significant Updates (such as revenue recognition and credit losses), the FASB did not create a Transition Resource Group (TRG) for the new leases guidance. This is primarily because many of the concepts used in Topic 842 are similar to those used in Topic 840. However, while a formal TRG was not created, the Board and the staff assisted stakeholders during this transitional period by responding to inquiries received and proactively seeking feedback, whenever possible.
 

Post-Issuance and Standard-Setting Activities

Since the issuance of Update 2016-02, the Board has discussed implementation of Topic 842 at the following Board meetings:

• November 30, 2016 Implementation Update
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• May 10, 2017 Implementation Update
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• June 21, 2017 Technical Corrections
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• August 2, 2017 Land Easements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• November 29, 2017 Land Easements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• November 29, 2017 Targeted Improvements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• January 24, 2018 Codification Improvements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• March 7, 2018 Targeted Improvements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• March 28, 2018 Targeted Improvements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• July 25, 2018 Lessor Narrow-Scope Improvements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• October 31, 2018 Lessor Narrow-Scope Improvements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• December 4, 2018 Codification Improvements for Lessors
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• February 13, 2019 Codification Improvements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• July 17, 2019 Accounting for Operating Lease Receivables
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes
• July 29, 2020 Targeted Improvements
  • Board Meeting Handout
  • Meeting Minutes

The objective of the Board’s standard-setting activities related to Topic 842, Leases, has been to address stakeholders’ concerns and ensure a smooth transition to the new Topic.
 
The amendments in the following Updates clarify or affect certain aspects of Topic 842 but do not change the core principle of the guidance in Topic 842.

Land Easements
 
On January 25, 2018, the Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-01, Leases (Topic 842)—Land Easement Practical Expedient for Transition to Topic 842.

• Download Update 2018-01
• Download the press release introducing the Update

Codification Improvements
 
On July 18, 2018, the Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-10,  Codification Improvements to Topic 842, Leases.

• Download Update 2018-10

Targeted Improvements

On July 30, 2018 the Board issued Accounting Standards Update 2018-11, Leases (Topic 842)—Targeted Improvements

• Download Update 2018-11
• Download the press release introducing the Update

Lessor Narrow-Scope Improvements
 
On December 10, 2018, the Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2018-20, Leases (Topic 842): Narrow Scope Improvements for Lessors.

• Download Update 2018-20
• Download the press release introducing the Update

Codification Improvements
 
On March 5, 2019, the Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-01, Leases (Topic 842): Codification Improvements.

• Download Update 2019-01
• Download the press release introducing the Update

Effective Dates

On November 15, 2019, the Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2019-10, Financial Instruments—Credit Losses (Topic 326), Derivates and Hedging (Topic 815), and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates. The amendments in Update 2019-10 related to Leases have been superseded.

• Download Update 2019-10
• Download the press release introducing the Update

On June 3, 2020, the Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2020-05, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606) and Leases (Topic 842): Effective Dates for Certain Entities.

• Download Update 2020-05
• Download the press release introducing the Update

The amendments in Accounting Standards Updates No. 2018-01, 2018-10, 2018-11, and 2018-20 affect the guidance in Accounting Standards Update No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842), which was not effective when Updates 2018-01, 2018-10, 2018-11, and 2018-20 were issued. However, Topic 842 may have been early adopted. The amendments in Update 2018-01 also affect Example 10 of Subtopic 350-30, Intangibles—Goodwill and Other—General Intangibles Other Than Goodwill.
 
For Entities That Had Not Yet Adopted Update 2016-02
 
For entities that had not adopted Update 2016-02 before the issuance of Updates 2018-01, 2018-10, 2018-11, and 2018-20, the effective date and transition requirements for the amendments in these updates are the same as the effective date and transition requirements in Update 2016-02.
 
For Entities That Had Already Adopted Update 2016-02
 
For entities that early adopted Topic 842 before the issuance of Update 2018-01 or Update 2018-10, the amendments are effective upon issuance, and the transition requirements are the same as those in Topic 842.
 
For entities that had adopted Topic 842 before the issuance of Update 2018-11, the transition and effective date of the amendments related to separating components of a contract are as follows:

1. The practical expedient may be elected either in the first reporting period following the issuance of this Update or at the original effective date of Topic 842 for that entity.
2. The practical expedient may be applied either retrospectively or prospectively.

All entities, including early adopters, that elect the practical expedient related to separating components of a contract in this Update must apply the expedient, by class of underlying asset, to all existing lease transactions that qualify for the expedient at the date elected.

For an entity that had adopted Topic 842 before the issuance of Update 2018-20, the transition and effective date of the amendments are as follows:

1. The amendments should be applied to all new and existing leases either at the original effective date of Topic 842 for the entity, in the first reporting period ending after the issuance of this Update, or in the first reporting period beginning after the issuance of this Update.
2. The amendments may be applied either retrospectively or prospectively.

Staff Q&A

As part of the Board’s continuing commitment to educate stakeholders and to provide operational interpretive guidance in accounting for leases, the FASB staff has developed a staff question and answer document (Q&A) to respond to some frequently asked questions about accounting for lease concessions related to the effects of COVID-19. The Q&A represent the views of the FASB staff. Official positions of the FASB are determined only after extensive due process and deliberation.

• Read FASB Staff Q&A–Accounting for Lease Concessions Related to the Effects of the COVID-19 Pandemic

What Entities Are Affected by the New Guidance in the Updates?

The amendments in these Updates affect entities with transactions included within the scope of Topic 842. The scope of that Topic includes entities that enter into contracts meeting the definition of a lease. The amendments in Update 2018-01 also affect guidance within the scope of Subtopic 350-30.

Have A Question?

Submit questions about the new requirements using our Technical Inquiry System.