
The recognized expense is usually referred to as “ accretion expense”. The ARO discounted liability increases over the lease term and this increase is recorded as an operating expense on the income statement.

Use our Present Value Calculator to determine the PV of your lease payments or ARO payments:

The liability would be recorded at fair value, which is another way of saying it should be recorded at the present value. To account for this scenario under US GAAP, the company would record a liability for the cost to remove the leasehold improvements at the end of the lease term, and increase the asset value of the leasehold improvement by the same amount.
#Remove asset upnp illustrate how to#
This article offers a detailed example of how to account for an operating lease under ASC 842. Activities meeting the definition of either lease payments or variable lease payments for the underlying leased asset will be accounted for by the lessee under ASC 842. Distinctively, ASC 410 does not apply to the underlying asset’s lease payments. ASC 410-20 and interactions between ASC 410 and ASC 842ĪSC 410-20 centers on lessee obligations to return an asset subjected to lessee-constructed leasehold improvements to its original condition. Generally, lease obligations imposed upon a lessee to remove leasehold improvements or remodeling they’ve done to return the leased asset to its original condition are asset retirement obligations and should be accounted for following the guidance contained in ASC 410-20. Environmental liabilities accounting guidance is contained in ASC 410-30. ASC 410: ARO accounting and environmental obligationsįASB ASC 410, Asset Retirement and Environmental Obligations, section 20 (410-20) contains the primary guidance from FASB on how to account for asset retirement obligations. Similarly, when a company leases land and installs underground tanks on the property, if the tanks must be removed at the end of the lease term, this is an ARO. If the lease agreement requires the lessee remove shelving or repaint to a neutral color, the lessee has an ARO and should record the obligation to return to space to its original condition at the time the changes are made. Typical examples of an ARO are when a store builds out the leased space to their specific layout or a business paints and updates a space for their branding. Under US GAAP, if a company enters into a lease for a building, constructs leasehold improvements, and determines based on the provisions of the lease that it is legally obligated to remove the leasehold improvements at the end of the lease, then the company has ARO. The accounting for these obligations is covered under FASB ASC 410, or Accounting Standards Codification Statement No. What is an Asset Retirement Obligation (ARO)?Īn asset retirement obligation is the liability for the removal of property, equipment, or leasehold improvements at the end of the lease term. This could be due to sale, disposal, or any type of removal, but once retired, the asset no longer has the utility for which it was originally acquired, constructed, or developed. What is asset retirement in accounting?Īsset retirement is when property or capitalized goods are removed from service. Have you ever entered into an operating lease for a building, constructed leasehold improvements, and determined based on the provisions of the lease that you are legally obligated to remove the leasehold improvements at the end of the lease? If so, then you had an asset retirement obligation, also referred to as an ARO.
