How to treat rent free period in IFRS 16?

Asked by: Destinee Langworth  |  Last update: June 10, 2026
Score: 4.8/5 (33 votes)

Under IFRS 16, a rent-free period is treated as a lease incentive that reduces the total lease payments. The lessee must calculate the present value of all future lease payments, including the zero payments, to determine the initial lease liability and Right-of-Use (RoU) asset, while spreading the total cost evenly over the entire lease term.

How to account for a rent-free period?

The total lease expense, including any rent-free periods, must be spread evenly over the lease term. This means that even during a rent-free period, you must recognize an expense in your financial statements as if rent were being paid.

What is the rent-free period?

A period at the beginning of a tenancy during which no rent is payable by the tenant. It is given: As an inducement to the tenant to enter into the lease which does not affect the headline rent; or.

How to treat prepaid rent in IFRS 16?

IFRS 16 prepayments: payments in advance and prepaid rent

  1. The prepaid period is not included in the calculation of the lease liability. It does not form a part of the discounted cash flows to determine the initial recognition. ...
  2. Add the prepayment amount to the value of the right of use asset to be depreciated.

How to account for a lease buyout?

How to Calculate a Lease Buyout

  1. Determine the residual value of the vehicle. ...
  2. Determine the actual value of the vehicle. ...
  3. Compare the residual value and the actual value. ...
  4. Account for license and registration fees. ...
  5. Account for sales tax.

IFRS 16 Leases summary (applies in 2026) + FREE Practical Checklist

18 related questions found

What happens when you do a lease buyout?

A lease buyout lets you purchase your leased car, usually for a pre-set price in your contract (the residual value plus remaining payments/fees), either at the lease end or early, by paying cash or getting a loan to cover the cost, which makes sense if the car's market value exceeds the buyout price, allowing you to keep it or sell it for profit. The process involves checking your contract, getting financing (often from a credit union), paying the total, and then handling title transfer and registration.

How to account for lease abandonment?

Select Abandonment as the type of remeasurement Then specify the Decision Date, which is when you decided to abandon the asset, which will become the start date of the calculation. The Cease Use Date is when the asset will stop being used and is the end point for the ROU amortization in the abandonment schedule.

Is a rent free period a lease incentive under IFRS 16?

Potential lease incentives:

The reimbursement of costs associated with a pre-existing lease commitment of the lessee or costs relating to a payment to a former landlord. A rent-free period or period where a reduced rent is payable.

Is prepaid rent an adjusting entry?

To do this, debit your Expense account and credit your Prepaid Expense account. This creates a prepaid expense adjusting entry. Let's say you prepay six month's worth of rent, which adds up to $6,000. When you prepay rent, you record the entire $6,000 as an asset on the balance sheet.

What is the 90% rule in leasing?

The 90% rule in leasing is an accounting guideline for classifying leases, stating that if the present value (PV) of a lessee's minimum lease payments equals or exceeds 90% of the leased asset's fair market value (FMV), the lease should be treated as a finance lease (or capital lease) rather than an operating lease, reflecting essentially a purchase for accounting purposes. This rule helps determine if the lease transfers substantially all the risks and rewards of ownership, requiring balance sheet recognition of the asset and liability. 

How is free rent recorded?

Periods of free rent, rent abatements, and escalating payments are all factored into a straight-line rent expense calculation. For lease payments that escalate due to the tenant gaining access to additional assets, the expense will be recognized in proportion to the additional leased property.

What is the rent free period in a lease agreement?

A commonly accepted timeframe, typically spanning a few weeks or months, in which a tenant is permitted to utilize the designated property without the obligation of rent payment.

What is a free month of rent called?

A rent concession is an incentive, often temporary, offered by landlords to attract or retain tenants. Offering rent concessions, like one month free or waived fees, can be a powerful tool to attract tenants, especially during slow market periods or property lease-ups.

What is a free rent period?

A free rent period generally: Is given as an inducement to the tenant to enter into a lease agreement. May occur only at the beginning of the lease term or may occur throughout the term of the lease. Applies only to tenant's obligation to pay base rent.

What is the ASC 842 accounting treatment?

ASC 842 requires lessees to establish a lease liability for all in-scope operating leases, measured at the present value of the lease payments. To calculate the present value, lessees must find or calculate a discount rate to apply to the future lease payments.

What does 4 weeks rent free mean?

There are 4 rent free weeks every year. These usually occur in the first 2 weeks of April, the last week in December and the first week in January. Some payment methods will require you to pay throughout the rent free weeks as they have already been accounted for in your monthly payment amounts.

Is prepaid rent a deferral or accrual?

Prepaid rent is typically included in income in the year received, regardless of the accounting method or the period it covers. Lessors using the accrual method must recognize prepaid rent as taxable income in the year received, even if it covers future periods.

What are the 7 adjusting entries?

  • Introduction to adjusting entries.
  • Accrued income.
  • Accrued expense.
  • Unearned income.
  • Prepaid expense.
  • Depreciation.
  • Bad debts.
  • Adjusted trial balance.

Is prepaid rent an asset or liability?

When a company pays rent ahead of time, it records this payment as prepaid rent, which is considered an asset because it represents future use of the rented space. Instead of counting it as an expense right away, the company first lists it under current assets on the balance sheet.

How are leases treated under IFRS 16?

IFRS 16 requires that the lease liability should initially be measured at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at the commencement date. The discount rate used to determine present value should be the rate of interest implicit in the lease.

What is the free rent period in a lease?

The negotiating leverage of the parties and the market conditions commonly impact the scope of the free rent period. A free rent period generally: Is given as an inducement to the tenant to enter into a lease agreement. May occur only at the beginning of the lease term or may occur throughout the term of the lease.

What is the difference between ASC 840 and 842?

There are several key differences between the U.S. GAAP new accounting standards for leases (ASC 842) and the previous guidance (ASC 840), including new guidance on variable lease payments, reassessment of initial direct costs, and recognition of lease and non-lease components.

What is the journal entry for lease accounting?

What is a Journal Entry for Lease? A journal entry for a lease records the financial transactions related to the leasing of an asset. This involves documenting the initial recognition of lease obligations and assets, as well as ongoing payments and expenses.

How to account for early lease termination?

2 Lease Termination. 40-1 A termination of a lease before the expiration of the lease term shall be accounted for by the lessee by removing the right-of-use asset and the lease liability, with profit or loss recognized for the difference.

What is considered abandonment in a lease?

Abandonment Definition in Your Jurisdiction

Example: In California, under Civil Code Section 1951.3, abandonment is presumed if the tenant has not paid rent for at least 14 consecutive days and there is reason to believe the tenant has deserted the rental unit.