Lease Terms
IFRS 16 Lease Audit Working Paper Template & Checklist — free PDF
Quick reference card, IBR documentation template, lease assessment flowchart, and audit working paper template. Plus one practical audit insight per week.
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
IFRS 16.26 — At the commencement date, a lessee shall measure the lease liability at the present value of the lease payments that are not paid at that date.
IFRS 16.23–24 — At the commencement date, a lessee shall measure the right-of-use asset at cost.
ISA 500 — Sufficient appropriate audit evidence for the lease liability as independent audit evidence.
ISA 540 — Auditing accounting estimates — applies to the IBR determination and lease term judgment.
IFRS 16 for Manufacturing — Practical Guidance
Manufacturing entities typically hold significant lease portfolios spanning factory premises, production equipment, forklifts, company vehicles, and specialised machinery. IFRS 16 has a disproportionate impact on manufacturing balance sheets because of the capital-intensive nature of operations — many entities previously classified equipment leases as operating leases, keeping substantial obligations off the balance sheet. Under IFRS 16, all these obligations are now recognised, materially increasing both total assets and total liabilities.
Measurement Considerations for Manufacturing
For manufacturing equipment leases, the discount rate selection is critical. Many equipment leases include residual value guarantees (IFRS 16.27(c)) where the lessee guarantees the lessor a minimum residual value at lease end. These guarantees must be included in the lease liability calculation as part of the lease payments. Purchase options that are reasonably certain to be exercised (IFRS 16.27(d)) also increase the lease liability and extend the depreciation period of the ROU asset to the asset's useful life rather than the lease term.
ROU Asset Depreciation for Manufacturing
For manufacturing ROU assets, the depreciation method should reflect the pattern in which the economic benefits of the asset are consumed. While straight-line depreciation is most common, manufacturing entities with equipment subject to variable usage patterns should consider whether a units-of-production method better reflects consumption. Restoration obligations for factory premises — including obligations to dismantle leasehold improvements, remove specialised equipment, or remediate environmental contamination — must be estimated and included in the initial ROU asset cost (IFRS 16.24(d)).
Industry-Specific Considerations
Manufacturing lease portfolios frequently include service components bundled with equipment leases. IFRS 16.12 requires separation of lease and non-lease components — for example, a forklift lease that includes maintenance services. The lessee can elect, as a practical expedient per IFRS 16.15, not to separate non-lease components and instead account for the entire contract as a lease. This election is made by class of underlying asset. Component depreciation may apply where individual lease components have different useful lives — for instance, a factory building shell versus specialised HVAC systems installed by the lessee.
Worked Example: 7-Year CNC Machine Lease
A manufacturing entity leases a CNC milling machine for 7 years commencing 1 March 2025. Monthly lease payments are €12,000 payable in arrears. The lessee's IBR is 5.2%. Initial direct costs (legal and installation) are €8,500. The lessee has a restoration obligation estimated at €15,000 to remove the equipment and reinstate the factory floor at lease end.
Audit Considerations
Manufacturing entities with significant lease portfolios should consider ISA 540 (Revised) requirements for auditing the discount rate assumption and restoration obligation estimates. The IBR is an accounting estimate subject to estimation uncertainty. For group audits of multinational manufacturers, component auditors may need to determine entity-specific IBRs for each jurisdiction (ISA 600).