Tax Question:
What are Capital Leases on a Balance Sheet?
Facts:
The Capital Leases category appears as a long-term liability on a Balance Sheet. A Capital Lease is a contract that allows the lessee to use the asset for a specific period of time. The corresponding asset is listed as a Capital Asset on the Balance Sheet.
A Capital Lease is recorded as a long-term liability if the lease is considered a purchased asset for accounting purposes. Operating leases are considered rentals for accounting purposes and are recorded as an operating expense on the Income Statement. If any one of the following criteria is satisfied, then a lease can be considered capital:
The initial cost of the leased equipment is recorded as the present value of all lease payments during the term. The corresponding amount is set up as the liability which is often described as “Obligations under Capital Lease” on the Balance Sheet. The lease payments are then allocated against this amount similar to a loan payment where principal and interest are segregated.
For accounting purposes, we must record capital leased equipment as an asset and record amortization on the equipment. You also receive a deduction for the interest paid portion of the lease payments. For tax purposes, you receive a full deduction for the lease payments (including principal portion) made during the fiscal year but the asset is not amortized.
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Canadian and foreign tax laws are complex and have a tendency to change on a frequent basis. As such, the content published above is believed to be accurate as of the date of this post. Before implementing any tax planning, please seek professional advice from a qualified tax professional. Empire, Chartered Professional Accountants will not accept any liability for any tax ramifications that may result from acting based on the information contained above.
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