


The term “control” carries a distinct meaning in this definition. What is a lease under ASC 842?ĪSC 842 defines leases as contracts, or portions of contracts, granting “control” of an identifiable asset for a specific period of time in exchange for payment. This new standard was established to enhance transparency into liabilities resulting from leasing arrangements and reduce off-balance sheet activities. Among other changes, it requires all public and private entities reporting under US GAAP to record the vast majority of their leases to the balance sheet. ASC 842, otherwise known as Topic 842, is the new lease accounting standard issued by the FASB and governs how entities record the financial impact of their lease agreements.
