Accounting for tenant improvement allowance 842 refers to the accounting treatment and reporting requirements prescribed by the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FAST) under the new lease accounting standard, ASC 842. This standard addresses how lessees (tenants) should account for the tenant improvement allowance received from lessors (landlords) during lease agreements. Under ASC 842, tenant improvement allowances are funds provided by the lessor to the lessee for making improvements or alterations to leased properties. These allowances are often granted to enhance the functionality, aesthetics, or meet specific requirements of tenants within leased spaces. Proper accounting and reporting of these allowances are crucial for lessees to comply with the new lease accounting guidelines. The accounting treatment for tenant improvement allowances under ASC 842 depends on whether the allowance is classified as a lease incentive or a reimbursable leasehold improvement. Let's explore these types in more detail: 1. Lease incentive tenant improvement allowance: — In this case, the tenant improvement allowance is considered a lease incentive provided by the lessor to induce the lessee to enter into a lease agreement. These allowances are typically provided upfront and reduce the lessee's total lease payments. — To account for lease incentive tenant improvement allowances, lessees should recognize them as reduced lease payments, resulting in lower lease liabilities. — Lessees will need to allocate the lease incentive amount over the lease term systematically and consistently, either as a reduction of lease payments on a straight-line basis or by using another systematic method that reflects the pattern of lessee's benefit. 2. Reimbursable leasehold improvement tenant improvement allowance: — Here, the tenant improvement allowance represents the landlord's reimbursement to the tenant for qualifying costs incurred by the lessee in making leasehold improvements. — Lessees should initially record these allowances as deferred inflow of resources or as a deferred credit, recognizing them as a separate liability from the lease liability. — As the lessee incurs qualified leasehold improvement costs, they can recognize the reimbursement in their income statement and credit the allowance account. In both cases, lessees are required to disclose relevant information regarding the tenant improvement allowances in their financial statements. This includes the nature and amount of the allowances, the periods in which they are expected to be utilized, and the accounting policies for recognizing and measuring these allowances. In conclusion, Accounting for tenant improvement allowance 842 involves accurately recording and reporting lease incentive and reimbursable leasehold improvement allowances as prescribed by the ASC 842 guidelines. By adhering to these standards, lessees can ensure compliance and transparent presentation of their financial statements.