IASB proposes extending relief for COVID-19-related rent concessions
By Anne Adrain, Head of Sustainability and Reporting
16 February 2021
The IASB is consulting on proposals to extend support for lessees accounting for COVID-19-related rent concessions.
The International Accounting Standards Board (Board) has published for consultation a proposal to extend by one year the application period of the amendment to. IFRS 16 Leases, issued in 2020 to help lessees accounting for COVID-19-related rent concessions.
The original amendment was issued in May 2020 to make it easier for lessees to account for COVID-19-related rent concessions, such as rent holidays and temporary rent reductions, while continuing to provide useful information about their leases to investors.
The practical relief currently applies to rent concessions that reduce only lease payments due on or before 30 June 2021.
In response to calls from stakeholders, and because the COVID-19 pandemic is still at its height, the Board proposes to extend the relief to cover rent concessions that reduce only lease payments due on or before 30 June 2022.
The Trustees of the IFRS Foundation have approved a shorter-than-normal comment period of 14 days for this consultation due to the urgent nature of the proposal.
The deadline for submitting comments on the Exposure Draft is 25 February 2021.
