NetLessor - Accounting Decisions & Account Usage

Prior to the installation and configuration of NetSuite, there are several key accounting and configuration decisions management should make with the assistance of the technical accounting team, including the following:

  • Leasing Landscape and Key Accounting Decisions
    • Applicable Standards (ASC 842, IFRS 16, or GASB 87)
    • New Lease Standard Transition Date
    • Transition Method
    • Practical Expedients to Adopt
    • What lease types to use to segregate your lease portfolio
  • Chart of Accounts Decisions
    • Note that NetLessor will be set up to map each separate transaction type to an account in your chart of accounts
    • The listing below should be reviewed to identify which accounts will be needed under the new standard
DEDICATED NETLESSOR SYSTEM ACCOUNTS RECOMMENDED
Netgain strongly recommends that the key lease accounts listed below are set up as single-purpose accounts (i.e., for NetLessor system-generate lease transactions only). This allows for complete segregation of activities between lease and non-lease accounting transactions to improve reporting and reconciliations between NetLessor (as the subledger) and the general ledger.

NETLESSOR STANDARD ACCOUNT USAGE

NetLessor setup utilizes the following accounts:

All Lease Types
AccountAccount TypeDescriptionExample Account #

Lease Receivable Clearing Account

Other Current Asset

Asset Clearing account where all expected billings per the lease schedules are recorded against. The offsetting entries are recorded via a Native NetSuite invoicing

1500

Inventory/Fixed Asset Clearing Account

Other Current Asset

Clearing Account where inventories assets are removed to place into fixed assets (operating) or Net Investment in Lease at lease commencement 

1290

Lease Capitalized Costs or Prepay Clearing Account

Other Current Asset/ Other Expense

Clearing Account to flow through initial capitalized Costs and Prepayments, which are cleared through lease initial balance entries 

1580

Gain/Loss on Lease Modifications Account

Other Expense

P&L account to capture gains or losses arising from lease modifications and early terminations

8200

Transition/Go-Live Entry Clearing AccountOther Current Asset/ Other ExpenseClearing Account for the offset when mid-lease beginning balances are established at go-live of the NetLease for Lessors solution (as prior month ending balance)1295
Operating Lease
AccountAccount TypeDescriptionExample Account #

Lease Revenue Account

Revenue

Revenue account to record straight-line revenue from operating leases 

4100

Deferred Rent Receivable/ Deposit Liability Account

Other Current Assets


Account to capture any differences between lease rental revenue/income on a straight line basis and expected payments/billings

1560

Capitalized Initial Direct Cost B/S Account

Other Asset

Asset account to capture the capitalized Initial Direct Costs to be amortized throughout the lease term

1570

Amortization of Initial Direct Costs Expense Account

Expense 

Expense account to recognize the straight-line expense amortization for initial direct costs that were capitalized and deferred throughout the lease term

6090

Sales Type & Direct Financing Lease

Account

Account Type

Description

Example Account #

Net Investment in Lease - PMTS & GUAR Residual Account

Other Asset 

Primary Other Asset Account where Sales-Type and Direct Financing Leases are recorded. Note this is the primary account where activity is recorded throughout the lease lifecycle

1850

Net Investment in Lease - Unguaranteed Residual Account

Other Asset

This is a custom field created for your account. 

Interest Income Account 

Revenue 

Revenue account to record interest income from Sales-Type and Direct Financing Leases

4110

Lease Selling Profit Account

Revenue

Revenue account to capture initial difference between fair market value and carrying cost on a sales-type lease

4120

Lease Cost of Good Sold Account (Gross-up Only)

Expense

This is a custom field created for your account. Contact your administrator for details.


 Chart of Account Updates:

  • To updates to your NetSuite chart of accounts, navigate to Setup > Accounting > Chart of Accounts

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