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Use this type when you decide to stop using the underlying asset before the end of the lease term while remaining obligated to make the lease payments, for example vacating an office you no longer intend to occupy or sublease. An abandonment is not a lease modification because the contract is unchanged. Under ASC 360-10-35-47 and 35-48, a long-lived asset to be abandoned continues to be classified as held and used until it ceases to be used, and the amortization period is shortened to end on the cease-use date. The lease liability is not remeasured. Enter the Decision date, when you committed to the plan to abandon the space, and the Abandonment date, the last day the asset will be used. The abandonment date must be on or after the decision date and no later than the lease end date. How Spacebase records the abandonment. The new snapshot starts on the decision date. Spacebase keeps the lease liability, payments, and discount rate unchanged and rewrites the ROU asset schedule:
  • From the decision date through the month containing the abandonment date, Spacebase recognizes a level lease cost that amortizes the ROU asset to zero by the abandonment date. The abandonment month counts as a full period.
  • After the abandonment date, lease cost equals the accretion of the lease liability only, because the ROU asset is fully amortized.
There is no one-time charge on the decision date. The accelerated amortization is recognized through the monthly entries. Unamortized incentives and initial direct costs are folded into accrued rent at the decision date. Before choosing this type, consider whether the asset group is impaired under ASC 360-10 as of the decision date. Spacebase does not offer Abandon lease on a lease that already has an impairment snapshot. If the landlord releases you from the remaining obligation, record a Terminate accounting lease instead. If you sublease the space, the ROU asset stays in use and an abandonment is not appropriate.