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Microlesson · 5-min read

AS 19 – Operating Lease: Output Basis (Special Case)

## Operating Lease – Output Basis (Special Case)

### When SLM Is Not Used

AS 19 allows departure from straight-line recognition when another systematic basis is more representative of how the benefit from the leased asset is consumed.

The most common alternative: Output Basis — allocate total lease cost in proportion to the units of output expected from the asset each year.

---

### Method

1. Calculate Total Lease Rent for the entire lease term (annual rent × years)

2. Determine the output ratio across years (units expected each year)

3. Allocate total rent in that ratio → this becomes the P&L charge each year

4. Difference between amount charged to P&L and actual cash paid goes to Lease Equalisation A/c

$$\text{Lease Rent for Year } n = \frac{\text{Units in Year } n}{\text{Total Units}} \times \text{Total Lease Rent}$$

---

### Journal Entries (Lessee)

Same structure as SLM entries — only the amount charged to P&L changes:

```

Lease Rent Expense (P&L) Dr (output-apportioned amount)

[Lease Equalisation A/c Dr if actual paid > P&L charge]

To Cash/Bank A/c (actual rent paid)

[To Lease Equalisation A/c if actual paid < P&L charge]

```

Worked example

### Example 1

Example – Machine on Operating Lease, Output Basis

A machine is taken on lease for 3 years. Annual agreed rent = ₹40,000 p.a.

Expected output:

YearUnits
110,000
220,000
330,000
Total60,000

Total Lease Rent = ₹40,000 × 3 = ₹1,20,000

Allocation by output ratio (10 : 20 : 30 = 1 : 2 : 3):

YearCalculationLease Rent Charged to P&L
11/6 × 1,20,000₹20,000
22/6 × 1,20,000₹40,000
33/6 × 1,20,000₹60,000

Journal Entries (Lessee):

Year 1 (P&L charge ₹20,000 < cash paid ₹40,000):

```

Lease Rent Expense (P&L) Dr 20,000

Lease Equalisation A/c Dr 20,000

To Cash/Bank A/c 40,000

```

Year 2 (P&L charge = cash paid = ₹40,000):

```

Lease Rent Expense (P&L) Dr 40,000

To Cash/Bank A/c 40,000

```

Year 3 (P&L charge ₹60,000 > cash paid ₹40,000):

```

Lease Rent Expense (P&L) Dr 60,000

To Cash/Bank A/c 40,000

To Lease Equalisation A/c 20,000

```

(Lease Equalisation A/c nets to nil: Dr 20,000 in Yr1 reversed in Yr3)

⚠️ Common exam mistakes

  • Using output basis when the output pattern is not materially different from SLM — AS 19 only permits it when it is 'more representative'; SLM is the default.
  • Dividing total rent by total units to get a 'per unit rate' and multiplying — this gives the same answer but makes it harder to verify the ratio logic; always work with ratios over total rent.
  • Forgetting to still pass a Lease Equalisation entry when cash paid ≠ output-apportioned charge — the equalization mechanism applies regardless of which basis (SLM or output) is chosen.
  • Applying output basis only to the lessee and not consistently across the arrangement — both lessor and lessee should apply the same recognition basis.
Bare-Act text Paragraph 25 – proviso (alternative systematic basis) · AS 19 – Leases (issued by ICAI) · click to expand
Lease payments under an operating lease should be recognised as an expense in the statement of profit and loss on a straight-line basis over the lease term unless another systematic basis is more representative of the time pattern of the user's benefit.
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