6.5.3 Distinguishing between an operating lease and a financial lease
It is important to distinguish between the two types of leases because their economic substance is quite different. To frame a lease document as a hire agreement when it is really the purchase of an asset on credit means that both an asset and a liability will be concealed by being left off the lessee's statement of financial position. This 'off balance sheet' finance will distort accounting ratios, especially the gearing ratio. Accounting Standard AASB 1008 was developed to prevent managers from doing this.
Accounting Standard AASB 1008 includes the chart (shown on the next page) that helps determine whether a lease is to be classified as an operating or a financial lease. You will notice that if most of the risks and benefits associated with the ownership of the leased asset are effectively transferred to the lessee, the lease is classified as a financial lease.