In brief

• New EU rules on lease accounting will take effect in 2028.
• Leased vehicles will have to be recognised on companies' balance sheets.
• Stanislav Kouba from the Ministry of Finance says current rules allow companies to misrepresent their assets.
• The changes will affect transport companies and decisions on fleet financing.

Changes to leasing rules

Currently, in the case of finance leasing, companies do not record acquired vehicles on their balance sheets, which means they are not treated as assets (Auto na leasing už se v účetnictví neztratí. Brusel mění pravidla – Seznam Zprávy). The new regulations are intended to make it easier for businesses to present their holdings accurately in financial documentation.

What does it mean for companies?

Under the new rules, leased vehicles will have to be recorded on companies' balance sheets, which will affect their financial position. Stanislav Kouba, Director of the Tax and Customs Section at the Ministry of Finance, stressed that current rules allow companies to misrepresent their assets, which is not beneficial for the market or for the businesses themselves. Introducing the new rules is intended to increase transparency and reliability in financial reporting.

Who is affected by the changes?

The new rules will affect all companies that use finance leasing, including transport companies, which often opt for vehicle leasing. The changes may also influence decisions on vehicle fleet financing, as businesses will need to take the new rules into account in their financial strategies.

What's next?

Companies should begin preparing for the upcoming changes so they can adapt their accounting systems to the new requirements. It is also worth seeking advice from accounting specialists to understand how best to implement the new rules in practice. The new regulations aim not only to simplify the accounting process but also to increase companies' accountability in managing their assets.