Charities SORP

Preparing for the new SORP 2026 – steps you can take now

Lease accounting

FRS 102 previously allowed charities to account for leases as an expense. The new FRS 102 will require charities to account for most operating leases on the balance sheet. As a result, charities that lease assets, will see an increase in assets and liabilities on the balance sheet. There will also be changes to how a charity presents expenses relating to the lease in the statement of financial activities.

The SORP-making body acknowledge that this will be a challenging area for charities to understand and to make the necessary changes. The SORP-making body has published a helpsheet to assist charities with understanding and meeting the new requirements. The Financial Reporting Council published fact sheet 11 Lease accounting for lesses FRS Factsheets and Explainers. Charities must now consider how the changes impact them and apply the changes as necessary to all leases.

In readiness for the changes introduced by FRS 102 charities should:

• Refer to FRS 102 and resources provided by the FRC- FRS Factsheets and Explainers
• Review current lease arrangement
• Establish whether current leases would qualify for any simplification i.e. short term of low value lease (see section 20 FRS 102)
• Identify what leases will need to be accounted for on balance sheet (see section 20 FRS 102)
• Identify and understand the approach that will need to be taken to identity the value for the leases and relevant transactions
• Consider what record keeping would be helpful to implement now to assist with future preparation of financial statements
• Consider whether the change in asset position on the balance sheet will impact any current borrowing or financial arrangements/covenants or planned future financial arrangements/covenants
• Consider whether any potential changes in balance sheet asset value will result in the charity needing to have an audit
• Seek professional advice if needed and consider speaking with auditors or independent examiners

Revenue recognition

The new FRS 102 Section 23 will introduce a five-step revenue recognition model for income from exchange contracts. This will mean that charities will need to recognise income from exchange contracts differently under the new FRS 102. Charities will need to carefully assess their revenue recognition accounting policies to ensure they are compliant with the new requirements.

In readiness for the changes introduced by FRS 102 charities should:

• Refer to FRS 102 and resources provided by the FRC - FRS Factsheets and Explainers
• Review current contracts and income streams
• Identify both the amount and timing of income using the new 5 step mode
• Consider what record keeping would be helpful to implement now to assist with future preparation of financial statements
• Consider whether the change will impact any current borrowing or financial arrangements/covenants or planned future financial arrangements/covenants
• Seek professional advice if needed and consider speaking with auditors or independent examiners