CORE FINANCE PRODUCTS*
CHATTEL MORTGAGE: A Chattel Mortgage is an agreement where the financier to take a legal charge over goods (Chattels) owned by a borrower to secure repayment of an advance made to the borrower against a particular asset. Title to the goods remains with the Borrower.
A Chattel Mortgage suits businesses that use the cash method of accounting (they record business income and expenses as and when they occur) as it allows them to claim the Input Tax Credit (ITC) relating to the GST expense in the next BAS.
FINANCE LEASE: Leasing is a popular form of equipment finance that enables businesses to access equipment and vehicles.
Leasing commonly applies to goods such as vehicles, office equipment and machinery. Under a lease agreement, the financier grants the lease (the “lessor”) and is the owner of the goods until a final payment, called a Residual Value, is paid. The entity that acquires the goods under the lease (the “lessee”) may use them for a specified period, in return for a series of payments. At the end of the lease, the lessee can either pay the residual value (final instalment) on the lease and take ownership of the goods or re-finance the residual and continue the lease.
The lease can be for any period of time, typically from two up to 5 years, although with some assets like buses and aircraft, this can be much longer. A lease liability must be reported on the lessee’s balance sheet.
OPERATING LEASE & RENTAL: The financier purchases the equipment and rents it to you for agreed payments over a fixed term. While similar to a Finance Lease, an Operating Lease has greater flexibility both during and at the end of the term, with upgrades, variations and even a path to ownership all available. It can obviate the need for government and semi-government entities (and some companies with audit and balance sheet reporting obligations) to report the transaction as a “loan”, as can a finance lease.
COMMERCIAL HIRE PURCHASE: A Hire Purchase contract is where goods are purchased via a series of payments over a fixed period. As the hirer, you have use of the goods while paying for them, but do not have clear title until the final instalment has been paid. It is widely agreed that you can claim the GST upfront if you keep accounts on an accrual basis.
*While these descriptions are given in good faith, you should obtain independent professional advice re the accounting and tax implications of each finance alternative.