The new Lease Accounting Regulations (ASC 842) require organizations that lease assets, or “Lessees” to recognize the assets and liabilities of those leases on their balance sheets. Most leases, including most operating leases, are now capitalized on the balance sheet.

The imputed interest rate is an unstated interest rate and it can cover many different scenarios. To calculate an imputed interest rate, you need to input the actual cash flows and then you can solve for the interest rate.

The present value and the net present value are essentially the same calculation. As the example below shows, the difference has to do with whether there is a starting balance or not.

If you are considering a settlement offer or if you want to pay off a settlement, you want to find out how much it is worth today. To do this, you need to calculate the present value, because the lump sum of your settlement’s value is going to be worth less in the future than it is today. When you have a claim to see how much money you would accept or pay today, a simple present value calculation is the answer.

Occasionally a customer asks whether making half monthly payments instead of monthly payments will pay off their mortgage quicker.  The answer is no.   Let’s assume a 30-year loan. You will only save part of one month’s interest over the 30 years so it is probably not worth it and this is assuming that your bank will process your partial half month payments timely.