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There’s a whole economic rationale behind leasing of real estate assets by most the companies. One of the foremost is the tax benefits accruing to those who take assets on lease. The companies, the financial institution and different individuals derive different forms of tax benefits out of this arrangement.

Although the marginally profitable organization might not be in a good position to squeeze out the tax benefits out of leasing real estate property, the highly profitable organizations and individuals are in a perfect position of take the maximum out of accelerated depreciation clause.

A large organization is in a position to secure a greater tax benefit by leasing an asset from an individual or an organization as against buying the property upfront. Also because of stiff competition, a part of the tax benefit might be passed out to the lessee in the form of lower lease payments than what would otherwise be the case.

Another disparity in the tax structure is the treatment of alternative minimum tax. For an organization under the AMT, the accelerated depreciation is a preferred tax item whereas the lease payment is not. Such organization would prefer to lease a real estate asset from a third party that is paying tax at a higher effective rate.

The greater is the divergence in the abilities of the interested parties to secure the tax benefits associated with leasing of real estate asset, the greater would be the attraction of lease financing of real estate.