Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2024

Summary Of Significant Accounting Policies [Abstract]

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

2.Summary of Significant Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (“GAAP”) for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all adjustments (consisting of normal recurring accruals) and certain reclassifications considered necessary for a fair presentation have been included. Operating results for the quarter ended March 31, 2024 are not necessarily indicative of the results that may be expected for the year ending December 31, 2024.

In preparation of the Company’s financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States, management makes estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements as well as the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting period. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

The balance sheets at December 31, 2023 have been derived from the audited financial statements at that date but do not include all of the information and footnotes required by accounting principles generally accepted in the United States for complete financial statements.

For further information, including definitions of capitalized terms not defined herein, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes thereto included in the Company’s and the Operating Partnership’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2023.

Income and Other Taxes

EQR has elected to be taxed as a REIT. This, along with the nature of the operations of its operating properties, resulted in no provision for federal income taxes at the EQR level. In addition, ERPOP generally is not liable for federal income taxes as the partners recognize their allocable share of income or loss in their tax returns; therefore no provision for federal income taxes has been made at the ERPOP level. Historically, the Company has generally only incurred certain state and local income, excise and franchise taxes. The Company has elected taxable REIT subsidiary (“TRS”) status for certain of its corporate subsidiaries and, as a result, these entities will incur both federal and state income taxes on any taxable income of such entities after consideration of any net operating losses.

Recent Accounting Pronouncements

In March 2024, the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC") adopted final rules that will require certain climate-related information in registration statements and annual reports. In April 2024, the SEC voluntarily stayed the new rules as a result of pending legal challenges. The new rules include a requirement to disclose material climate-related risks, descriptions of board and management oversight and risk management activities, the material impacts of these risks on a registrant’s strategy, business model and outlook, and any material climate-related targets or goals, as well as material effects and costs of severe weather events and other natural conditions and greenhouse gas emissions. Prior to the stay of the new rules, they would have been effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2025, except for the greenhouse gas emissions disclosures, which would have been effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2026. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of the new rules on its disclosures.

In December 2023, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued an amendment to the income tax standards which requires disclosure enhancements and further transparency to certain income tax disclosures, most notably the tax rate reconciliation and income taxes paid. The new standard will be effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2025 and will be applied on a prospective basis with the option to apply the standard retrospectively. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In November 2023, the FASB issued an amendment to the segment reporting standards which requires disclosure for each reportable segment, on an interim and annual basis, the significant expense categories and amounts that are regularly provided to the chief operating decision maker and included in each reported measure of a segment’s profit or loss. Additionally, it requires disclosure of the title and position of the individual or the name of the group or committee identified as the chief operating decision maker. The new standard will be effective for annual periods beginning January 1, 2024 and interim periods beginning January 1, 2025 on a retrospective basis. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of adopting the standard on its consolidated results of operations and financial position.

In March 2020, the FASB issued an amendment to the reference rate reform standard which provides the option for a limited period of time to ease the potential burden in accounting for, or recognizing the effects of, reference rate reform on contract modifications and hedge accounting. The new standard was effective for the Company upon issuance and elections could be made through December 31, 2024. The Company elected to apply the hedge accounting expedients and application of these expedients preserves the presentation of derivatives consistent with past presentation. The Company continues to evaluate the impact of the guidance and may apply other elections as applicable as additional changes in the market occur.