What is the Fiscal Year? | Definition (2024)

Fiscal year (definition)

A fiscal year is a 12-month accounting period that a business uses for financial and tax reporting purposes. A fiscal year is also known as a financial year.

A fiscal year can be different to a calendar year – it doesn’t need to start on January 1 and end on December 31. The dates of a fiscal year are determined by:

  • a business’s activities – a retail business may have its busiest period during the holiday season which clashes with calendar year-end reporting, so it chooses other dates

  • revenue cycle – a seasonal business like tourism or agriculture may choose a fiscal year that aligns better with its revenue and expenses

  • tax reporting requirements – the government specifies these dates

Fiscal years are named using the year when the period ends. For instance, a fiscal year that runs from April 1, 2023 to March 31, 2024 is called FY24. The tax year is an example of a fiscal year.

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Disclaimer

This glossary is for small business owners. The definitions are written with their requirements in mind. More detailed definitions can be found in accounting textbooks or from an accounting professional. Xero does not provide accounting, tax, business or legal advice.

What is the Fiscal Year?  |  Definition (2024)

FAQs

What is the Fiscal Year? | Definition? ›

The fiscal year definition is a 12-month financial reporting period determined by a business. Some businesses determine their fiscal year based on the needs of their business; others may follow the industry standard fiscal year dates. The fiscal year-end meaning refers to the end of the 12-month reporting period.

How do you define a fiscal year? ›

A fiscal year is a one-year period that companies and governments use for financial planning and budgeting. Fiscal years are most commonly used by entities that depend on a cycle that doesn't correspond to the calendar year. For example, the U.S. government's fiscal year starts on Oct. 1 and ends on Sep. 30.

What is a fiscal year quizlet? ›

A fiscal year is a 12-month period over which businesses and organizations budget their spending and report their financial status.

What is fiscal year dictionary? ›

: a 12-month period used by a government, business, or organization to calculate how much money is being earned, spent, etc. Sales were up in the last fiscal year.

What is the current fiscal year? ›

Federal government

The identification of a fiscal year is the calendar year in which it ends; the current fiscal year is often written as "FY24" or "FY2023-24", which began on 1 October and will end on 30 September.

What is an example of a fiscal year? ›

Because the fiscal year straddles two different calendar years, the calendar year and fiscal year will not always match. For example, Fiscal Year 2024 runs from July 1, 2023 – June 30, 2024.

What is another word for fiscal year? ›

What is another word for fiscal year?
FYtwelve-month period
financial yearcalendar year
tax yearaccounting reference period
accounting yearannual accounting period
budget yearyear
9 more rows

Is it fiscal year or fiscal year? ›

A fiscal year is the 12-month period a government organization, nonprofit or business uses to track its annual finances. It begins at the start of a quarter, so typical fiscal year start dates are January 1, April 1, July 1 or October 1. The fiscal year-end date is at the end of a quarter.

Should I use a fiscal year? ›

Fiscal years allow you to reduce your tax burden by spreading income and expenses over the same sales cycle. If you experience high and low sale months, a fiscal year helps you see a more accurate picture of progress.

Who does the government borrow money from? ›

The federal government borrows money from the public by issuing securities—bills, notes, and bonds—through the Treasury. Treasury securities are attractive to investors because they are: Backed by the full faith and credit of the United States government. Offered in a wide range of maturities.

Where does US tax money go? ›

The federal government funds a variety of programs and services that support the American public. The government also spends money on interest it has incurred on outstanding federal debt, including Treasury notes and bonds.

Where does my tax money go? ›

California's state budget supports an array of programs and services that touch the lives of all Californians – from schools and colleges to health care and public safety to highways and environmental protection.

What is the difference between a fiscal year and a taxable year? ›

There are two kinds of tax years: Calendar Tax Year: This is a period of 12 consecutive months beginning January 1 and ending December 31; or. Fiscal Tax Year: This is a period of 12 consecutive months ending on the last day of any month except December.

What is the difference between a year and a fiscal period? ›

Fiscal Period -- Each month in a fiscal year is called a fiscal period. Because July is the first month of the fiscal year, July is fiscal period 01, August is period 02 and so on, ending in June with period 12. Following period 12, there are two additional periods included in a fiscal year.

What does Q1 2024 mean? ›

Q1 is acronym that stands for the first quarter of the fiscal calendar or calendar year. For example, if the company has a calendar year that ends December 31st, then Q1 would be the financial results for January 1st to March 31st.

What does Q3 2024 mean? ›

31, 2023. Second quarter (Q2): Jan. 1, 2024, through March 31, 2024. Third quarter (Q3): April 1, 2024, through June 30, 2024. Fourth quarter (Q4): July 1, 2024, through Sept.

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