Fiscal Year

Fiscal years, which are one-year periods, are used by businesses and governments for financial reporting and budgeting. A fiscal year is the most common accounting period used to generate financial statements. Despite the fact that they can begin on January 1 and end on December 31, not all fiscal years coincide with the calendar year. Universities, for example, usually begin and end their fiscal years in accordance with the academic year.

Understanding Fiscal Year (Fy)

A fiscal year is a span of time that lasts for a full calendar year but does not always begin on January 1. Governments, firms, and organizations can start and end their fiscal years differently, depending on their accounting and external audit standards.

Understanding a company's fiscal year is vital to firms and their investors since it helps them to precisely analyze sales and earnings year-over-year. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) permits businesses to file taxes for either the calendar year or the fiscal year.

Example Of A Fiscal Year

The fiscal year of the U.S. federal government is from October 1 to September 30. Several charitable organizations have a fiscal year that spans from July 1 to June 30. Due to the unique characteristics of the business, fiscal years that differ from a calendar year are frequently used. For instance, charitable organizations usually time the start of their fiscal year with the start of grant awards.

Fiscal years are identified by either their end year or end date. For instance, you might use "FY 2020" or "fiscal year ending June 30, 2020" to refer to a charitable organization's fiscal year. The same would apply if you were to refer to government spending that took place on November 15, 2019, and you would categorize it as an expenditure for the fiscal year 2020.

Importance Of Using Fiscal Year

Using a fiscal year may be advantageous for businesses that run on a seasonal basis. This is due to the possibility that it may present a more accurate depiction of the business's activities, enabling revenues and costs to better align. For instance, it is typical for retail businesses to complete their fiscal year on January 31 following the conclusion of the holiday shopping season. Two prime examples of businesses that make use of this fiscal year are Walmart and Target.

IRS Requirements For Fiscal Years

Fiscal-year taxpayers must make some adjustments to the deadlines for submitting specific forms and making payments because the IRS's standard system is calendar-based. Fiscal-year taxpayers must file by the 15th day of the fourth month after the end of their fiscal year, as opposed to the majority of taxpayers who must do so by April 15 of the year for which they are filing.

For instance, a company with a fiscal year that runs from June 1 to May 31 must file its tax return by September 15th.

In the United States, qualifying firms can adopt a fiscal year for tax reporting purposes merely by completing their first income tax return within that fiscal tax year. These companies have the option to switch to the calendar year at any time. Companies who want to go from a calendar year to a fiscal year, however, must obtain special IRS approval or satisfy one of the requirements listed on Form 1128, Application to Adopt, Modify, or Maintain a Tax Year.

Conclusion

A fiscal year is a twelve-month term used by a firm to report its financial statistics.

The fiscal year of an organization serves as the basis for financial reports, external audits, and federal tax filings.

Depending on the specifics of their industry and revenue cycle, businesses may decide to publish their financial data using a non-calendar fiscal year.

  • Twitter
  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Instagram

Recommended Reading

The Rise of Subscription-Based Bookkeeping Services: Is It Right for Your Business?

Subscription-based bookkeeping services are transforming the way businesses manage their finances, offering predictable pricing, scalability, and automation-driven efficiency. Instead of paying hourly or hiring in-house staff, businesses can now access professional bookkeeping on a fixed monthly or annual subscription model. These services provide essential financial functions like transaction reconciliation, financial reporting, payroll processing, and tax compliance, often integrating with cloud-based accounting software for real-time insights. While this model is ideal for small to mid-sized businesses looking for cost-effective and flexible solutions, it may not suit companies with complex financial needs requiring personalized attention. Businesses considering a switch should evaluate service offerings, scalability, integration with accounting tools, and access to financial expertise to determine if subscription-based bookkeeping is the right fit for their long-term financial strategy.

Read more

Beyond Basic Bookkeeping: How CFO-Level Insights from Bookkeepers Improve Decision-Making

Modern bookkeeping services go beyond basic record-keeping, offering CFO-level insights that help businesses improve cash flow, optimize expenses, and make data-driven financial decisions. Strategic bookkeepers provide real-time financial intelligence, track key performance indicators (KPIs), and ensure businesses remain audit-ready and investor-friendly. By leveraging advanced bookkeeping services, businesses can enhance profitability, improve budgeting, and navigate tax compliance with greater confidence—all without hiring a full-time CFO.

Read more

Real-Time Bookkeeping: The Key to Smarter, Faster, and More Profitable Financial Management

Real-time bookkeeping revolutionizes financial management by providing businesses with instant access to up-to-date financial data, improving cash flow tracking, expense management, and profitability analysis. Unlike traditional bookkeeping, which relies on periodic updates, real-time bookkeeping ensures continuous transaction recording, automated reconciliation, and real-time financial reporting. This allows business owners to make faster, data-driven decisions, reduce errors, enhance tax compliance, and stay audit-ready. By leveraging cloud-based accounting tools and AI-driven automation, businesses can optimize financial strategy, scalability, and overall efficiency, making real-time bookkeeping an essential tool for growth and long-term success.

Read more