When does a fiscal year start?

Most other countries begin their year at a different calendar quarter—e.g., April 1 through March 31, July 1 through June 30, or October 1 through September 30. In the United States, the government’s fiscal year begins on October 1, meaning that Q1 in the government’s fiscal year is October 1 to December 31, Q2 is January 1 to March 31, and so on.

What is a fiscal year in accounting?

In general, a “fiscal year” refers to a 12-month period used for accounting purposes. A fiscal year is identified by the year in which the fiscal year ends. For example, the fiscal year starting July 1, 2020 and ending June 30, 2021 is referred to as “FY21.” Sometimes a fiscal year is referred to with both years – FY20/21.

When does a fiscal year end?

In the United States, the federal government's fiscal year is the 12-month period beginning 1 October and ending 30 September the following year. 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.