Financial Year Settings

Financial Year Settings

Financial year settings determine the 12-month period used for financial reporting, tax calculations, and maintaining proper accounting records. Configuring your financial year correctly is crucial for accurate financial reporting and tax compliance.

What are Financial Year Settings?

Financial year settings include:

• Financial Year Start Month: The month when your financial year begins
• Business Start Date: The date when your business started operations
• Current Financial Year: The active financial year period
• Financial Year Period: The 12-month period for reporting
• Year-End Closing: Processes for closing financial year

Accessing Financial Year Settings

To configure your financial year:

1. Navigate to Settings → Organization Settings → Business Settings
2. Look for the "Financial Year" or "Fiscal Year" section
3. You'll find options to set the financial year start month and other related settings

Understanding Financial Year

A financial year (also called fiscal year) is a 12-month period used for financial reporting and tax purposes. It may or may not align with the calendar year (January to December).

Common Financial Year Periods

• April to March: Common in India and some other countries (FY 2024-25)
• January to December: Calendar year (used in many countries)
• July to June: Used in some countries like Australia (FY 2024-25)
• October to September: Used in some regions
• Custom Period: Some businesses use custom 12-month periods

Required Settings

You'll need to configure:

• Financial Year Start Month: The month when your financial year begins
• Business Start Date: The date when your business started operations
• Current Financial Year: The active financial year period (usually auto-calculated)
• Financial Year End Month: Automatically calculated based on start month

Step-by-Step Configuration

Step 1: Determine Your Financial Year

Before configuring, determine:

• What month does your financial year start? (Check your business registration or tax requirements)
• What is your current financial year period?
• Does it align with your country's tax requirements?
• What does your business registration specify?

Step 2: Set Financial Year Start Month

In Business Settings:

1. Locate the "Financial Year Start Month" dropdown
2. Select the month when your financial year begins
3. Common options:
   • January (Calendar Year)
   • April (India standard)
   • July (Some countries)
   • October (Some regions)

Step 3: Set Business Start Date

Enter the date when your business officially started:

• This determines your first financial year
• Important for historical reporting
• Should match your business registration date
• Used for calculating business age and first financial year

Step 4: Verify Current Financial Year

After setting the start month, EquiBillBook will automatically calculate:

• Current financial year period (e.g., "2024-2025" if starting in April)
• Financial year end date
• Previous and next financial year periods
• Financial year boundaries for reporting

Step 5: Save Your Settings

Click "Update" or "Save" to save your financial year configuration.

How Financial Year Affects Your Business

Your financial year setting impacts:

Financial Reports

• Profit & Loss Statement: Generated for the selected financial year
• Balance Sheet: Shows financial position at financial year end
• Trial Balance: Categorized by financial year
• Tax Reports: Aligned with tax filing periods
• Comparative Reports: Year-over-year comparisons

Transaction Categorization

• All transactions are categorized by financial year
• Reports filter by financial year automatically
• Year-end closing processes use this setting
• Historical data is organized by financial year

Tax Compliance

• Tax returns filed based on financial year
• GST returns aligned with financial year periods
• Annual tax calculations use financial year
• Tax audits based on financial year

Financial Year Examples

Example 1: April to March (India Standard)

• Start Month: April
• Financial Year: April 1, 2024 to March 31, 2025
• Referred to as: FY 2024-25
• Tax Returns: Filed by July/August
• Common in: India, UK (for some businesses)

Example 2: January to December (Calendar Year)

• Start Month: January
• Financial Year: January 1, 2024 to December 31, 2024
• Referred to as: FY 2024
• Tax Returns: Filed by April (next year)
• Common in: USA, many European countries

Example 3: July to June

• Start Month: July
• Financial Year: July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2025
• Referred to as: FY 2024-25
• Tax Returns: Filed by October/November
• Common in: Australia, New Zealand

Changing Financial Year

Important Considerations:

• Cannot Change Easily: Financial year should be set correctly from the start
• Historical Data: Changing financial year may affect historical reports
• Tax Implications: Consult with your accountant before changing
• Data Migration: May require data migration if changed after transactions are recorded
• Legal Compliance: Must comply with business registration requirements

If you need to change:

1. Consult with your accountant or tax advisor
2. Backup your data before making changes
3. Contact EquiBillBook support for assistance
4. Ensure compliance with local tax regulations
5. Verify business registration allows the change

Year-End Processes

At the end of each financial year, you may need to:

• Generate Final Reports: Profit & Loss, Balance Sheet, Trial Balance
• Close Books: Finalize all transactions for the year
• Tax Filing: Prepare and file tax returns
• Audit Preparation: Prepare documents for audit if required
• Opening Balances: Set opening balances for the new financial year
• Reconciliation: Reconcile all accounts
• Inventory Valuation: Value closing stock

Best Practices

• Set Correctly from Start: Configure financial year before entering transactions
• Match Tax Requirements: Ensure it aligns with your country's tax regulations
• Document Your Choice: Keep a record of why you chose a particular financial year
• Regular Review: Review financial year settings during annual planning
• Consult Professionals: Seek advice from accountants for complex situations
• Consistency: Maintain the same financial year period unless legally required to change
• Compliance: Ensure compliance with business registration requirements

Troubleshooting

Financial year dropdown not showing correct options?

• Refresh the page and try again
• Check that you have the latest version of EquiBillBook
• Clear browser cache if issues persist
• Contact support if options are missing

Reports showing wrong financial year?

• Verify financial year start month is set correctly
• Check the date range when generating reports
• Ensure transactions are dated correctly
• Review report filters and date selections
• Check if you're filtering by the correct financial year

Cannot change financial year after setup?

• This is by design to maintain data integrity
• Contact support if you need to change it
• Ensure you have a valid business reason
• Backup data before requesting changes
• Provide documentation for the change request

Financial year calculations incorrect?

• Verify business start date is correct
• Check financial year start month setting
• Review how financial year periods are calculated
• Ensure dates are in correct format

Legal and Compliance

• Tax Compliance: Financial year must align with tax filing requirements
• Business Registration: Should match your registered financial year
• Accounting Standards: Must comply with local accounting standards
• Audit Requirements: Financial year affects audit periods
• Regulatory Compliance: Some industries have specific financial year requirements
• Government Regulations: Must comply with government-mandated financial year periods

Financial Year vs Calendar Year

Understanding the difference:

• Calendar Year: January 1 to December 31 (12 months)
• Financial Year: Any 12-month period (e.g., April to March)
• Business Choice: Your business may choose based on:
  • Tax requirements
  • Business registration
  • Industry standards
  • Operational convenience

Additional Resources

For related information, see:

• Financial Reports article
• Tax Settings article
• Year-End Closing article
• Opening Balances article
• Business Start Date article

Important Notes

• Financial year configuration is a critical setting that affects all financial reporting
• Set it correctly from the beginning to avoid complications later
• If unsure, consult with your accountant or tax advisor
• Changing financial year after transactions are recorded can be complex
• Always backup data before making significant configuration changes
• Ensure compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements

Proper financial year configuration ensures accurate financial reporting and tax compliance. Take time to set it up correctly based on your business and legal requirements!