Def - Fiscal Year

A Fiscal Year is a one-year period that companies use for financial reporting and budgeting. A Fiscal Year is most commonly used for accounting purposes to prepare financial statements. Fiscal Years often start on January 1st and end on December 31st. However, not all Fiscal Years correspond with the calendar year. For example, a company may run their Fiscal Year from May 1st - April 30th. Once a Fiscal Year has been determined, it is unlikely to ever change outside of a company sale and/or merger.