Fiscal Year
Definition
The twelve-month period a business uses for reporting and tax, which need not match the calendar year. India uses 1 April to 31 March; the UK tax year for individuals ends 5 April; many US businesses use the calendar year, and retailers often pick a trading low point.
Related Terms in Accounting Principles
Cost Accounting
The practice of capturing, assigning and analysing the cost of producing goods or delivering services, so that pricing, margin and efficiency decisions rest on real figures. Internal by nature, it is not bound by external reporting standards.
Adjusting Entries
Journal entries posted at the end of a period so that revenue and expenses fall in the right period under accrual accounting. The usual categories are accruals, prepayments, depreciation, and provisions such as doubtful debts.
Revenue Recognition
The rules determining when a sale may be recorded as revenue, which is when control of the goods or services passes to the customer rather than when cash arrives. Misapplying it is one of the most common causes of restated accounts.
ASC 606
The US GAAP revenue standard, Revenue from Contracts with Customers. It applies a five-step model: identify the contract, identify the performance obligations, determine the transaction price, allocate it to the obligations, then recognise revenue as each obligation is satisfied.
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