Arveldusperioodi

Arveldusperiood, in Estonian accounting terminology, denotes the time span during which financial transactions are recorded, settled and reported for bookkeeping purposes. The term is used to describe the period for which accounts are closed and financial statements are prepared. It is a standard concept in financial management and accounting systems.

The length of an arveldusperiood varies: many organisations use monthly periods for routine accounting, while others operate quarterly or annually, depending on regulatory requirements, management needs and the nature of their operations. The chosen period should be consistent and documented in the organisation’s accounting policy. For tax purposes, there may be separate reporting periods such as VAT periods that can be monthly or quarterly, defined by the tax authority, and these do not always coincide exactly with the financial arveldusperiod.

During an arveldusperiood, all transactions occurring in that window are posted to the general ledger. At the end of the period, postings are closed, reconciliations are performed, and interim or annual financial statements are prepared. The period closing may involve adjusting entries, accruals and corrections to ensure that the balances reflect the true financial position as of the period end.

In practice, arveldusperiod enables segment reporting, budgeting and performance assessment. In ERP and accounting software, periods are often locked after closing to prevent further changes and to preserve audit trails.

See also: accounting period, fiscal year, VAT period, invoicing cycle.