Finansår

Finansår is the period used for accounting and financial reporting by a company, organization, or government entity. In Nordic and some European contexts, it is synonymous with the term fiscal year or financial year. The defining feature of a finansår is that it covers a consecutive 12-month period, but the exact start and end dates are chosen by the entity rather than fixed to the calendar year.

The finansår may align with the calendar year (for example, January 1 to December 31) or it may follow a different end date chosen for practical or regulatory reasons, such as June 30 or October 31. Changing the end date of a finansår is possible for many organizations, but it often involves restating prior period figures and informing tax authorities or regulators, as required by local rules.

Uses and reporting directed at a finansår include the preparation of annual financial statements, budgeting, performance assessment, tax filings, and audits. The financial statements produced for a finansår provide a complete view of the organization’s financial position and performance during that specific period.

Relation to other terms varies by country. In some languages the term finansår is used interchangeably with financial year or fiscal year, while in others a more specific term like räkenskapsår or regnskabsår may be preferred for accounting periods. Regardless of terminology, the concept centers on a defined 12-month period used for accounting and financial reporting.