boekjaren

Boekjaren, the plural of boekjaar, designate the accounting year a business uses for its financial reporting and taxation. A boekjaar is a fixed 12-month period during which income and expenses are recognized, assets are depreciated, and profits are calculated for annual accounts and tax purposes. The start and end dates are chosen by the company and need not align with the calendar year; many firms prefer a year-end that matches their business cycle, while others use the calendar year for simplicity. When a company is established, the first boekjaar may be shorter or longer than 12 months to reach the chosen year-end; after that, the period typically covers twelve consecutive months ending on the same date each year.

Accounting and reporting hinge on the boekjaar: the jaarrekening (annual accounts) are prepared for that period and form the basis for financial disclosure and compliance. Tax reporting and depreciation schedules are linked to the same boekjaar. In some jurisdictions, a change of year-end may require regulatory approval and may affect tax filings.

Context: The use and requirements of boekjaren vary by country and by legal form. In the Netherlands, companies must prepare jaarrekening for their boekjaar, with size-based rules governing audit and publication obligations; small enterprises have simplified requirements, while larger entities face stricter scrutiny.

Examples: A calendar-year boekjaar ends on 31 December; a non-calendar year boekjaar might end on a different date, such as 31 March, with the previous 12 months constituting the year.