budgetår

Budgetår is a term used in Swedish and other Nordic languages to describe the annual period that an organization or government uses for budgeting and financial reporting. It designates the time frame in which revenues are estimated and expenditures are planned, and it serves as the basis for resource allocation and financial control. The budget year is related to, but not always identical with, the accounting year or the fiscal year.

The start and end dates of a budget year can vary by country and organization. In some jurisdictions the budget year aligns with the calendar year (January 1 to December 31). In others the budget year begins on a different date and lasts 12 months, defined by law or policy (for example July 1 to June 30, or October 1 to September 30). The precise definition is typically established in legal or regulatory frameworks and may reflect administrative or political cycles.

Purpose and use: The budget year provides the framework for planning, authorizing, and controlling public or organizational finances. It sets revenue targets, allocates resources across departments or programs, and establishes expenditure limits. It also serves as the reference period for financial reporting, performance measurement, and accountability.

Process: The budgeting cycle generally includes preparation, approval by the responsible body (such as a legislature or board), execution, monitoring, reporting, and auditing. Actual results are compared with the budgeted figures, and variances are analyzed. If necessary, budget revisions may be enacted for the remaining period.

In practice, the term budgetår is common in governmental and nonprofit contexts, while in the private sector a similar concept is often referred to as the fiscal year or budgeting period.