fiscal year

Definition of fiscal year

: an accounting period of 12 months

Examples of fiscal year in a Sentence

Sales were up in the last fiscal year. Our fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30.

Recent Examples on the Web In fiscal year 2019, the state determined about $90 million in debt was uncollectible, across all agencies. — Dave Orrick, Twin Cities, "So why can’t MN DHS collect that $1 mil embezzled a decade ago?," 27 Nov. 2019 About $68,000 is left in the Not In Carroll fund for fiscal year 2019, according to Chris Winebrenner, communications manager for Carroll County. — Mary Grace Keller, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Carroll County commissioners decline to cover overdose reversal training for school employees," 22 Nov. 2019 Tax revenues were modestly higher in fiscal year 2019, aided in part by a 70 percent increase in tariff revenue. — BostonGlobe.com, "US deficit hit $984 billion in 2019, soaring during Trump era - The Boston Globe," 26 Oct. 2019 The number of Border Patrol water rescues in sectors along the Rio Grande surged in fiscal year 2019. — Catherine E. Shoichet, CNN, "Why one area along the US-Mexico border saw drownings triple and water rescues skyrocket more than 1000%," 12 Oct. 2019 In fiscal year 2019, CBP officials said about 65% of migrants encountered at the southern border were families and unaccompanied children. — CBS News, "Officials: "Consequences" causing major drop in number of migrant families and kids at border," 14 Nov. 2019 Citing a report prepared for GCE by Barclays, the department says the costs to operate GCU would increase from $810 million to nearly $1.5 billion for fiscal year 2019, solely because of the services fee. — Rachel Leingang, azcentral, "GCU a 'captive client' to for-profit company, feds say," 13 Nov. 2019 Tax revenues were modestly higher in fiscal year 2019, aided in part by a 70 percent increase in tariff revenue. — BostonGlobe.com, "US deficit hit $984 billion in 2019, soaring during Trump era - The Boston Globe," 26 Oct. 2019 In fiscal year 2019, the system circulated more than 10 million books and 1,046,264 e-books and audiobooks, according to data provided by the library system. — Cody Boteler, baltimoresun.com/maryland/carroll, "Carroll County Public Library joins other systems in opposing publisher’s policy to restrict number of e-books," 26 Oct. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fiscal year.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

4 Dec 2019

Cite this Entry

“Fiscal year.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fiscal%20year. Accessed 6 December 2019.

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More Definitions for fiscal year

fiscal year

noun

Financial Definition of fiscal year

What It Is

A fiscal year is an accounting period of 365(6) days that does not necessarily correspond to the calendar year beginning on January 1st. The fiscal year is the established period of time when an organization's annual financial records commence and conclude.

How It Works

A company's fiscal year will always reflect the date of the calendar year in which it ends. For example: The financial operations of the federal government are carried out in a fiscal year that begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. Therefore the government's fiscal year for 2008 would begin on October 1, 2007 and end on September 30, 2008.

Why It Matters

The key thing to remember is that a fiscal year doesn't necessarily correspond with the calendar year. Although it may not seem like very important, when a company starts its fiscal year can have an impact on its fundamental analysis. This is especially true of cyclical companies.

Consider a retailer that has an incredible first quarter. An investor may look at that company and think it will probably post even higher earnings during the end of the year, during the holiday season. However, if that company started its fiscal year in September, then its first quarter earnings will have already encompassed the higher sales that accompany the holiday shopping season, and the remaining three quarters will most likely be a little lower.

Source: Investing Answers

fiscal year

noun