fb

Of course it should be the 6th April!?

There appears to be a bit of a love/hate relationship between students and the UK tax papers. Students tend to either love them or hate them. There’s seldom any half way position.

It’s also one of those subjects where generally either you know it or you don’t know it. There’s not a lot of scope for guessing or trying to “waffle” to get the correct answer.

One of the most frequently asked questions by students is “Why does the UK tax year start on 6 April instead of say 1 January?” Note that this will not be asked in the actual exam so the answer is for personal use only or to impress your friends!

HM Revenue & Customs are a very helpful lot and explained the reason why the tax year starts on 6 April as follows:

The reason for the tax year running from 6 April to 5 April is primarily historical and has its origin in the switch from the Julian to the Gregorian calendar in 1752.

It had been calculated in the 16th Century that the Julian calendar had lost 9 days since its introduction in 46 BC. Most of Europe changed to the new, more accurate, Gregorian calendar in 1582, but the UK continued with the old one until September 1752 by which time the error had increased to 11 days.

These 11 days were ‘caught up’ by being removed from the calendar altogether – 2 September was followed by 14 September. In order not to lose 11 days’ tax revenue in that tax year, though, the authorities decided to tack the missing days on at the end, which meant moving the beginning of the tax year from the 25 March, Lady Day, (which since the Middle Ages has been regarded as the beginning of the legal year) to 6 April.

The dates were adopted for income tax on its re-imposition in 1842 and have not changed since.

So now you know!

Share this entry

Recent articles

View All Articles
Professionally qualified in one year – DipIFR
Mar 22, 2024
Title
Professionally qualified in one year – DipIFR
Excerpt

Unlocking Opportunities with DipIFR Introduction In the second installment of our series, we shift our focus to the […]

Professionally qualified in one year – CMA (USA)
Mar 21, 2024
Title
Professionally qualified in one year – CMA (USA)
Excerpt

Accelerate Your Career with CMA Certification Series Introduction In our fast-paced world, the demand for highly skilled professionals […]

Lego – building strategy blocks…
Mar 14, 2024
Title
Lego – building strategy blocks…
Excerpt

In the contemporary business environment, characterised by rapid changes and unforeseen challenges, companies across various industries must adapt […]

Weathering the chocolate storm?
Mar 12, 2024
Title
Weathering the chocolate storm?
Excerpt

In today’s interconnected global economy, the ripple effects of local weather phenomena can have far-reaching consequences, extending far […]

Pass the doughnuts…
Mar 12, 2024
Title
Pass the doughnuts…
Excerpt

Does your weight affect the amount of money you earn? That’s an interesting question and researchers from the […]

The Significance of Audit Quality: Lessons from KPMG’s Fines
Mar 06, 2024
Title
The Significance of Audit Quality: Lessons from KPMG’s Fines
Excerpt

In the intricate world of finance and business, the accuracy and integrity of a company’s financial statements stand […]

Insider Trading: A Cautionary Tale from the Oil Industry
Feb 29, 2024
Title
Insider Trading: A Cautionary Tale from the Oil Industry
Excerpt

In the complex world of finance, insider trading remains one of the most controversial and closely watched issues. […]

Lessons from Kraft Heinz’s Sales Decline
Feb 20, 2024
Title
Lessons from Kraft Heinz’s Sales Decline
Excerpt

In the fast-paced world of business, staying ahead of market trends and consumer preferences is paramount. The recent […]