About the Fiscal Quarter Calculator
This fiscal quarter calculator tells you which quarter and fiscal year a date belongs to when your organization’s year does not start in January. Choose the month your fiscal year begins — October for the US federal government, July for many universities and states, April for the UK and India — and it returns the quarter (Q1–Q4), the fiscal year label, the exact quarter and fiscal-year boundaries, and how many days are left in the quarter.
It is built for accountants, finance and sales teams working to quarterly targets, freelancers matching invoices to a client’s reporting period, and anyone reading an annual report that says “Q3 FY2027”. The full-year table lists all four quarters so you can plan closes and deadlines ahead.
Companies name fiscal years differently. Most US organizations name the fiscal year after the calendar year in which it ends (the US government’s FY2027 runs October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027); others use the start year, or a split label such as FY2026–27. Pick the convention your organization uses. The tool assumes quarters of three calendar months, not 4-4-5 week calendars.
How to use the fiscal quarter calculator
- 1Pick the date you want to classify.
- 2Choose the month your fiscal year starts (October for US federal, April for UK, etc.).
- 3Select how your organization names its fiscal year.
- 4Read the fiscal quarter, fiscal year and quarter start and end dates.
- 5Use the table to see all four quarter boundaries for planning.
Formula and method
The calculator counts how many months the date sits after the first month of the fiscal year (wrapping around December), then divides by three: months 0–2 are Q1, 3–5 are Q2, 6–8 are Q3 and 9–11 are Q4. If the date’s month is earlier than the start month, the fiscal year began in the previous calendar year.
Quarter boundaries are found by adding 3-month steps to the fiscal-year start date, and each quarter ends the day before the next begins. The fiscal year label then follows the naming convention you choose; with a January start the fiscal year is simply the calendar year.
- month
- Calendar month of the date (1–12)
- start month
- Month the fiscal year begins (1–12)
- offset
- Months elapsed since the fiscal year began (0–11)
Worked examples
US federal fiscal year (starts October 1)
September 29, 2026 is 11 months after October 2025, so it is in the fourth quarter (July 1 – September 30). The US government names the year after its end, so this is Q4 FY2026, with just one day left before FY2027 begins.
Calendar-year company
With a January start the fiscal year matches the calendar year. September is the ninth month, so the date falls in Q3 (July–September) and is day 272 of the year.
July fiscal year (universities, many US states)
A fiscal year starting July 1, 2025 ends June 30, 2026, so it is FY2026. May is 10 months in, which puts May 15 in Q4 (April–June) with 46 days left until the June 30 year-end.
April fiscal year with split label (UK / India style)
The fiscal year starting April 1, 2026 ends March 31, 2027 and is written FY2026–27. February 10 is 10 months in, so it falls in Q4 (January–March) with 49 days left.
Frequently asked questions
What are the 4 fiscal quarters?+
Each quarter is three months. For a calendar fiscal year Q1 is January–March, Q2 April–June, Q3 July–September and Q4 October–December. With a different start month, Q1 simply begins in that month.
When does the US government fiscal year start?+
The US federal fiscal year runs from October 1 to September 30 and is named for the calendar year in which it ends. FY2027 runs from October 1, 2026 to September 30, 2027, so Q1 FY2027 is October–December 2026.
What quarter is September in?+
On a calendar-year basis September is in Q3 (July–September). For the US federal government it is the last month of Q4, and for an April fiscal year (UK, India) it is the end of Q2.
Is a fiscal year named for the year it starts or ends?+
It varies. Most US companies and the federal government use the year the fiscal year ends; some organizations use the start year, and the UK and India commonly write both years, such as 2026–27. Check your organization’s annual report.
Does this work for 52/53-week or 4-4-5 fiscal calendars?+
No. This tool assumes each quarter is three whole calendar months. Retailers that use 4-4-5 or 52/53-week calendars end quarters on a specific weekday, so their quarter dates can differ by several days.