Fiscal Quarter Calculator
| Convention | FY2027 label | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US federal | FY2027 | Oct–Dec 26 | Jan–Mar 27 | Apr–Jun 27 | Jul–Sep 27 |
| Calendar | 2027 | Jan–Mar 27 | Apr–Jun 27 | Jul–Sep 27 | Oct–Dec 27 |
| UK / Japan | 2027/28 | Apr–Jun 27 | Jul–Sep 27 | Oct–Dec 27 | Jan–Mar 28 |
| Australia / NZ | 2027/28 | Jul–Sep 27 | Oct–Dec 27 | Jan–Mar 28 | Apr–Jun 28 |
'What quarter is it?' has four honest answers, because the word quarter only means something once you name the year's start. The US federal government runs October through September (so October 2026 is already fiscal 2027), calendar quarters run January through December, UK and Japan governments start in April, and Australia starts in July. Pick a convention and this calculator shows today's quarter number, the fiscal-year label, the exact start and end dates, and how many days remain - recomputed every midnight, so it doubles as a reporting-deadline check.
The reporting trap this page exists for: two companies saying 'Q3 results' can be talking about months that barely overlap. A calendar-first retailer means July-September; a federal contractor means April-June of the following fiscal year. The table below lays the four conventions side by side for the current cycle, so a deadline named 'Q2' stops being a guess.
How to use
- Pick a convention: US federal (Oct-Sep), calendar (Jan-Dec), UK/Japan (Apr-Mar), or Australia/NZ (Jul-Jun).
- Read today's quarter number, its start and end dates, and the days left - the tool keeps your choice on the device for next visit.
- Share a dated view: the date rides in the URL (?d=2026-10-02), so a colleague opens the same quarter, not theirs.
Frequently asked questions
What fiscal quarter is it right now?
On October 2, 2026 it is Q1 of federal fiscal year 2027 (which began October 1) - and at the same moment it is Q4 of calendar 2026, Q3 of the UK/Japan fiscal 2026/27, and Q2 of the Australian 2026/27 year. Same day, four labels; the tool above tracks whichever your organization uses.
Why does the US federal fiscal year start in October?
Congress moved it there: until 1976 the federal year ran July 1-June 30, and the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 pushed the start to October 1 to give agencies time to work through appropriations before money flows. The definition lives in law at 31 U.S.C. §1102.
What are the fiscal year 2027 quarter dates?
Federal FY2027: Q1 Oct 1-Dec 31 2026, Q2 Jan 1-Mar 31 2027, Q3 Apr 1-Jun 30 2027, Q4 Jul 1-Sep 30 2027. Quarters run 90-92 days (92, 90, 91, 92 this cycle), which is why a '90-day quarter' is an approximation, not a rule.
Why do the UK and Japan start their year in April?
The UK government fiscal year begins April 1, and the personal tax year April 6 - a relic of the 1752 calendar reform that lost eleven days overnight. Japan aligned its government and school years to April after World War II. Australia's July-June year exists so its budget lands just before the southern-hemisphere spending season.