Financial Year, Assessment Year & Quarter Finder
India's financial year runs from 1 April to 31 March, so a date in February 2026 belongs to FY 2025-26, while the same income is assessed in AY 2026-27. Mixing up FY and AY is one of the most common errors in ITR filing, challan payment (wrong AY on Challan 280) and TDS returns. Enter any date and this tool returns the FY, AY, quarter, half-year, FY month number and the days remaining, along with the statutory due dates that follow from that year.
Previous Year vs Assessment Year
Under the Income-tax Act the year in which income is earned is the Previous Year (identical to the Financial Year). The year immediately following, in which the return is filed and income is assessed, is the Assessment Year. Rule of thumb: AY = FY + 1. Salary earned in FY 2025-26 → ITR filed in AY 2026-27 (by 31 July 2026 for non-audit cases).
Quarters of the financial year
- Q1: April – June (TDS return due 31 July)
- Q2: July – September (31 October)
- Q3: October – December (31 January)
- Q4: January – March (31 May)
Note that FY quarters differ from calendar quarters — October 2025 is Q3 of FY 2025-26 but Q4 of calendar 2025; the tool shows both.
Worked example
Date 16-10-2026 → FY 2026-27, AY 2027-28, Q3 (01-10-2026 to 31-12-2026), H2, FY month 7, 166 days left in the FY. Advance-tax instalments fall on 15 Jun, 15 Sep, 15 Dec and 15 Mar of that FY; the annual GST return GSTR-9 is due 31 December 2027.
Why it matters
- Choosing the correct AY while paying self-assessment or advance tax.
- Deciding which quarter a TDS deduction belongs to in Form 24Q/26Q.
- Computing days remaining for 80C investments, advance-tax planning and year-end provisioning.
- Labelling invoice series and audit working papers by FY.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the AY for income earned in March 2026?
March 2026 falls in FY 2025-26, so the Assessment Year is 2026-27.
Is 1 April the first day of Q1?
Yes. Q1 = April–June, Q2 = July–September, Q3 = October–December, Q4 = January–March.
Do the due dates include government extensions?
No. Statutory default dates are shown; CBDT/GSTN sometimes extend them by notification.
Why does the tool show "FY month number"?
Payroll and MIS often number months April = 1 … March = 12; this helps map calendar months to that sequence.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general information and estimation only. Tax rates and rules change — verify with official sources or a professional before acting. Read full disclaimer.