The US calendar tax year: January 1 to December 31

The rule

1. A calendar tax year is 12 consecutive months beginning January 1 and ending December 31.

   ›What the IRS says

   “Calendar year – 12 consecutive months beginning January 1 and ending December 31.”

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2. If you filed your first tax return using the calendar year and later began business as a sole proprietor, you must keep using the calendar year unless you get IRS approval to change it or meet one of the exceptions in the instructions to Form 1128.

   ›What the IRS says

   “If you file your first tax return using the calendar tax year and you later begin business as a sole proprietor, become a partner in a partnership, or become a shareholder in an S corporation, you must continue to use the calendar year unless you get IRS approval to change it or meet one of the exceptions listed in the instructions to Form 1128, Application To Adopt, Change, or Retain a Tax Year.”

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How Bilbx applies it

• Tax Lab, part of Bilbx Premium, totals your receipts by calendar year, from January 1 to December 31.
• Its export for your accountant covers the same year, receipt by receipt.

Worked examples

Bilbx's own tests run these exact cases against the website and the app.

Check a receipt

Enter a receipt to see what Bilbx does with it under the US's rules. It is worked out in your browser by the same code the app runs, and nothing you enter is sent or stored.