Legal Definitions - calendar year accounting period

Definition: A calendar yearaccounting period is a specific time frame used for accounting purposes that follows the Gregorian calendar. It starts on January 1st and ends on December 31st. During this period, all financial transactions are recorded, summarized, and analyzed to calculate annual financial information such as income taxes.

For example, if a company uses a calendar year accounting period, their financial records for the year 2021 would start on January 1st, 2021, and end on December 31st, 2021. All financial transactions that occur during this period would be recorded and analyzed to determine the company's financial performance for the year.

Another example would be an individual who uses a calendar year accounting period for their personal finances. They would record all their income and expenses from January 1st to December 31st each year to calculate their annual income tax.

The use of a calendar year accounting period is common among businesses and individuals as it aligns with the standard calendar year and makes it easier to compare financial information across different entities.