Many happy returns to British tax men (yeah right) but why does the UK tax year start on April 5th and is it the same in other countries?

gtho4

Prior to 1752, the UK calendar (the Juilian calendar) ended on 24th March and the new year started on March 25th e.g. the day after 24-Mar-1743 was 25-Mar-1744. When the UK adopted the Gregorian calendar in 1752, by deleting 11 days from the month of September, the tax man and accountants went nuts, as the year from 25th March 1752 to 24th March 1753 didn't have 365 days (ditto landlords with their rents, and banks with their interest charges) .. so the start of the financial year was extended by 11 days from 25th March 1753 to 5th April 1753, to ensure that the year just gone had its quota of 365 days; and didn't feel left out. The tax year in Australia ends on 30th June, and in the USA it ends with the calendar year, 31st December. Some countries end on 31st March, but I don't remember which ones. Apr 06 05, 1:17 AM