What Financial Week Are We In?

A financial (tax) week divides the UK tax year into weekly periods, starting 6 April. It’s commonly used for PAYE payroll and HMRC reporting. See our UK Tax Year Guide.

Are there 52 or 53 tax weeks?▾

Most years have 52 tax weeks; occasionally there are 53 depending on how the dates fall. Our calculator shows the current week and the total for this tax year.

Do tax weeks start on Monday?▾

Tax weeks are anchored to calendar dates of the tax year (6 April to 5 April), not a fixed weekday. Start and end dates vary year to year.

Is a tax week the same as ISO week?▾

No. ISO weeks reset in January and start on Monday. Tax weeks follow the UK tax year and reset in April.

How do tax weeks affect payroll?▾

Weekly payroll, PAYE, and NI thresholds often apply per tax week. Need help? Our payroll team can run PAYE and RTI on time every week.

What is a Financial Week?

A financial week is a way of dividing the UK tax year into weekly periods for accounting, payroll, and tax purposes. Unlike calendar weeks that follow the Gregorian calendar, financial weeks are based on the UK tax year, which runs from April 6th to April 5th of the following year.

Financial Week 1 starts on April 6th (the first day of the tax year) and each subsequent week follows in sequence. Most financial years contain 52 weeks, but occasionally there may be 53 weeks in a tax year due to leap years and the specific day of the week that April 6th falls on.

Why Financial Weeks Matter

Financial weeks are important for several reasons:

Payroll Processing: Many UK employers process payroll on a weekly basis aligned with the tax year.
Tax Calculations: HMRC uses tax weeks for various calculations, including National Insurance contributions.
Benefits and Pensions: Some benefits and pension payments are calculated using tax weeks.
Financial Reporting: Businesses may use financial weeks for internal reporting and budgeting.
Seasonal Business Analysis: Comparing performance by financial week year-over-year can provide more accurate insights than calendar weeks.

Financial Weeks vs. Calendar Weeks

The key differences between financial weeks and calendar weeks include:

Starting Point: Calendar weeks typically start on Monday (or Sunday in some systems), while financial weeks start on specific dates aligned with the tax year.
Year Boundary: Calendar weeks follow the January to December year, while financial weeks follow the April to April tax year.
Consistency: The dates for financial weeks remain consistent year to year in relation to the tax year, making them more useful for tax and accounting comparisons.
Week Numbering: Calendar week numbering (ISO weeks) restarts each January, while financial week numbering restarts each April with the new tax year.

Using Financial Weeks in Your Business

Financial weeks can be particularly useful for:

Payroll Management: Ensuring your payroll systems are aligned with the tax year for accurate reporting.
Tax Planning: Understanding which financial week you're in can help with timing decisions for tax-efficient transactions.
Year-End Preparation: Knowing when the financial year ends helps with planning year-end accounting procedures.
Budgeting: Creating budgets that align with the tax year rather than the calendar year.

For businesses that operate on a different financial year (not the UK tax year), you may need to adjust your week numbering accordingly. Many accounting systems allow you to define custom financial years and week numbering systems.

Want help aligning payroll and accounting with tax weeks? Read our UK Tax Year Guide or speak to our payroll team.