Financial year

[Murielmci]

Can anyone tell me why the British financial year starts on April 6th? It seems such an odd date.

[Tichfield]

Before 1752 the financial year ended on Lady Day - one of the 4 quarter days - which is 25 March.

In September alendar in the UK was brought into line with the one used in the rest of Europe. This meant that Sept 3 - 13 were omitted from the calendar.

But the treasury still wanted a full 365 days worth of taxes for the year, so the financial year ended on 5 April in 1753, and that has continued since then.

[Tichfield]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Old_Style_and_New _Style_dates

[buildersmate]

That's entirely believable.
The Exchequer always wants its pound of flesh.

[Murielmci]

Thank you. I knew about the "stolen days" and the riots but I had not made the connection of the tax year.

Your help was much appreciated.