Fiscal Periods define the time boundaries your business uses for financial reporting — typically months, quarters, or years. Every financial transaction in include GO is posted against an open fiscal period. Closing a period locks it against further changes, giving you a reliable audit trail.
Where to Find Fiscal Periods
Navigate to Settings → Business Unit Settings → Fiscal Periods tab.
Navigation path: Dashboard → Settings → Business Unit Settings → Fiscal Periods
The Fiscal Periods List
What you see on this screen
| # | Element | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Settings Sidebar | The left sidebar groups all Business Unit Settings. Fiscal Periods is highlighted under Financial Setup. |
| 2 | Page Header | Confirms you are on Fiscal Periods. |
| 3 | Create Fiscal Period | Opens the creation dialog. |
| 4 | Search Bar | Filter periods by name or date range. |
| 5 | Column Headers | Sort and filter by name, ID, status, start date, or end date. |
Creating a Fiscal Period
Click + Create Fiscal Period to open the dialog.
Form Fields
| Field | Required | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Fiscal Name | Yes | The name of the period as it appears throughout the system (e.g., Period 1, January 2026, Q1 2026). |
| Status | Yes | Open — transactions can be posted. Closed — locked for changes. Archive — historical, hidden from active views. |
| Start Date | Yes | The first day of the period. |
| End Date | Yes | The last day of the period. |
Example: Setting Up Monthly Periods for 2026
| Fiscal Name | Status | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|---|
Period 1 |
Open | 01/01/2026 | 01/31/2026 |
Period 2 |
Open | 02/01/2026 | 02/28/2026 |
Period 3 |
Open | 03/01/2026 | 03/31/2026 |
Period Statuses Explained
| Status | What it means |
|---|---|
| Open | Transactions can be created and posted to this period. |
| Closed | The period is locked — no new postings allowed. Existing transactions are preserved. |
| Archive | The period is closed and hidden from day-to-day views. Used for older historical periods. |
Tip: Close periods at month-end after reconciliation is complete to prevent backdated entries.
Editing a Fiscal Period
Click the pencil icon on any row to open the Edit Fiscal Period dialog. You can update the name, status, or dates, then click Update Fiscal Period to save.
Tips & Best Practices
- Create all 12 monthly periods for the year at the start of the year so transactions always have a valid period to post to.
- Use a consistent Fiscal Name format (e.g., Period 1, Period 2 or January 2026, February 2026) so periods sort and display consistently.
- Only Archive periods once they are fully closed and reconciled.
Related Topics
- GL Categories — Organise accounts used in fiscal period reports
- Chart of Accounts — The accounts transactions are posted to within each period