# Pick report dates and compare periods

Choose a date or range and understand the comparison and shortcut dates each report uses.

Canonical: https://demo.qixcount.com/help/reports/pick-dates-and-compare-periods

Who can do this: Owners, or people with *View financial reports*

Where: Reports

Dates determine which accounting entries a financial report includes. You need **View financial reports** permission, or owner access. Open **Reports**, then select your report before following these steps.

## Compare two periods

1. Open the income statement, cash flow, balance sheet or trial balance.
2. Set its dates.
3. Select **Compare With**.
4. Select the comparison you want.
5. Select **Generate**.

For income statement and cash flow, **Previous Period** uses an equally long range ending the day before your starting date. **Same Period Last Year** shifts both dates back one year.

For balance sheet and trial balance, **Previous Month** subtracts one month from the selected date. **Previous Year** subtracts one year. Check the resulting comparison date around month ends. Select **No Comparison** and generate again to remove the comparison.

For prior account amounts on the income statement and trial balance, use their PDF or Excel exports, or generate each period separately. Generate the earlier period separately to see its full account list. See [Export and print reports](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/reports/export-and-print-reports).

## Check shortcut dates

Shortcuts replace dates immediately and can clear other filters or comparisons. Read the resulting fields before using the figures.

On the income statement, **MTD** selects the whole current calendar month, including its final day. **Last Qtr** selects the previous three complete months. On the balance sheet, **Last Quarter** selects the end of the month three months ago. These shortcuts do not necessarily select the previous calendar quarter.

On the balance sheet, **Year End** selects the day before the current fiscal year's start. On the trial balance, **Year End** selects the current fiscal year's final day; **Last Year End** selects the day before its start.

## What happens next

After checking the dates, [read the report totals](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/reports/reports-overview) or export the report. If two results differ, [check their scope and sources](https://demo.qixcount.com/help/reports/why-reports-differ).

## Good to know

### Choose the date scope

| Report | Dates to enter |
| --- | --- |
| Income statement and cash flow | **From Date** and **To Date**, including both dates. The default is fiscal-year start through today. |
| Balance sheet and trial balance | **As of Date**, including posted entries through that date. The default is today. |
| General ledger | Optional **From Date** and **To Date** for one selected account. Empty dates leave that side of the range open. |
| AR and AP aging | **As of Date** changes the due-date buckets, but balances and document statuses remain current. |

Enter a starting date on or before the ending date. Select **Generate** on the financial statements and general ledger, or **Update** on the aging reports. Editing a field alone does not apply it.