Bikram Sambat vs Gregorian Calendar: Why Your Payroll Software Must Support Both
Whether it is the outset of the year or the middle of the year, the debate between Bikram Sambat vs Gregorian Calendar is a common occurrence for Nepalis. Nepal uses a calendar system known as Bikram Sambat or B.S. which is commonly referred to as BS. Gregorian (also known as AD) calendar is used by most of the world. These two systems operate concurrently in banks, offices, schools and homes. A citizen can also select a date for a salary and a flight date in BS and AD respectively. This is a normal daily switching which can be confusing.
Dates are not in sync with the month. The years also are quite distant. Most people will make errors by converting dates, even those who are proficient at doing so. The consequences are more serious in the case of businesses. A wrong calendar will affect all sorts of payroll, leave, dates for taxes, and contract dates. The consequences of going wrong can be a delay in pay or violation of compliance rules. This article makes a clear and practical comparison of both calendars. It provides an understanding of their origin, structure and major differences. It also demonstrates the importance of the difference for HR and payroll professionals. You will also learn howHajirHR assists Nepali staff at your organization with keeping both calendars in check.
What is the Bikram Sambat Calendar?
The official calendar of Nepal is “Bikram Sambat”. According to tradition it has been associated with King Vikramaditya and the year 57 B.C.E. It was brought in as the national calendar in Nepal in 1901. It has influenced government work, festivals and public life since then.
There are 12 months in the Bikram Sambat calendar. They start from Baisakh and continue till Chaitra. Baisakh 1 is mid-April, and marks the beginning of the new year. In 2026, Nepal is in the BS year 2083.
The months of the year (also known as B.S. months) are based on the sun’s path. That’s why they come in different lengths. The length of a month varies from 29 days to 32 days. The exact number is determined by the Official Calendar Committee in Nepal every year.
What Is the Gregorian Calendar?
In 1582 Pope Gregory XIII adopted the Gregorian calendar. It eventually spread throughout the world as a standard for trade, travel and business. It has a wide usage in Nepal for international use, banking, and technology.
This calendar is divided into 12 months (January to December). Each month has 28, 30, or 31 days. Every 4 years or so, a day is added to February, this is a leap year. The structure is fixed, so dates can be easily predicted.
Bikram Sambat vs Gregorian Calendar: Main Differences
In a few obvious ways, the two calendars are different. The table below shows the most important points.
Feature
Bikram Sambat (BS) |
Gregorian (AD) |
Year Gap |
About 56 years and 8 months ahead |
Baseline |
New year |
Baisakh 1, around mid-April |
January 1 |
Month Length |
29 to 32 days, varies yearly |
28 to 31 days, fixed pattern |
First month |
Baisakh |
January
Fiscal year start in Nepal |
Shrawan 1, around mid-July |
Not used for Nepali government accounts |
Main use in Nepal |
Government, festivals, official records |
International business, travel, digital systems |
The most significant difference between the two is month alignment. A BS month will typically begin at the middle of the Gregorian month. For instance, Baisakh starts in the middle of April. This is an offset that makes it virtually impossible to do a quick mental conversion.
The other difference has to do with predictability. The months are always the same length in the Gregorian calendar. The length of months may vary from year to year for BS. This necessitates a date converter to be based upon official tables, not a simple formula.
How BS to AD Date Conversion Works
It’s not simply adding the days from BS to AD. 56 years is not subtracted from and then expect the right date. The month offset and the varying month lengths are a problem.
The majority of people have an official date converter which is available in Nepali language. These tools correlate each of the BS dates to the AD equivalent. Very suitable for solo use. These are more difficult to deal with when you have to convert hundreds of dates, likeattendance records, or contract dates. Common errors are in the vicinity of month boundaries. Even minute mistakes there can cause delays of up to one day or more.
The Calendar Difference and its importance to Payroll and HR
The Gregorian Calendar vs. Bikram Sambat conundrum is a common problem faced by HR teams every day. The majority of the employers in Nepal employ salary cycles on a BS monthly basis. After the end of the Nepali month, the employees expect the payments. However, banks, foreign clients and software can record dates in the AD.
Another element of difficulty is the length of the months. A BS month can have 29, 30, 31, or 32 days. This impacts on pay rates,overtimeand deductions for unpaid leave. A company has to select one explicit rule and adhere to it equitably to all.
The compliance dates are also according to Nepali dates. BS months and Nepali fiscal year are used for payment of social security deposits, payment of taxes, and annual reports. Our post on SSF Nepal explains that there are additional charges in case of failing to deposit on time. That type of delay can easily occur because of a calendar error.
How HajirHR helps you to manage both your calendars
HajirHR is created for Nepal’s workplaces. It integrates attendance, leave andpayrolltogether in a single system. This will ensure date records are consistent throughout the process for teams.
With digital attendance, there is no longer a need to manually convert dates in HR. Leave balances will be automatically updated. The payroll system has the same records and therefore the calculations for salary remain in line with the working days. This will minimize the chances of errors related to dates.
Nepal HR software also enables hassle-free reporting. Managers will be able to view records on a Nepali month by month basis. They are still able to export data in AD for auditing purposes. This allows for flexibility in the audit and year-end review process.
The fiscal year starts in Shrawan 1 which is around mid-July in the Nepali calendar. This date has an impact on salary reviews, tax filings, budgets andcompliance reports. It is common for many HR teams to fall short in preparing for it timely. The following article describes the changes that will occur at the beginning of each fiscal year. It also includes what you need to know about the planning, tracking of deadlines and maintaining clean records. You will find out what HR teams should look at prior to the year starts. You will also understand how to plan your HR activities seamlessly in both Nepali and Gregorian dates with the support of HajirHR.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
The Bikram Sambat is the official time in Nepal. The Gregorian calendar is utilized in the world and is the one used in digital use.
The Gregorian calendar is 56 years and 8 months behind BS. The exact difference is dependent on the date.
Baisakh 1 is the beginning of the BS new year. Typically in mid-April (Gregorian calendar).
BS months are based on the sun's orbit. As a result, there can be from 29 to 32 days in each month.
There is no reliable way to convert manually. Some months are shorter, others are longer, therefore, it is important to use official tables or a reliable Nepali date converter.
The majority of employers in Nepal operate on the BS months. Many continue to hold the AD records for banks and foreign partners.
Yes, HR software developed for Nepal can take care of both. Using platforms such as HajirHR, attendance,leave and payroll can be easily connected and this helps to keep dates consistent.