diff --git a/app/models/forms/bulk_upload_lettings/guidance.rb b/app/models/forms/bulk_upload_lettings/guidance.rb
index dc0de3271..b2fcf947e 100644
--- a/app/models/forms/bulk_upload_lettings/guidance.rb
+++ b/app/models/forms/bulk_upload_lettings/guidance.rb
@@ -4,11 +4,18 @@ module Forms
       include ActiveModel::Model
       include ActiveModel::Attributes
       include Rails.application.routes.url_helpers
+      include CollectionTimeHelper
 
       attribute :year, :integer
       attribute :referrer
       attribute :organisation_id, :integer
 
+      def initialize(params)
+        super(params)
+
+        self.year = current_collection_start_year if year.nil?
+      end
+
       def view_path
         "bulk_upload_shared/guidance"
       end
diff --git a/app/models/forms/bulk_upload_sales/guidance.rb b/app/models/forms/bulk_upload_sales/guidance.rb
index be61ef650..80cfc5143 100644
--- a/app/models/forms/bulk_upload_sales/guidance.rb
+++ b/app/models/forms/bulk_upload_sales/guidance.rb
@@ -4,11 +4,18 @@ module Forms
       include ActiveModel::Model
       include ActiveModel::Attributes
       include Rails.application.routes.url_helpers
+      include CollectionTimeHelper
 
       attribute :year, :integer
       attribute :referrer
       attribute :organisation_id, :integer
 
+      def initialize(params)
+        super(params)
+
+        self.year = current_collection_start_year if year.nil?
+      end
+
       def view_path
         "bulk_upload_shared/guidance"
       end
diff --git a/spec/models/forms/bulk_upload_lettings/guidance_spec.rb b/spec/models/forms/bulk_upload_lettings/guidance_spec.rb
index 271ff8b27..41e74c50c 100644
--- a/spec/models/forms/bulk_upload_lettings/guidance_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/forms/bulk_upload_lettings/guidance_spec.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ RSpec.describe Forms::BulkUploadLettings::Guidance do
   subject(:bu_guidance) { described_class.new(year:, referrer:) }
 
   let(:year) { 2024 }
+  let(:referrer) { nil }
 
   describe "#back_path" do
     context "when referrer is prepare-your-file" do
@@ -40,4 +41,20 @@ RSpec.describe Forms::BulkUploadLettings::Guidance do
       end
     end
   end
+
+  describe "year" do
+    context "when year is not provided" do
+      let(:year) { nil }
+
+      before do
+        # rubocop:disable RSpec/AnyInstance
+        allow_any_instance_of(CollectionTimeHelper).to receive(:current_collection_start_year).and_return(2030)
+        # rubocop:enable RSpec/AnyInstance
+      end
+
+      it "is set to the current collection start year" do
+        expect(bu_guidance.year).to eq(2030)
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end
diff --git a/spec/models/forms/bulk_upload_sales/guidance_spec.rb b/spec/models/forms/bulk_upload_sales/guidance_spec.rb
index 6eacf6d0c..f9c986cb2 100644
--- a/spec/models/forms/bulk_upload_sales/guidance_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/models/forms/bulk_upload_sales/guidance_spec.rb
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ RSpec.describe Forms::BulkUploadSales::Guidance do
   subject(:bu_guidance) { described_class.new(year:, referrer:) }
 
   let(:year) { 2024 }
+  let(:referrer) { nil }
 
   describe "#back_path" do
     context "when referrer is prepare-your-file" do
@@ -40,4 +41,20 @@ RSpec.describe Forms::BulkUploadSales::Guidance do
       end
     end
   end
+
+  describe "year" do
+    context "when year is not provided" do
+      let(:year) { nil }
+
+      before do
+        # rubocop:disable RSpec/AnyInstance
+        allow_any_instance_of(CollectionTimeHelper).to receive(:current_collection_start_year).and_return(2030)
+        # rubocop:enable RSpec/AnyInstance
+      end
+
+      it "is set to the current collection start year" do
+        expect(bu_guidance.year).to eq(2030)
+      end
+    end
+  end
 end