diff --git a/app/services/return-versions/setup/submit-start-date.service.js b/app/services/return-versions/setup/submit-start-date.service.js
index f40bae32c7..7b6d8bd10e 100644
--- a/app/services/return-versions/setup/submit-start-date.service.js
+++ b/app/services/return-versions/setup/submit-start-date.service.js
@@ -65,11 +65,9 @@ async function _save (session, payload) {
     session.startDateDay = payload['start-date-day']
     session.startDateMonth = payload['start-date-month']
     session.startDateYear = payload['start-date-year']
-    // Reminder! Because of the unique qualities of Javascript, Year and Day are literal values, month is an index! So,
-    // January is actually 0, February is 1 etc. This is why we deduct 1 from the month.
-    session.returnVersionStartDate = new Date(`${payload['start-date-year']}-${payload['start-date-month'] - 1}-${payload['start-date-day']}`).toISOString().split('T')[0]
+    session.returnVersionStartDate = new Date(`${payload['start-date-year']}-${payload['start-date-month']}-${payload['start-date-day']}`)
   } else {
-    session.returnVersionStartDate = new Date(session.licence.currentVersionStartDate).toISOString().split('T')[0]
+    session.returnVersionStartDate = new Date(session.licence.currentVersionStartDate)
   }
 
   return session.$update()
diff --git a/test/services/return-versions/setup/check/generate-return-version.service.test.js b/test/services/return-versions/setup/check/generate-return-version.service.test.js
index b5c0571312..7270bb0a07 100644
--- a/test/services/return-versions/setup/check/generate-return-version.service.test.js
+++ b/test/services/return-versions/setup/check/generate-return-version.service.test.js
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ describe('Return Versions Setup - Generate Return Version service', () => {
           ],
           currentVersionStartDate: '2023-02-13T00:00:00.000Z'
         },
-        returnVersionStartDate: '2023-02-13',
+        returnVersionStartDate: '2023-02-13T00:00:00.000Z',
         requirements: ['return requirements data'],
         checkPageVisited: true,
         startDateOptions: 'licenceStartDate'
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ describe('Return Versions Setup - Generate Return Version service', () => {
       expect(result.returnVersion.multipleUpload).to.be.false()
       expect(result.returnVersion.notes).to.be.undefined()
       expect(result.returnVersion.reason).to.equal(sessionData.reason)
-      expect(result.returnVersion.startDate).to.equal(new Date('2023-02-13 '))
+      expect(result.returnVersion.startDate).to.equal(new Date('2023-02-13'))
       expect(result.returnVersion.status).to.equal('current')
       // Version number is 103 because this is the next version number after the previous version
       expect(result.returnVersion.version).to.equal(103)
@@ -134,7 +134,7 @@ describe('Return Versions Setup - Generate Return Version service', () => {
       expect(result.returnVersion.multipleUpload).to.be.true()
       expect(result.returnVersion.notes).to.equal(sessionData.note.content)
       expect(result.returnVersion.reason).to.equal(sessionData.reason)
-      expect(result.returnVersion.startDate).to.equal(new Date('2023-02-13 '))
+      expect(result.returnVersion.startDate).to.equal(new Date('2023-02-13'))
       expect(result.returnVersion.status).to.equal('current')
       // Version number is 1 because no previous return versions exist
       expect(result.returnVersion.version).to.equal(1)
@@ -179,7 +179,7 @@ describe('Return Versions Setup - Generate Return Version service', () => {
       expect(result.returnVersion.multipleUpload).to.be.false()
       expect(result.returnVersion.notes).to.be.undefined()
       expect(result.returnVersion.reason).to.equal(sessionData.reason)
-      expect(result.returnVersion.startDate).to.equal(new Date('2023-02-13 '))
+      expect(result.returnVersion.startDate).to.equal(new Date('2023-02-13'))
       expect(result.returnVersion.status).to.equal('current')
       expect(result.returnVersion.version).to.equal(1)
     })
diff --git a/test/services/return-versions/setup/submit-start-date.service.test.js b/test/services/return-versions/setup/submit-start-date.service.test.js
index f36d1d66d9..58ad233bd8 100644
--- a/test/services/return-versions/setup/submit-start-date.service.test.js
+++ b/test/services/return-versions/setup/submit-start-date.service.test.js
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ describe('Return Versions Setup - Submit Start Date service', () => {
         const refreshedSession = await session.$query()
 
         expect(refreshedSession.startDateOptions).to.equal('licenceStartDate')
+        expect(new Date(refreshedSession.returnVersionStartDate)).to.equal(new Date('2023-01-01'))
       })
 
       describe('and the page has been not been visited', () => {
@@ -118,7 +119,7 @@ describe('Return Versions Setup - Submit Start Date service', () => {
         expect(refreshedSession.startDateDay).to.equal('26')
         expect(refreshedSession.startDateMonth).to.equal('11')
         expect(refreshedSession.startDateYear).to.equal('2023')
-        expect(refreshedSession.returnVersionStartDate).to.equal('2023-10-26')
+        expect(new Date(refreshedSession.returnVersionStartDate)).to.equal(new Date('2023-11-26'))
       })
 
       it('returns the correct details the controller needs to redirect the journey', async () => {