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Gordon Brown has confirmed that the Budget statement will be delivered on Wednesday March 24.
Delivering a speech on the economy in London this morning, the prime minister said the Budget would be held "in two weeks' time".
He could then go to Buckingham Palace to call the election on 6 April, after the Easter holiday weekend.
MPs and peers would then spend a short time in Parliament to negotiate remaining bills before being dissolved on Monday April 12 in preparation for a May 6 general election.
The Times reported that in the past few weeks Brown, along with business secretary Lord Mandelson, schools secretary Ed Balls and energy secretary Ed Miliband, have considered the merits of an earlier election battle but rejected the idea.
During his speech, Brown said that he had guided the economy through a "storm" and was best-placed to secure its recovery.
He also announced a pay freeze on senior public employees.
"We will do whatever it takes to protect the recovery," he said.
He argued the economy was at a "crossroads" and Labour must show the same "resolve" now as during the 2008 banking crisis.
The prime minister said the coming election would be about both character and policy.
"I believe character is not about telling people what they want to hear but telling them what the need to know," he said.
In a direct plea to the electorate Brown added: "I will not let you down".
Dods Parliamentary Communications Ltd