- var_dump: documentation ( source)
<?php
$date = new DateTime();
$startDate = new DateTime("2016/11/24");
$startDate->add(new DateInterval('P12M'));
$diff = $date->diff($startDate);
var_dump($diff);
$surplus = $diff->d > 0 ? 0 : 1;
echo ($diff->y * 12 + $diff->m + $surplus);
//echo $date->format('Y-m-d H:i:s');
//echo $startDate->format('Y-m-d H:i:s');
?>