I have created a simple database but want the year in front of the autonumber. I don't care how it's done
EX the application number is 1999/0001 and so on. When year 2000 comes around i want it to start automatically at 2000/0001 and keep adding up until 2001 and start all over again.
I have been trying to figure it out for months. Please help

You have to create a custom Unique ID field. AutoNumber (as a table field type) cannot work for you in this instance.

On the Form that does the input of the records you will need to create an event that returns the year and the last number used in that year. Concatinate them together and populate the field.