Is there an expression using modulo to do backwards wrap-around ("reverse overflow")?

Your expression should be ((x-1) + k) % k. This will properly wrap x=0 around to 11. In general, if you want to step back more than 1, you need to make sure that you add enough so that the first operand of the modulo operation is >= 0.

Here is an implementation in C++:

int wrapAround(int v, int delta, int minval, int maxval)
{
  const int mod = maxval + 1 - minval;
  if (delta >= 0) {return  (v + delta                - minval) % mod + minval;}
  else            {return ((v + delta) - delta * mod - minval) % mod + minval;}
}

This also allows to use months labeled from 0 to 11 or from 1 to 12, setting min_val and max_val accordingly.

Since this answer is so highly appreciated, here is an improved version without branching, which also handles the case where the initial value v is smaller than minval. I keep the other example because it is easier to understand:

int wrapAround(int v, int delta, int minval, int maxval)
{
  const int mod = maxval + 1 - minval;
  v += delta - minval;
  v += (1 - v / mod) * mod;
  return v % mod + minval;
}

The only issue remaining is if minval is larger than maxval. Feel free to add an assertion if you need it.

k % k will always be 0. I'm not 100% sure what you're trying to do but it seems you want the last month to be clamped between 0 and 11 inclusive.

(this_month + 11) % 12

Should suffice.

The general solution is to write a function that computes the value that you want:

//Returns floor(a/n) (with the division done exactly).
//Let ÷ be mathematical division, and / be C++ division.
//We know
//    a÷b = a/b + f (f is the remainder, not all 
//                   divisions have exact Integral results)
//and
//    (a/b)*b + a%b == a (from the standard).
//Together, these imply (through algebraic manipulation):
//    sign(f) == sign(a%b)*sign(b)
//We want the remainder (f) to always be >=0 (by definition of flooredDivision),
//so when sign(f) < 0, we subtract 1 from a/n to make f > 0.
template<typename Integral>
Integral flooredDivision(Integral a, Integral n) {
    Integral q(a/n);
    if ((a%n < 0 && n > 0) || (a%n > 0 && n < 0)) --q;
    return q;
}

//flooredModulo: Modulo function for use in the construction
//looping topologies. The result will always be between 0 and the
//denominator, and will loop in a natural fashion (rather than swapping
//the looping direction over the zero point (as in C++11),
//or being unspecified (as in earlier C++)).
//Returns x such that:
//
//Real a = Real(numerator)
//Real n = Real(denominator)
//Real r = a - n*floor(n/d)
//x = Integral(r)
template<typename Integral>
Integral flooredModulo(Integral a, Integral n) {
    return a - n * flooredDivision(a, n);
}