Client quote; what did we have last year? Transfer prior year data field entries to current year and display as shadow fields next to current year fields

[DK50]

The most often heard client question of my 30 years is quote, what did we have last year? It would be most helpful to have the transfer program transfer prior year data field entries to current year and display as shadow fields next to current year fields. Currently, I use my second screen to open the prior year to answer this question, which is time-consuming and hazardous. Since we don't have a post-efile lock, which I think should be a legal issue, I have been know to make changes to the wrong year (come on, confess, so have you). With automatic recovery turned on, this leads to losing the original "as filed" copy of the return, which again, should probably be a legal issue.

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

"Since we don't have a post-efile lock,"

There is the ability to "lock" a file so you cant accidently change it.  I've never used, it but they added it a year or two ago. 

[Skylane]

As Lisa said, we got a post efile lock (after years of requests)... it works pretty well but is a bit cumbersome. The other alternative is to change the properties of last years files to read only. Gives you a lot of flexibility without risk of messing up the file.

[dclemens]

When entering items such a w2, 1099 etc pro system fx shows prior year amount in a different color - right next to the input space for the current year entry.  Very helpfull.