Using the Proforma Wizard to transfer client files to the current year

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While the proforma feature is currently available, it is not fully finalized and may necessitate re-proforma actions that could overwrite any details you have entered in the current year's program.

It may be best to postpone the proforma transfer of your clients until closer to the season.

Before you start:

• When you transfer or proforma your clients, you start in the prior year program. An update will typically become available around October which enables the Proforma Wizard.
  1. Open the previous year version of Lacerte. For example, if you are transferring to 2024, open 2023.
  2. From the Tools menu, choose Lacerte Updates.
• Statements and worksheets entered on Screen 47 of the Individual module will proforma.
• For instructions on transferring your program settings to the current year of Lacerte see here.
• Lacerte will already be updated to the latest version in the Rightworks environment.

Transferring all your client data to the current tax year using the Proforma Wizard

1. Open Lacerte2023.
2. From the Tools menu choose Transfer Clients (Proforma to 2024).
3. When the Proforma Wizard starts, select Next.
4. Choose Transfer all my clients for all my modules at once and click Next.
5. Lacerte will show you a Module Initialize screen while it preparers the data.
6. Select Typical (Recommended) if you use the Lacertedefault locations and click Next.
7. Review your setting and click Transfer Now.
8. If a Diagnostics Results window appears it means the client may have a critical diagnostic, such as the taxpayer is deceased. We recommend printing this for later review.
9. Select Finish.
10. Open Lacerte2024 and the transfer will be automatically completed. If Lacertewas already opened, from the Client menu, choose Refresh.

Once completed, go to Client ⮕ Tax Types and ensure all expected tax types are selectable and showing up. If not, then please see here for how to solve for the missing tax types.

Transferring one or some of your client data to the current tax year using the Proforma Wizard

If you don't need to transfer all of your clients, follow these steps for a partial transfer.

1. Open the previous year of Lacerte.
2. From the Client menu, choose the Tax Type of the clients you need to transfer.
3. From the Tools menu, choose Transfer Clients (Proforma to 2024).
4. When the Proforma Wizard starts, select Next.
5. Choose Select specific clients from the Module Tax Program,  and select Next.
6. Lacertewill show you a Module Initialize screen while it preparers the data.
7. Select Typical (Recommended) if you use the Lacertedefault locations and select Next.
8. In the Available Clients list, select the client you want to transfer and choose Add to add them to the Clients to Transfer list.
9. Once your list is complete select Next.
10. Review your setting and select Transfer Now.
11. If a Diagnostics Results window appears it means the client may have a critical diagnostic, such as the taxpayer is deceased. We recommend printing this for later review.
12. Select Finish.
13. Open Lacerte and the transfer will be automatically completed. If Lacertewas already opened, from the Client menu, select Refresh.

What comes over in the Proforma?

Here's what should come over in a proforma or data conversion:

For Lacerte Tax Proforma Wizard:

• Statements and worksheets entered on Screen 47 of the Individual module.

For General Data Conversion

• Personal Information: Taxpayer, spouse, and dependent details.
• Names: Information related to interest, business, estates, partners, and shareholders.
• Carryover Amounts: If they can be obtained.
• Depreciation Data.

Items That Generally Do Not Proforma or Convert:

It's important to note that the conversion process is generally limited to basic information and may not transfer all data. Specifically:

• Individual returns with a deceased taxpayer (Single, MFS, or HOH filing status) will not proforma.
• Business returns marked as a "Final Return" will not transfer.
• If a K-1 is marked as final, the partner will not proforma.
• Some state-specific driver's license or other identification information may not copy if the state requires additional verification or does not allow copying.
• Balance sheet amounts proforma to the current year Balance Sheet screen, but may not display on Schedule L until current year ending amounts are entered and all requirements for completing the balance sheets are met.
• Proforma data may be invalid, missing, or modified, which can be indicated by diagnostic messages (e.g., Ref. 56744).
• Prior year tax liability amounts in the Penalties and Interest input screen might not be updated for IRS changes (Ref. 56626).
• Proforma process may remove gaps in asset prefixes, which can increase processing time.
• Prior special depreciation allowance for states that did not conform may not transfer correctly (Diagnostic 60015).

Related topics:

• Resolving proforma errors in Lacerte
• Failure during proforma processing or “failed to transfer” when attempting to proforma client
• Why did some client data not proforma?