Comparing to Last Year's Return

[Finnegan]

Hi,

Like many others I am having trouble comparing this year's return (2022) to last year's return (2021).  I am using a downloaded version of TurboTax Premier on a Windows 10 laptop.  I have several year's Turbotax history on this computer.  I did check and seem to have two accounts but it looks like both 2021 and 2022 were created under the same account.  I have tried many of the other suggestions offered by the Community but nothing produces either the data entry comparison or the final print comparison that I have seen in the past.  Is there some way I can link to the previous files?  This is frustrating when one of the nice capabilities of Turbotax is so hard to get to for so many people (judging from the community discussion on this topic).

Thanks in advance,

[DoninGA]

If you used the TurboTax desktop edition for 2021 and that tax data file was transferred to the 2022 tax return you are completing using the TurboTax desktop edition for 2022, the Two Year Comparison report is available.

Click on Forms.  When in Forms mode the report will be shown on the left side of the screen, labeled Two-Year Comp

If you used the desktop CD/Download editions installed on your computer, the only copy of your tax data file and any PDF's will be on the computer where the return was created.  TurboTax does not store online any returns completed using the desktop editions.

[Finnegan]

By “transferred” do you mean identified at the beginning of completing this years return?  I didn’t do that and started this year’s return by creating a new return from scratch.  It looks like if I try to transfer the older form at this point it erases the information I have already input for this year’s return.  Am I understanding this correctly?  Is there anyway to electronically do the comparison now that I have completed this year’s return?

[VolvoGirl]

Yes sorry.  You can only transfer the prior year into a new blank return.  So you would have to start over to transfer, go up to File-New.  What happened that you didn't transfer when you started?  

[Finnegan]

I was somewhat confused by the instructions, and obviously didn’t understand the benefits of transferring last year’s return.  A little more information/instruction at that point might have helped me avoid this problem.

[tkloth]

As I was doing this years return the table comparing this year to last year came up.  I didn't try to print it at that moment.  I have finished my return and would like to see that table again and print it.  I can't find it.  I use this for a sanity check to make sure there aren't any big/unexplained changes from last year.  So where is the table?

[Cynthiad66]

This table is buried in the worksheets of the return.  You will need to print All of the worksheets to get this Comparison table.

Go to Tax Home. Select the year you have just files. Click on Add another state. You should see Print Center on the left navigation bar. You can now print all kinds of worksheets and forms. 

[pkdh]

Is this function available in 2024 desktop?  I would really like to see an automated compare rather than do a manual comparison.   I know other software allows this and it's quite intuitive, but I cannot find it in Turbotax.

[DoninGA]

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@pkdh wrote:

Is this function available in 2024 desktop?  I would really like to see an automated compare rather than do a manual comparison.   I know other software allows this and it's quite intuitive, but I cannot find it in Turbotax.

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There is a two year comparison worksheet available in Forms.  Click on View at the top of the desktop program screen.  Click on Forms

When in Forms mode, scroll down the page and there should be a Two-Year Comp listed on the left side of the Forms mode screen.  Click to open the worksheet.

[pkdh]

Thank you!  It was only getting a comparison on one individual form, but when I closed and reopened, it was there - just as you said.