How to import TurboTax return info from previous year into a current year return that is already mostly completed, on Desktop version?

[Deckard1]

I am about finished with a current year return, when I needed to make changes to my previous year return that has not been filed yet.  Now I need to import those previous changes into the current return.  

Can 'import previous' only occur when you first start a new return?  Why is there not simply an 'update/transfer previous year' info button?  I cannot be the first user to ever process more than one year at a time, with this type of issue.  It would be absurd to start over.  Otherwise, going forward each year, the past return info will always be incorrect.  

[VolvoGirl]

Sorry.  You can only transfer into a new blank return.  Or make the changes manually in the current return.  What did you need to change in 2021?   Maybe it won't affect 2022. 

[Deckard1]

Thanks.  Thats a dumb limitation.  

[NCperson]

@Deckard1 - It is not a 'dumb limitation'. 

 Turbo Tax presumes that its customer has completed the prior year return (and filed!) before beginning the current year return.  I suspect that covers 99.5% of its customer based - and maybe higher.  You may not be the only one requiring that functionality but are in quite a minority.

Why should TT create the functionality that could cost millions, for such a few users.

further, since the IRS signs off on their software, why would the IRS approve changes that provide flexibilty to delay filing? 

why is holding you back from completing the prior year tax return? and what is it that would require carrying forward, other than a tax loss carry forward? 

[Critter-3]

FYI ... the same limitation applies to professional tax programs so this is not something that can easily be done or the professional programs would have done it by now.  

[mikameeko2023]

People make mistakes on previous years tax forms and have ethical reasons to correct those errors.  Makes sense that if older returns are updated/changed that a completely new import to the subsequent year which requires starting that return from the beginning is cheaper to do than creating the rules based algorithms to insert changes in a the subsequent years return that is already in progress.

What does not make sense is withholding the no-cost old downloads to install purchased software after 3 years have elapsed.  Nothing needs to be updated on older state tax forms 3 years later, but without them one cannot make corrections to older returns to benefit getting the correct carry forwards to returns within the 3 year current window.  This is a huge problem for TurboTax with an easy technical solution (keep the downloads available) with close to zero cost (no stewardship of new updates needed; just allow the program to update itself as it has for 3 years).

[mikameeko2023]

How do you come up with 99.5%?  I'm not trolling, just tend to think there is no research based evidence behind that number -- it's just a guess right?