Quick version
To copy many forms: Go to Import Center, choose Copy from last year, select your forms, and click Continue.
To copy one form: Open it on the Forms page under last year and use Actions > New tax year copy.
In the Helper, the employers, payers, and lenders you file for are called Issuers. Copying a form creates a new one for the current tax year, with the same Issuer, Recipient, and form type. Box amounts aren’t copied. You’ll enter this year’s amounts on the new form.
Copy several forms at once
Click Copy from Last Year on the Dashboard or go to Import Center.
Select Copy from last year and click Continue.
Check the forms you want to bring forward. Each row shows the Issuer, Recipient, form type, and last year’s status.
Click Continue.
Issuers and Recipients carry over automatically with the forms you copy.
Why isn’t a form listed? A form isn’t listed if:
It’s already been copied.
It’s already there this year: this year already has a form with the same Issuer, Recipient, and form type.
Its Issuer or Recipient is inactive.
If nothing qualifies, you’ll see “All your prior-year forms have already been copied, or there are no forms to copy.”
Copy one form
Go to Forms.
Click the tax year selector at the top of the page and choose last year.
Find the form and click Actions on its row.
Click New tax year copy.
Check that Target tax year shows the current tax year, then click Create.
Check first: Make sure you don’t already have this form for this year. Copying one form at a time doesn’t check for duplicates.
What happens next
You’ll see “New submission created for tax year…” and the new form opens. It starts as Incomplete, with the same Issuer, Recipient, and form type, and empty boxes. Enter this year’s amounts and save. Last year’s form doesn’t change.
Common questions
Are last year’s amounts copied?
No. Only the Issuer, Recipient, and form type carry over. Enter this year’s amounts on the new form.
Can I copy from any earlier year?
No. You can only copy from last year into the current tax year.
Why does it say no other tax years are available?
You can only copy a form from last year. Forms from the current tax year, or from two or more years back, show this message. Choose last year in the tax year selector first, then copy a form from that list.
Why can’t I copy a form?
Its Issuer or Recipient may be marked inactive. Reactivate them first. The form type may also not be available for the new tax year yet. In that case, you’ll see a message that the new year’s version of the form isn’t available. Try again later, or create the form for the new year directly.
Does copying change last year’s form?
No. The copy is a separate form in the new tax year.
When your copied forms are complete, you’re ready to eFile. See How to eFile with the IRS or SSA.