When you create a new Individual Tax Return for a client who already has an ITR from the previous tax year, BrightTax offers the option to roll forward the data. This copies the prior year's figures and schedules into the new return as a starting point, saving time on data entry for clients with similar income year on year.

When you create a new ITR task and a prior year return exists for the same client, a prompt will appear immediately after the task is created:

• Click OK to roll forward — prior year data is copied into the new return.
• Click Cancel to start with a blank return — no prior year data is carried across.

The roll forward copies the structure and figures from the prior year return, including:

• All supplementary schedules that were included in the prior year return
• Figures entered on each schedule
• Client and address details from the client record

The roll forward does not:

• Update figures automatically — all rolled forward data must be reviewed and updated for the current year
• Carry forward PAYE figures, tax deducted at source, or submission history
• Guarantee that rolled forward figures are correct for the new tax year

After a roll forward, BrightTax will flag schedules that require review with a tick in the supplementary pages list. You must work through each flagged schedule, update the figures for the current year, and save before running Check and Calculate.

1. Go to the Summary tab and click What Makes Up the Tax Return: Supplementary Pages.
2. You will see ticks next to schedules that have been rolled forward and need review.
3. Click the + symbol next to each flagged schedule to open it.
4. Switch to Edit mode using the bottom-left toggle.
5. Review and update all figures for the current tax year.
6. Click Save after updating each schedule.
7. Once all schedules have been reviewed and saved, run Check and Calculate.

Q: I forgot to roll forward when creating the task — can I do it now?

A: No. The roll forward option is only available at the point of task creation. If you need rolled forward data, discard and delete the current task and recreate it, selecting OK when prompted.

Q: The rolled forward figures look wrong — how do I correct them?

A: Open each schedule, switch to Edit mode, and update the figures manually. The rolled forward data is a starting point and should always be reviewed before submission.

Q: Does rolling forward affect the prior year return?

A: No. Rolling forward creates a copy of the prior year data in the new return. The original prior year return is not affected.