Current/Previous Record ID
When filing your tax forms electronically, the Current Record ID field specifies the record ID listed in the XML file sent to the IRS. If a filing error is reported by the IRS, use this ID to help locate the record that needs to be fixed. When you re-file electronically, the Current Record ID changes to reflect the new record ID in the XML submission.
The Previous Record ID field specifies the record ID from the XML submission immediately preceding the latest submission, and is used to help maintain a history across several submissions.
Use of Current and Previous IDs
When you file electronically, the filing information for employee 1 is given the record ID 37 in the XML submission, and the system updates the Current Record ID field with the number 37. Later, the IRS reports an error with record ID 37. By using the Current Record ID field, you can trace the record back to employee 1. After you fix the error, you select the Corrected field, and regenerate an XML submission. However, in the new XML file, the filing information for employee 1 is now given the record ID 19, so the system changes the Current Record ID field to 19, and specifies record ID 37, from the original XML submission, in the Previous Record ID field.