diff --git a/ledger-mode.el b/ledger-mode.el
index db06d4b7..c1c0c539 100644
--- a/ledger-mode.el
+++ b/ledger-mode.el
@@ -92,11 +92,12 @@
                                            (regexp-quote account))
                                          (ledger-accounts-list))))
 
-(defun ledger-read-date (prompt)
+(defun ledger-read-date (prompt &optional default-time)
   "Return user-supplied date after `PROMPT', defaults to today.
 This uses `org-read-date', which see."
-  (ledger-format-date (let ((org-read-date-prefer-future nil))
-                        (org-read-date nil t nil prompt))))
+  (ledger-format-date (let ((org-read-date-prefer-future nil)
+                            (org-extend-today-until 0))
+                        (org-read-date nil t nil prompt default-time))))
 
 (defun ledger-get-minibuffer-prompt (prompt default)
   "Return a minibuffer prompt string composing PROMPT and DEFAULT."
diff --git a/ledger-xact.el b/ledger-xact.el
index 2ab98919..34ea63a8 100644
--- a/ledger-xact.el
+++ b/ledger-xact.el
@@ -151,7 +151,9 @@ MOMENT is an encoded date"
   "Ask for a new DATE and copy the transaction under point to that date.
 Leave point on the first amount."
   (interactive  (list
-                 (ledger-read-date "Copy to date: ")))
+                 (ledger-read-date "Copy to date: "
+                                   (ledger-parse-iso-date
+                                    (ledger-xact-date)))))
   (let* ((extents (ledger-navigate-find-xact-extents (point)))
          (transaction (buffer-substring-no-properties (car extents) (cadr extents)))
          (encoded-date (ledger-parse-iso-date date)))