Drake Tax
Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software for preparers, with federal and state income tax support and all states included without additional state …
What Drake Tax is
Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software for preparers, with federal and state income tax support and all states included without additional state modules. It offers desktop and online versions: Drake Tax Desktop is natively Windows-based, while Drake Tax Online supports preparing, reviewing, and e-filing returns in a browser without local installation. Drake says its accuracy tools run hundreds of return diagnostics and validation rules. Preparers can import electronic tax forms, use prior-year data with LookBack, trace calculations with LinkBacks, and compare scenarios in Drake Tax Planner. E-filing has no additional fees, and certain plans let users buy extra returns individually. Packages include U.S.-based support by phone, email, or live chat, plus training resources. A free trial download includes sample clients and practice returns, with no duration stated. Additional fees may apply to integrations and add-ons. Drake Tax Online’s 2025 desktop data-entry mode for certain return types requires a Windows PC, and its included desktop software cannot independently prepare or file returns.
Good
- Federal and state income tax preparation
- All states included without extra state modules
- Hundreds of return diagnostics and validation rules
- Unlimited U.S.-based support by phone, email, or live chat
Watch out
- No free plan
- Desktop application is natively Windows-based
- Certain 2025 online data-entry modes require Windows
- Additional fees may apply to integrations and add-ons
Who it suits
Drake describes Tax Pro as suited to complex, high-volume firms and Tax 1040 to preparers focused on individual returns. The online version may suit users who want browser-based return preparation.
Verdict
Drake Tax covers federal and state preparation, with online and desktop options and included e-filing. Compare the listed return limits and per-return charges with your workflow, and check the Windows requirements for the specific online mode you need.
Plans and prices
From Drake Tax's own pricing page, checked 4 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Drake Tax Online | $299.99 a year | First user included · additional users $99 each · individual returns $49.99 each · business returns $74.99 each · Tax year 2026 |
| Pay-Per-Return | $379.99 a year | 10 individual returns included · additional individual returns $49.99 each · business returns $74.99 each · multi-user · Tax year 2026 |
| Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited — Single User | $1,895 a year | Unlimited individual returns · business returns $74.99 each · Tax year 2026 |
| Drake Tax 1040 150 — Single User | $2,075 a year | 150 individual returns · additional individual returns $49.99 each · business returns $74.99 each · Tax year 2026 |
| Drake Tax Pro 250 — Single User | $2,375 a year | 250 total individual and business returns · additional returns: $49.99 individual, $74.99 business · Tax year 2026 |
| Drake Tax Pro Unlimited — Single User | $3,145 a year | Unlimited individual and business returns · single user · Tax year 2026 |
The facts
Each one read from Drake Tax's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Accuracy tools
- Drake says it runs hundreds of return diagnostics and validation rules to help ensure accuracy.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Audience
- Drake describes Drake Tax Pro as best for complex, high-volume firms and Drake Tax 1040 as ideal for 1040-focused preparers.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Cloud security
- Drake Tax Online states that it uses 128-bit encryption in transit and at rest, MFA, U.S.-based SOC 2-compliant servers, role-based access controls, strong password policies, and automatic session timeouts.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Coverage
- The software supports federal and state income tax preparation, and all states are included without additional state modules.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Integrations
- Listed integrations and add-ons include Drake Accounting and Payroll, Drake Workflow, Drake Portals, Drake E-Sign, Drake Pay, bank products, TheTaxBook WebLibrary Plus, and GruntWorx; additional fees may apply.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Notable limit
- Drake Tax Online’s 2025 desktop data-entry mode for certain return types requires a Windows-based PC, and the included desktop software cannot independently prepare or file returns.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Online version
- Drake Tax Online lets users access returns through a browser without local installation and prepare, review, and e-file returns online.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software designed to streamline tax preparers’ workflows.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Returns and fees
- There are no additional e-filing fees, and Drake Tax Pro 250 and Drake Tax 1040 150 users can purchase additional returns individually.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Security
- The pricing page lists multi-factor authentication, role-based access control, automatic session timeout, file backup, and encryption in transit and at rest among its security and backup features.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Drake says all packages include free, unlimited U.S.-based support by phone, email, or live chat, plus training resources.checked 4 Oct 2026
Money
- Data and planning
- Features include importing electronic tax forms, accessing prior-year data with LookBack, tracing calculations with LinkBacks, and comparing scenarios with Drake Tax Planner.checked 4 Oct 2026
- Trial
- Drake offers a free trial download with sample clients and practice returns for 1040 and business forms; the page does not state a trial duration.checked 4 Oct 2026
Where it runs
- Desktop platform
- Drake Tax Desktop is natively a Windows-based application; Drake identifies cloud hosting and Drake Tax Online as options for Mac users.checked 4 Oct 2026
The company
- Founded
- 1977checked 28 Sep 2026
- Headquarters
- Franklin, North Carolina, United Stateschecked 28 Sep 2026
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