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Drake Tax
Franklin, North Carolina, United States
What it is
Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software for federal and state income tax returns. Every state is included without additional state modules. The software runs hundreds of return diagnostics and validation rules, and supports electronic form imports, prior-year data through LookBack, calculation tracing with LinkBacks, and scenario comparisons in Drake Tax Planner. Users can prepare, review, and e-file returns online through a browser, while Drake Tax Desktop is natively Windows-based. Drake identifies cloud hosting and Drake Tax Online as options for Mac users. There are no additional e-filing fees, and selected plans allow extra returns to be purchased individually. Listed integrations 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. Packages include unlimited U.S.-based support by phone, email, or live chat, plus training resources. A free trial download includes sample clients and practice returns. Listed Tax year 2026 plans range from $299.99 to $3,145 a year; the pricing note states from $379.99/yr.
For and against
For
- Covers federal returns and all state returns
- Runs hundreds of diagnostics and validation rules
- Includes browser-based preparation and e-filing
- Offers LookBack, LinkBacks, and Tax Planner
- Provides unlimited U.S.-based support
Against
- Desktop application is natively Windows-based
- Some 2025 data entry requires a Windows PC
- Additional integration and add-on fees may apply
- No free plan is available
The verdict
Drake Tax combines return preparation, diagnostics, planning tools, online filing, and support for professional workflows. Buyers should match the plan and platform requirements to their filing volume and desktop needs.
Who it suits
Drake Tax is intended for professional preparers. Drake describes Drake Tax Pro as suited to complex, high-volume firms and Drake Tax 1040 as suited to 1040-focused preparers.
Plans and prices
Drake Tax Online
First user included · additional users $99 each · individual returns $49.99 each · business returns $74.99 each
Read 4 Oct 2026 · drakesoftware.com
Pay-Per-Return
10 individual returns included · additional individual returns $49.99 each · business returns $74.99 each · multi-user
Read 4 Oct 2026 · drakesoftware.com
Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited — Single User
Unlimited individual returns · business returns $74.99 each
Read 4 Oct 2026 · drakesoftware.com
Drake Tax 1040 150 — Single User
150 individual returns · additional individual returns $49.99 each · business returns $74.99 each
Read 4 Oct 2026 · drakesoftware.com
Drake Tax Pro 250 — Single User
250 total individual and business returns · additional returns: $49.99 individual, $74.99 business
Read 4 Oct 2026 · drakesoftware.com
Drake Tax Pro Unlimited — Single User
Unlimited individual and business returns · single user
Read 4 Oct 2026 · drakesoftware.com
On the record
- Accuracy tools
- Drake says it runs hundreds of return diagnostics and validation rules to help ensure accuracy.drakesoftware.com · read 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.drakesoftware.com · read 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.drakesoftware.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Coverage
- The software supports federal and state income tax preparation, and all states are included without additional state modules.drakesoftware.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- 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.drakesoftware.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Desktop platform
- Drake Tax Desktop is natively a Windows-based application; Drake identifies cloud hosting and Drake Tax Online as options for Mac users.drakesoftware.com · read 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.drakesoftware.com · read 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.drakesoftware.com · read 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.drakesoftware.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software designed to streamline tax preparers’ workflows.drakesoftware.com · read 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.drakesoftware.com · read 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.drakesoftware.com · read 4 Oct 2026
- Support
- Drake says all packages include free, unlimited U.S.-based support by phone, email, or live chat, plus training resources.drakesoftware.com · read 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.drakesoftware.com · read 4 Oct 2026
