Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software for preparers working on federal and state income tax returns. All states are included without separate state modules. Drake says its diagnostic and validation tools run hundreds of checks to help with accuracy. Preparers can import electronic tax forms, bring forward prior-year data with LookBack, trace calculations using LinkBacks, and compare scenarios in Drake Tax Planner. E-filing carries no additional fees. The product is available as desktop software and as an online version. Drake Tax Desktop is natively a Windows application; Drake identifies cloud hosting and Drake Tax Online as options for Mac users. Drake Tax Online runs in a browser without local installation and supports preparing, reviewing, and e-filing returns. Drake says every package includes unlimited U.S.-based support by phone, email, or live chat, along with training resources. A free trial download includes sample clients and practice returns for 1040 and business forms. Plans range from Pay-Per-Return at 379.99 USD per year to Drake Tax Pro Unlimited at 3145.00 USD per year, billed for tax year 2026. Drake Tax Online is listed at 299.99 USD per year. Additional fees may apply to integrations and add-ons, which include Drake Accounting and Payroll, Drake Workflow, Drake Portals, Drake E-Sign, Drake Pay, bank products, TheTaxBook WebLibrary Plus, and GruntWorx. Drake describes its Pro package for complex, high-volume firms and its 1040 package for preparers focused on individual returns.
Who it is for
Drake Tax suits professional preparers who need federal and state return preparation, with all states included. Drake describes its Pro option for complex, high-volume firms and its 1040 option for preparers focused on individual returns.
What is good
- Includes federal and state income tax preparation for all states.
- Runs hundreds of return diagnostics and validation rules.
- Includes electronic filing without additional e-filing fees.
- Offers prior-year data, calculation tracing, and scenario comparison tools.
- Packages include unlimited U.S.-based support and training resources.
What to know first
- There is no free plan.
- Drake Tax Desktop is natively Windows-based.
- Additional fees may apply to integrations and add-ons.
Verdict
Choose Drake Tax if you prepare federal and state returns and want diagnostics, prior-year data tools, and included e-filing. The main reason to look elsewhere is platform fit: the desktop application is Windows-based, and certain Drake Tax Online data-entry work requires a Windows PC.
Get started with Drake Tax
- Visit the Drake Tax product website.
- Choose a desktop or online option that fits your workflow and platform.
- Download the free trial to use sample clients and practice returns.
- Select a plan for tax year 2026.
- Use the included support by phone, email, or live chat, or consult the training resources.
Limits to know first
Pay-Per-Return costs 379.99 USD per year and includes 10 individual returns; additional individual returns cost $49.99 each and business returns cost $74.99 each. Drake Tax Online’s 2025 desktop data-entry mode for certain return types requires a Windows-based PC, and its included desktop software cannot independently prepare or file returns.
Questions about Drake Tax
Does Drake Tax have a free plan?
No. Drake offers a free trial download with sample clients and practice returns for 1040 and business forms; no trial duration is stated.
What is the starting price?
The listed starting price is 379.99 USD per year for Pay-Per-Return, billed for tax year 2026. Drake Tax Online is listed at 299.99 USD per year.
Which platforms can I use?
Drake Tax Desktop is natively Windows-based. Drake Tax Online works in a browser without local installation, and Drake identifies it and cloud hosting as options for Mac users.
Are state returns included?
Yes. Federal and state income tax preparation is supported, and all states are included without additional state modules.
What integrations and add-ons are listed?
They 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.
What support comes with a package?
Drake says all packages include unlimited U.S.-based support by phone, email, or live chat, plus training resources.
Drake Tax plans and pricing
All plansCompared on tax preparation software
- Free plan
- No
