What Is Drake Tax Software, and What Does It Cost in 2026?

By Camren Majors, CRO, Verito. Updated May 2026.

Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software, built by Drake Software in Franklin, North Carolina since 1977 and used by tens of thousands of tax pros. For tax year 2026 it starts at $379.99 for Pay-Per-Return (10 returns) and runs from about $1,775 to $2,995 for higher-volume plans, sold in single-user and multi-user versions. Data conversion from competing software is included.

Key takeaways

• Drake Tax has been built by Drake Software since 1977 and is used by tens of thousands of tax pros.
• Pay-Per-Return starts at $379.99 (10 returns); Drake Tax 1040 runs about $1,775 to $2,195, Drake Tax Pro about $2,245 to $2,995.
• Plans come in single-user and multi-user versions, with all 50 states included.
• Data conversion from most competing software is included; multi-state returns carry no per-state fees.
• Drake is Windows desktop software; host it on a private cloud server for access from any device, including Mac.

What Is Drake Tax Software?

Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software for firms that file federal and state returns for individuals and businesses. Drake Software, based in Franklin, North Carolina, has built it since 1977. It is used by tens of thousands of tax professionals and supports 4,300 or more federal and state forms and schedules.

Drake earned its reputation on reliability, affordability, and depth. It handles tight deadlines and complex returns without the per-module upcharges that pile up in other platforms. For many small and mid-sized firms, it is the workhorse that runs the whole season.

What Are Drake Tax’s Key Features?

Drake Tax is built for speed and accuracy. Data flows automatically from federal to state and city returns, multi-state filing needs no extra modules, and shortcut keys and macros cut data entry. DoubleCheck flags items for review, LinkBacks cross-reference figures, and Drake Documents stores client files securely. Tax Planner and Quick Estimator handle scenarios.

The features that preparers lean on most:

• Automatic data flow from federal to state and city returns.
• Multi-state returns with no extra modules or fees.
• Shortcut keys and macros to speed up data entry.
• DoubleCheck to flag, verify, or note items for review.
• LinkBacks for fast cross-referencing of data.
• Drake Documents for secure storage of forms and client files.
• Drake Tax Planner and Quick Estimator for scenario planning.
• Amortization schedules, K-1 reporting, integrated card payments, and print to PDF.

How Much Does Drake Tax Software Cost in 2026?

Drake Tax offers four pricing paths for tax year 2026, with single-user and multi-user options and free data conversion. Pay-Per-Return starts at $379.99 for 10 returns. Drake Tax 1040 runs about $1,775 to $2,195. Drake Tax Pro runs about $2,245 to $2,995. Drake Tax Online starts at $299.99. Prices shift with promotions.

Plan	Price (tax year 2026)	Returns and users	Best for
Pay-Per-Return	$379.99 (10 returns included)	Pay as you go; $49.99 per added individual return, $74.99 per business	Low or variable volume
Drake Tax 1040	~$1,775 to $2,195	Unlimited or capped individual returns; business returns pay-per-return	1040-heavy firms
Drake Tax Pro	~$2,245 to $2,995	Unlimited or 250-return individual and business filing	Full-service, high-volume firms
Drake Tax Online	$299.99 first user	Cloud-native, pay-per-return; $99 per added user	Part-time or remote preparers

Two things keep Drake’s total cost low. All 50 states are included with no per-state add-on, and free data conversion from most competing software keeps switching costs down. The headline price covers the software only. It does not include the server, backups, security tooling, or remote access most firms need to run it safely, which is where hosting enters the budget. Always confirm current rates with Drake Software, since promotions and return counts move the final number.

What Add-Ons Does Drake Tax Offer?

Drake extends its core with five main add-ons. Drake Accounting handles bookkeeping and payroll. Drake Portals, also called SecureFilePro, exchanges files with clients. GruntWorx automates data entry and document organization. E-Pay and Tax Payment Options process client card payments. Together they centralize a firm’s workflow and keep client communication secure.

Add-on	What it does
Drake Accounting	Integrated accounting and payroll
Drake Portals (SecureFilePro)	Secure file exchange with clients
GruntWorx	Automated data entry and document organization in Drake Documents
E-Pay	Accept credit and debit card payments
Tax Payment Options	Flexible payment options for clients

What Are Drake Tax’s System Requirements?

Drake Tax runs on Windows 10 Pro 64-bit with at least 4 GB of RAM, a 2.0 GHz or faster processor, and 2 GB of free disk space, though an SSD is recommended. You also need .NET Framework 4.7 or higher, a high-speed internet connection, and a Windows GDI or laser printer.

Component	Recommendation
Operating system	Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit
RAM	At least 4 GB
Processor	2.0 GHz or faster
Disk space	At least 2 GB (SSD recommended)
.NET Framework	Version 4.7 or higher
Internet	High-speed for best performance
Printer	Windows GDI or laser printer

If your hardware is older than these specs, that is usually the moment firms look at hosting Drake on a cloud server instead of upgrading every workstation.

How Does Drake Tax Compare to Other Tax Software?

Drake’s edge is flexible pricing. Pay-Per-Return and capped-return tiers let small and high-volume firms pay for what they file, while many rivals charge a higher base and meter every user. All 50 states are included rather than sold as add-ons. Where Drake costs more is hosting: its own cloud add-on lists at $114 per user per month.

Criteria	Drake Tax	Many other tax tools
Pricing flexibility	Pay-per-return and capped-return options	Higher base cost, fewer flexible options
Multi-state returns	All 50 states included	Often require add-ons
Licensing	Single-user or multi-user versions	Often strict per-user pricing
Cloud hosting	Available; Drake’s own add-on lists at $114/user/mo	Varies, often bundled or restricted
Compliance	Runs in SOC 2, IRS, and FTC-ready hosting	Varies by provider

That hosting line is where firms overpay without noticing. Drake’s listed cloud option (powered by Rightworks) runs $114 per user per month, while a dedicated private server built for tax firms starts at $69. The best fit is a firm that wants cost-effective, flexible tax software, then pairs it with hosting that does not erase the savings.

Why Host Drake Tax Software in the Cloud?

Drake Tax is a desktop application, so hosting it on a private cloud server gives your team remote access from any location without moving to new software. You get daily backups, MFA, and SOC 2 Type II security, plus the ability to run Drake alongside QuickBooks and other apps on one server.

Hosting solves the two problems desktop Drake creates as a firm grows: it ties staff to one machine, and it puts data protection on your shoulders. Move it to a dedicated private cloud server and remote work, backups, and security stop being your weekend project.

Verito hosts Drake on dedicated private servers built for tax firms: 100% uptime since 2016, AES-256 encryption, MFA, daily backups, and SOC 2 Type II certified data centers aligned with IRS Publication 4557 and the FTC Safeguards Rule. Support is a real person in under 60 seconds, not a ticket queue, and migration is white-glove, usually done in 24 to 48 hours. See hosting plans from $69/user.

Is Drake Tax Cloud-Based?

Drake Tax is desktop software, not a browser app. You install it on a Windows machine. To use it from anywhere, you host that desktop version on a dedicated private cloud server with a provider like Verito, which gives remote access, automatic backups, and compliance-grade security without changing how Drake works.

This is the part that confuses buyers. “Cloud” does not mean Drake became a website. It means your existing Drake install lives on a server you reach by secure remote desktop, from any device, while the interface and files stay exactly as your team knows them. Your licenses and configuration carry over, so there is no retraining.

Does Drake Tax Work on a Mac?

Drake Tax desktop is Windows-only, so it does not install natively on macOS. Drake Tax Online is browser-based and Mac-friendly, but for the full desktop version, Mac users host Drake on a private cloud server and reach it by secure remote desktop. The interface and files stay identical, with no Windows machine in the office.

Most Mac-based firms do not switch products; they host the Windows version. Your team logs in from a Mac, a tablet, or any browser, and Drake runs exactly as it would on a Windows desktop, with backups and security handled on the server.

Does Drake Tax Include All 50 States?

Yes. Every Drake Tax plan includes all federal and state programs with no per-state fee. Multi-state returns flow automatically from the federal return, and city or local programs are supported for states like Ohio, Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania. That bundled coverage is a large part of why firms rate Drake well on value.

For firms with clients across state lines, this is the line item that adds up elsewhere. Many competing products meter states or sell local modules separately. Drake folds them into the base price.

Does Drake Tax Offer a Free Trial?

Yes. Drake Software offers a free trial download of Drake Tax with sample clients and practice returns for 1040 and business forms, so you can test data entry and the e-file workflow before buying. A separate free trial is available for Drake Tax Online. Neither requires a purchase to evaluate the software.

If you are weighing Drake against your current platform, run last season’s typical return through the trial first. Pair that with a hosting trial and you can test the software and the environment it will actually run in before you commit.