What is Drake Tax?
Drake Tax is professional tax preparation software used by tax professionals and accounting firms to prepare individual and business tax returns at scale. It supports all federal forms and most state tax forms, with a focus on speed — experienced preparers can complete returns rapidly using its keyboard-driven workflow.
While not AI-first like newer fintech tools, Drake Tax has incorporated automation for data import from prior-year returns, error checking and e-filing. It's particularly popular with smaller tax practices and solo preparers due to its competitive flat-fee pricing model compared to per-return pricing from larger competitors.
Key Features
All Federal & State Forms
Comprehensive coverage of individual, business, and specialty tax forms across all US states.
Fast Data Entry
Keyboard-driven interface optimised for experienced preparers to complete returns quickly.
Prior-Year Import
Automatically imports client data from the previous year's return to speed up preparation.
E-Filing Built In
Direct e-filing to the IRS and state agencies from within the software.
Pros & Cons
What we like
Flat-fee pricing model is cost-effective for high-volume preparers
Comprehensive form coverage across federal and state
Fast keyboard-driven workflow once learned
Strong reputation among small accounting practices
Watch out for
Steeper learning curve than newer cloud-first tools
Less AI-driven automation than modern fintech alternatives
Desktop-first software, though cloud hosting options exist
Best suited for professional preparers, not individual taxpayers
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes — Drake Tax's flat-fee pricing model is particularly attractive to solo preparers and small practices since cost doesn't scale per return, unlike many competitors.
Yes — Drake Tax includes built-in e-filing for federal and state tax returns directly from the software.
Drake Tax is primarily desktop software, though cloud hosting add-ons are available for remote access.