Drake Tax Software costs between $299.99 and $3,145 for tax year 2026. Pay-Per-Return starts at $379.99 and includes 10 individual returns. Drake Tax 1040 runs $1,895 to $2,325. Drake Tax Pro runs $2,375 to $3,145. Drake Tax Online starts at $299.99. Every plan includes all 50 states, e-filing, and unlimited support. Prices rise on 1 December 2026.
Drake Tax is professional tax software built in Franklin, North Carolina. Tax preparers use it to file federal and state returns. The price depends on two things: how many returns you file, and whether you need business returns. This guide breaks down every plan, every add-on fee, and the renewal deadline that saves you money. All prices come from Drake’s official pricing page and were checked on 7 August 2026.
Drake Tax Software Pricing 2026
| Plan | Returns included | Price now | Price from Dec 1 | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Tax Online | Buy returns as needed | $299.99 | $299.99 | Cloud access, part-time preparers |
| Pay-Per-Return (PPR) | 10 individual | $379.99 | $379.99 | Under 40 returns a year |
| Drake Tax 1040 150 | 150 individual | $1,895 | $1,995 | 40–150 individual returns |
| Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited (single user) | Unlimited individual | $2,075 | $2,195 | Solo 1040 practice |
| Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited (multi-user) | Unlimited individual | $2,325 | $2,445 | 1040 firm with staff |
| Drake Tax Pro 250 | 250 of any type | $2,375 | $2,495 | Mixed practice under 250 returns |
| Drake Tax Pro Unlimited (single user) | Unlimited, all types | $2,695 | $2,845 | Solo preparer with business clients |
| Drake Tax Pro Unlimited (multi-user) | Unlimited, all types | $3,145 | $3,295 | Multi-preparer firm |
Extra returns cost $49.99 for individual filings and $74.99 for business filings on any capped plan.
Source: Drake Software official pricing
How Much Is Drake Tax Software for Each Plan?
Drake sells four products. Each one suits a different practice size. Here is what you get for the money.
Pay-Per-Return (Drake PPR): $379.99
- Drake Pay-Per-Return costs $379.99 for tax year 2026. That price includes 10 individual returns. After that, you pay $49.99 per individual return and $74.99 per business return.
- PPR is a multi-user license. It fits new preparers, seasonal practices, and anyone unsure of their volume. You pay for what you file and nothing more.
- One catch: PPR users cannot buy Drake’s Practice Essentials bundle. If you want Portals or E-Sign, you must buy them separately.
Drake Tax 1040: $1,895 to $2,325
Drake Tax 1040 suits preparers who mostly file individual returns. Business returns are still available, but you pay $74.99 for each one.
Three versions exist:
- Drake Tax 1040 150 — $1,895, capped at 150 individual returns
- Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited, single user — $2,075
- Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited, multi-user — $2,325
The gap between the 150 tier and Unlimited single-user is only $180. That equals about four extra returns. Read the break-even section below before you pick the cheaper one.
Drake Tax Pro: $2,375 to $3,145
Drake Tax Pro handles every return type without per-return fees. That covers 1040, 1120, 1120-S, 1065, 1041, 990, and 706 filings.
Three versions exist:
- Drake Tax Pro 250 – $2,375, capped at 250 returns of any type
- Drake Tax Pro Unlimited, single user – $2,695
- Drake Tax Pro Unlimited, multi-user – $3,145
Pro is the right pick once business returns become a regular part of your book.
Drake Tax Online Pricing: $299.99
- Drake Tax Online costs $299.99 for tax year 2026. That covers the first user. Extra users cost $99 each.
- Returns are billed as you file them: $49.99 for individual and $74.99 for business. Bulk discounts apply when you buy returns up front.
- Drake Tax Online runs in the browser, so it works on a Mac. The desktop products are Windows-only.
What Comes Free With Every Drake Tax Plan?
Every Drake Tax product includes these at no extra charge:
- All 50 states, with no per-state fee
- Federal and state e-filing
- Drake Tax Planner — the built-in tax planning tool
- Data conversion from most competing software
- Unlimited US-based support by phone, email, and chat
- Prior-year editions (2023 and 2024 included; 2025 available)
- 4,300+ federal and state forms
- DoubleCheck, LookBack, and LinkBacks review tools
- Document manager, Client Status Manager, and Scheduler
Two of these matter more than preparers expect. All-states inclusion saves real money if you file multi-state returns. And Drake Tax Planner is bundled, not sold separately, so you do not need a second product for tax planning. A free trial is available for both Drake Tax and Drake Tax Online.
What Do Drake Add-Ons Cost?
The plan price covers tax preparation. Client portals, e-signatures, workflow tools, and accounting are sold on top.
Practice Essentials Bundle: $599 or $849
Drake bundles its three practice tools and cuts the price by about 40%.
| Bundle | Price | Includes |
|---|---|---|
| Practice Essentials | $599 (was $1,000) | Drake Portals with 25 GB, Drake Workflow, 200 basic e-signatures, 50 KBA e-signatures |
| Practice Essentials Plus | $849 (was $1,425) | Drake Portals with 50 GB, Drake Workflow, unlimited basic e-signatures, 100 KBA e-signatures |
The base bundle fits Drake Tax Pro 250, Drake Tax 1040 150, and Drake Tax Online with 25–249 returns. Plus fits the Unlimited plans and Drake Tax Online with 250 or more returns. Pay-Per-Return users are not eligible for either.
Drake E-Sign Cost
Included e-signatures cover most small practices. Once you use them up:
- Basic e-signature – $1.00 per event, five-event minimum
- KBA e-signature – $2.25 per event, five-event minimum
KBA means knowledge-based authentication. The IRS requires it for remote signatures on Form 8879.
Drake Portals Pricing
Drake Portals comes inside both bundles. Extra storage costs $99.99 per 25 GB per year. Buying Portals inside Practice Essentials costs far less than buying it alone.
Drake Accounting Software Price
Drake Accounting and Payroll is sold separately and bundled at a discount with Drake Tax Pro and Drake Tax 1040. Pricing changes with the tax package you pick.
Cloud Hosting
Drake Tax is Windows desktop software. To reach it from a Mac or from home, you need hosting. Drake’s SOC 2 hosting partner charges $114 per user per month. That adds up. One user costs $1,368 a year — often more than the software itself. Budget for it before you commit.
When Does Drake Software Renewal Pricing Increase?
Drake’s promotional pricing ends 30 November 2026. Retail pricing takes effect 1 December 2026.
Buying before the deadline saves between $100 and $150 per license:
| Plan | Now | From Dec 1 | You save |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Tax Pro Unlimited (multi-user) | $3,145 | $3,295 | $150 |
| Drake Tax Pro Unlimited (single user) | $2,695 | $2,845 | $150 |
| Drake Tax Pro 250 | $2,375 | $2,495 | $120 |
| Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited (multi-user) | $2,325 | $2,445 | $120 |
| Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited (single user) | $2,075 | $2,195 | $120 |
| Drake Tax 1040 150 | $1,895 | $1,995 | $100 |
Existing customers may qualify for further early-renewal discounts based on purchase date. Check your Drake account dashboard or call support at (828) 524-8020.
Which Drake Plan Is Cheapest for Your Return Volume?
Most preparers overpay because they guess. The math is simple once you know your volume. Here are the four break-even points.
1. Pay-Per-Return vs Drake Tax 1040 150 – switch at 41 returns. PPR costs $379.99 plus $49.99 per return after the first 10. At 40 individual returns, you pay $1,879.69. At 41, you pay $1,929.68, which beats the $1,895 flat rate for Drake Tax 1040 150. File more than 40 returns, and the flat plan wins.
2. Drake Tax 1040 150 vs 1040 Unlimited – switch at 154 returns. The two plans differ by $180. Extra returns on the 150 tier cost $49.99 each. Four extra returns erase the savings. Only pick the 150 tier if you are confident you will stay under 150.
3. Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited vs Drake Tax Pro – switch at 9 business returns. Drake Tax 1040 charges $74.99 per business return. Pro Unlimited costs $620 more than 1040 Unlimited at the single-user level. That gap equals 8.3 business returns. File nine or more entity returns a year and Pro is cheaper.
4. Drake Tax Pro 250 vs Pro Unlimited – switch at about 257 returns. The plans differ by $320. Extra individual returns cost $49.99, so roughly seven overage returns close the gap. Business overages at $74.99 close it in four.
Rule of thumb: under 40 returns, buy PPR. Between 40 and 150 individual returns, buy Drake Tax 1040 150. Over 150 individual returns, buy 1040 Unlimited. Any practice filing nine or more business returns should buy Drake Tax Pro.
How Do You Buy Drake Tax Software?
You can buy Drake Tax three ways:
- Online at drakesoftware.com/pricing, using the Buy Now button on your chosen plan
- By phone through Drake sales at (800) 890-9500
- At renewal inside your existing Drake account dashboard
Try the free trial first. It ships with sample clients and practice returns, so you can test data entry before you spend anything.
Before you buy, confirm your license count. Drake licenses desktop software per physical site and per EFIN. A second office or a second EFIN usually needs its own license. Firms with several locations may qualify for a discount.
Is Drake Tax Software Worth the Cost?
Drake works out cheapest for firms that file steady volume and want everything included. All 50 states, free data conversion, and unlimited support are bundled, and competitors often charge for those separately. Drake is a weaker fit in three cases. Firms wanting a modern browser-first interface may prefer another platform. Mac-only offices pay for hosting on top. And very low-volume preparers may find Drake Tax Online cheaper than a desktop license. Compare your real return count against the break-even points above. The right license is the one that matches next season’s volume, not the one with the smallest sticker price.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does Drake Tax Software cost in 2026?
Drake Tax Software costs $299.99 to $3,145 for tax year 2026. Drake Tax Online starts at $299.99, and Pay-Per-Return starts at $379.99. Drake Tax 1040 runs $1,895 to $2,325, and Drake Tax Pro runs $2,375 to $3,145. Prices increase on 1 December 2026.
What is Drake Pay-Per-Return and how much is it?
Drake Pay-Per-Return, often called Drake PPR, costs $379.99 for tax year 2026 and includes 10 individual returns. Additional individual returns cost $49.99 each, and business returns cost $74.99 each. It is a multi-user license aimed at low-volume and seasonal preparers.
Does Drake Tax Software charge extra for state returns?
No. Every Drake Tax product includes all 50 states with no per-state fee. Multi-state returns carry no additional charge, which makes Drake competitive for preparers with clients in more than one state.
Is Drake Tax Planner sold separately?
No. Drake Tax Planner is included in every Drake Tax product at no extra cost, including Pay-Per-Return. You do not need to buy separate tax planning software to run projections for clients.
Can I pay monthly for Drake Tax Software?
No. Drake Tax is an annual license with no monthly subscription. Pay-Per-Return and Drake Tax Online offer pay-as-you-go pricing instead, which suits part-time preparers and practices with unpredictable volume.
Does Drake Tax Software work on a Mac?
Drake Tax is Windows desktop software and does not install on macOS directly. Drake Tax Online runs in a browser and works on a Mac. Alternatively, host Drake Tax on a cloud server for about $114 per user per month.
Is there a free trial of Drake Tax Software?
Yes. Drake offers a free trial of both Drake Tax and Drake Tax Online. The trial includes sample clients and practice returns for 1040 and business forms so you can test the workflow before buying.
