Download Drake Tax from the Drake Download Center at support.drakesoftware.com. Log in, choose Downloads, select Drake Tax, pick your tax year, then click Download. You need your account number and serial number to install. Drake Tax 2026 requires Windows 11 or Windows Server 2019, 2022, or 2025. Windows 10 is no longer supported.
Drake Tax is Windows desktop software. You cannot buy it in a shop or find it on an app store. Every copy comes from Drake’s own support website, and you need an active account to get one. This guide covers the whole process. Where to download Drake Tax, what your computer needs, how to install it on one machine or across a network, and how to fix the errors that stop most people. At Nexus United Inc we set Drake up for preparers every season, so the troubleshooting section covers the problems we actually see rather than generic advice. All specifications below come from Drake’s knowledge base and were checked on 7 August 2026.
Where Do You Download Drake Tax Software?
Download Drake Tax from the Drake Download Center, which sits inside the Drake Software Support website at support.drakesoftware.com. Drake does not distribute the software anywhere else.
Follow these five steps:
- Go to support.drakesoftware.com and log in with your SSO account credentials.
- From the main support page, choose Downloads, then Drake Tax.
- Pick your tax year from the drop-down list.
- Click Download.
- Choose Run to install straight away, or Save to keep the file for later.
If you save the file, put it somewhere you can find again, such as your Documents folder. If the download does not start on its own, check your Downloads folder for the executable. Downloading from the support site matters. It guarantees you get the current build with the latest form updates and security patches.
What Do You Need Before You Download?
Have these three things ready before you start:
- Your Drake account number.
- Your account-specific serial number. Find it by logging into the support site and choosing Account > Serial Numbers on the left. If the serial number you need is missing, call Drake’s accounting department on (828) 349-5900.
- Your SSO login details. These are the same credentials you use for Drake Hub.
Two more things to do first:
- Turn off auto backups temporarily. Go to Tools > File Maintenance > Backup. Backups running mid-install cause failures.
- Pause other auto-updating programs. Antivirus and update tools can interrupt the installer.
Which Tax Years Can You Download?
Drake keeps older versions available, but support and updates stop after a few years. Here is what is on offer.
| Tax year | Download available? | Support available? | Updates available? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | Preseason release pending | Yes | Yes |
| 2025 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2024 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2023 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| 2022 | Yes | No | No |
| 2021 | Yes | No | No |
| 2020 | Yes | No | No |
| 2019 | Yes | No | No |
| 2018 and earlier | No | No | No |
Drake Tax preseason releases usually arrive in late November or December. Check the Download Center for the current status of the 2026 program.
Is There a Free Drake Software Download?
Drake offers a free trial, not a free full version. The trial includes sample clients and practice returns for 1040 and business forms, so you can test data entry and workflow before you buy. Drake Tax Online has a separate free trial. Beyond the trial, every download requires a paid account and a valid serial number. There is no free tier and no perpetual free licence.
Be careful with sites offering a “free Drake software download” or a cracked copy. Three reasons to avoid them:
- The software will not activate. Installation asks for an account number and serial number tied to a real Drake account.
- You put client data at risk. Modified installers are a common route for malware.
- You may breach IRS rules. Paid preparers must protect taxpayer data under IRS Publication 4557 and the FTC Safeguards Rule. Running unlicensed software on a machine holding client records puts your PTIN and EFIN in jeopardy.
If cost is the obstacle, Drake’s Pay-Per-Return plan is the cheapest legitimate entry point. [Internal link: Drake Tax pricing for 2026]
What Are the Drake Tax System Requirements for 2026?
Drake Tax 2026 requires Windows 11 or Windows Server 2019, 2022, or 2025. Older versions of Windows will not run it.
Which Operating Systems Does Drake Support?
Supported:
- Windows 11
- Windows Server 2019
- Windows Server 2022
- Windows Server 2025
No longer supported:
| Operating system | Last supported version |
|---|---|
| Windows Server 2016 | Drake Tax 2025 |
| Windows 10 | Drake Tax 2024 |
| Windows Server 2012 | Drake Tax 2024 |
| Windows 8.1 | Drake Tax 2021 |
| Windows 7 and Server 2008 | Drake Tax 2018 |
| Windows XP and Vista | Not supported at all |
Keep every operating system fully updated. Windows 11 running in S mode is not compatible. You can switch out of S mode, but the change cannot be reversed, so ask an IT professional first.
What Are the Minimum and Recommended Specs?
| Component | Minimum | Recommended |
|---|---|---|
| Operating system | Windows 11 | Windows 11 Professional, 64-bit |
| Processor | 2.0 GHz (Intel Core i3 or equivalent) | 2.5 GHz multi-core (Intel Core i5 or equivalent) |
| Memory | 8 GB RAM | 16 GB RAM |
| Disk space | 4 GB | SSD drive |
| Monitor | 1920 x 1080 resolution | 1920 x 1080 or higher |
| Internet | High-speed DSL, cable, or fibre | Cable or fibre, 25 Mbps or faster |
| Printer | Windows GDI or HP-compatible laser | Same |
| Browser | Microsoft Edge installed | Edge installed, any default browser |
| Scanner | Not required | TWAIN-compliant |
Disk space grows with your client count. Four gigabytes is the floor, not a realistic target for a busy practice.
Drake Tax also needs these Microsoft components:
- .NET Framework 4.7 or higher
- .NET Desktop Runtime 8.0.0 or higher (included with the installer)
- ASP.NET Core Runtime 8.0.0 or higher
- WebView2 Runtime, needed for Drake Portals to work with Drake Documents
If any are missing, the Drake Tax Prerequisites Setup Wizard opens automatically after installation and walks you through it.
What Hardware Will Not Run Drake Tax?
Four setups will fail. Check these before you buy a machine.
- ARM-based processors. Drake Tax will not run on them. This includes Snapdragon and Qualcomm chips found in many new Windows laptops, such as the Microsoft Surface Pro, and Apple M-series chips. Spec sheets rarely use the phrase “ARM-based,” so look up the processor before buying.
- Network-attached storage (NAS). Installing Drake Tax to a NAS drive or device is not supported.
- Cloud storage services. Google Drive, OneDrive, and Dropbox cannot be used to share Drake data files or host the installation.
- Unsupported virtual environments. Drake supports only Rightworks for cloud hosting. AWS, Cloud9, VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, and Parallels Desktop are not supported, and Drake will not troubleshoot them.
How Do You Install Drake Tax Step by Step?
Once the file has downloaded, the installer walks you through the rest. Here is the full sequence.
- Run the installer. Respond to any security warning, then select Yes when the pop-up appears.
- Choose the program. Click Install Drake Tax for your tax year.
- Accept the licence agreement. Read it, then click Next.
- Pick the install location. The installer shows last year’s location. Unless your network has changed, choose the same path. Click Next.
- Confirm the installation details. The program is ticked by default. Test returns only install with the preseason release. Click Next.
- Select your state programs. This step appears in January, not in December. Click Next.
- Enter your account number and serial number. Use the “Look up your account number, EFIN, e-file password, and serial number” link on the left if you need them.
- Read the IRS Security Summit pages. Click Next on each, then click Install on the summary page.
- Install any missing prerequisites. The Prerequisites Setup Wizard opens if needed.
- Click Finished when installation completes.
The first time you open Drake Tax, you agree to the licence and set up your administrator login. Settings then update automatically from the prior year.
If you used Drake Tax the previous year, the next year’s program may have auto-installed already. Check before downloading manually.
Cannot find the desktop icon afterwards? That is a known issue when a new Windows release arrives after the software. Drake’s knowledge base covers the fix.
How Do You Install Drake Tax on a Network?
Network setup follows the same steps with one rule that trips up most firms.
Install to the root of the drive you will run the software from. Installing into a subfolder produces errors. This is the most common cause of failed network installs.
Beyond that:
- Install on the server or host computer first, then set up the workstations.
- A dedicated server is recommended, though peer-to-peer networks work fine for small offices.
- Every computer must meet the system requirements, not just the server.
- Do not install to a NAS device. Drake does not support it.
Drake networks scale from a single preparer to a hundred. [Internal link: return limits by plan]
What Should You Do After Installing Drake Tax?
Installation is not the finish line. Four tasks remain before you can file.
Set Your Administrator Password
Drake prompts you to create an administrator login on first launch. Use a long, unique password. The FTC Safeguards Rule requires access controls on any system holding client tax data, and this is your first line of defence.
Install Your State Programs
State programs are selected during installation in January. If you skipped them, or you pick up a new state client mid-season, install them separately from the Tools menu.
Move Client Files From a Previous Computer
Moving to a new machine and want to keep client files and settings? Do not simply install and start fresh. Drake has a documented process for transferring an existing installation that preserves your configurations.
Coming from different software? Drake includes free data conversion from most competing products.
Register Your EFIN
You cannot e-file until Drake has your EFIN on record. Pull your IRS e-File Application Summary from IRS e-Services and submit it to Drake. Do this early, because approval takes time and every January it takes longer. [Internal link: PTIN and EFIN requirements]
How Do You Fix Common Drake Download and Installation Errors?
Most failures trace back to one of six causes.
| Problem | Likely cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Download will not start | Browser security warning blocked it | Approve the warning, then check your Downloads folder for the executable |
| Installer stops partway | Auto backup or antivirus running | Turn off auto backups at Tools > File Maintenance > Backup, pause antivirus, then retry |
| Serial number rejected | Wrong number, or licence not on your account | Check Account > Serial Numbers on the support site, or call (828) 349-5900 |
| Network install throws errors | Installed to a subfolder | Reinstall to the root of the drive |
| Features missing after install | Microsoft prerequisites absent | Let the Prerequisites Setup Wizard install .NET Framework and the runtimes |
| Program will not run at all | ARM-based processor | Check your chip. Snapdragon, Qualcomm, and Apple M-series will not work |
Still stuck? Call Drake Support on (828) 524-8020. Support is free and unlimited with every Drake Tax licence. Have your account number, serial number, and system details ready before you call.
Can You Run Drake Tax on a Mac?
Not directly. There is no Mac or Linux version of Drake Tax desktop. You have three options instead.
- Drake Tax Online. It runs in a browser, so it works on any Mac or Linux machine.
- Rightworks hosting. Drake’s supported cloud partner lets you reach the Windows desktop version from a Mac.
- A Windows virtual machine. Some users get this working, but Drake does not support it and will not troubleshoot it.
One firm warning. Macs with M-series chips use ARM processors, so Drake Tax will not run properly even inside a Windows virtual machine. Drake Tax Online or Rightworks are the only reliable routes for M-series Macs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the Drake Download Center?
The Drake Download Center is part of the Drake Software Support website at support.drakesoftware.com. Log in with your SSO credentials, choose Downloads, then Drake Tax, and select your tax year. Drake does not distribute its software anywhere else.
Can I download Drake Tax Software for free?
Drake offers a free trial with sample clients and practice returns, but not a free full version. Every full download needs a paid account and a valid serial number. Avoid third-party sites offering free or cracked copies, because they will not activate and they put client data at risk.
Does Drake Tax work on Windows 10?
No. Drake ended Windows 10 support after Drake Tax 2024. Drake Tax 2026 requires Windows 11 or Windows Server 2019, 2022, or 2025. Windows 10 still runs Drake Tax 2015 through 2024 if you need an older year.
How much RAM does Drake Tax need?
Drake Tax needs 8 GB of RAM as a minimum and 16 GB as the recommended amount. It also needs a 2.0 GHz Intel Core i3 processor or better, 4 GB of free disk space, and a monitor capable of 1920 x 1080 resolution.
Why does my Drake network installation keep failing?
The usual cause is installing to a subfolder. Drake Tax must be installed to the root of the drive you run it from, or it produces errors. Also check that every workstation meets the system requirements and that the software is not on a NAS device, which Drake does not support.
How do I find my Drake serial number?
Log into the Drake Software Support website, then choose Account, then Serial Numbers from the left-hand menu. If the serial number you need is not listed, contact Drake’s accounting department
Can I download prior years of Drake Tax?
Yes. Drake Tax 2019 through 2025 are available from the Download Center. Tax years 2023 onward still get support and updates. Years 2019 through 2022 can be downloaded but receive neither. Anything from 2018 or earlier is no longer available.
Need help getting set up?
Nexus United Inc supports tax preparers through installation, EFIN registration, and their first season on Drake.
