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Paid plans start at $299.99/mo.
Drake Tax starts at $299.99 per tax year for Drake Tax Online, but that is a base price: individual returns cost $49.99 each and business returns cost $74.99 each. The desktop Pay-Per-Return option is $379.99 and includes 10 individual returns. Listed desktop plans range from $1,895 to $3,145 per tax year. Drake says desktop licenses are annual, with no monthly subscription; the free-trial length is not published.
01Every plan, line by line
| Plan | Billed annually | Billed monthly | Built for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drake Tax Pro Unlimited, multi-user | $3,145 | — | High-volume firms with multiple preparers |
| Drake Tax Pro Unlimited, single user | $2,375 | — | High-volume, single-preparer firms |
| Drake Tax Pro 250, multi-user | $2,695 | — | Multi-preparer firms with capped volume |
| Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited, multi-user | $2,325 | — | Multi-preparer firms focused on 1040s |
| Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited, single user | $1,895 | — | Single preparers focused on 1040s |
| Drake Tax 1040 150, multi-user | $2,075 | — | Multi-preparer firms with capped 1040 volume |
| Pay-Per-Return | $379.99 | — | Firms with unpredictable return volume |
| Drake Tax Online | $299.99 | — | Preparers wanting cloud-based tax prep |
Add-ons and overages
- Practice Essentials Bundle: from $599; listed checkout price $599
- Practice Essentials Plus Bundle: listed checkout price $849
- Additional individual returns: $49.99 each
- Additional business returns: $74.99 each
- Drake Tax Online additional users: $99 each
- Rightworks secure cloud hosting: $114 per user/month
02What the plan grid doesn't tell you
Per-return fees
Additional individual returns cost $49.99 each; business returns cost $74.99 each on plans that charge per return.
Online user charges
Drake Tax Online includes one user. Each additional user costs $99.
Cloud hosting
Optional Rightworks secure cloud hosting is listed at $114 per user per month.
Practice bundles
Practice Essentials starts at $599; Practice Essentials Plus is listed at $849.
03Which plan should you buy?
| If you are… | Get | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Single preparers focused on 1040s | Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited, single user | It costs $1,895 per tax year and includes unlimited individual returns; business returns cost $74.99 each. |
| Multi-preparer firms with capped volume | Drake Tax Pro 250, multi-user | It costs $2,695 per tax year and covers up to 250 total individual and business returns, with fees for additional returns. |
| Preparers who want cloud-based tax prep | Drake Tax Online | The $299.99-per-tax-year base includes one user; individual and business returns and additional users cost extra. |
04Is Drake Tax worth the money?
Drake Tax is worth comparing if you need professional return preparation and want desktop or cloud-based options, with connected tools for client documents, workflow, signatures and payments. The price grid’s key catch is that lower entry prices can come with per-return or per-user fees, while desktop licenses are annual. We can’t call it cheaper than competing software from these figures alone: the published information includes no competitor pricing or cross-vendor comparison.
Drake Tax pricing FAQ
How much do accountants usually charge to file your taxes?
Drake’s pricing information covers tax software, not what an accountant charges clients to prepare a return. It does not publish an average accountant fee. The software price and the preparer’s fee are separate costs, so use the Drake figures to estimate software spend, not your client’s filing bill.
How much does Drake Tax software cost per year?
For tax year 2026, listed annual prices start at $299.99 for Drake Tax Online and $379.99 for Pay-Per-Return. Listed desktop plans range from $1,895 to $3,145 per tax year. Return charges, extra users and optional hosting can add to the total.
How much does Drake cost?
The price depends on the plan. Drake Tax Online has a $299.99-per-tax-year base, with per-return fees. Pay-Per-Return costs $379.99 and includes 10 individual returns. Listed unlimited desktop plans cost $1,895 to $3,145 per tax year. Drake does not publish monthly equivalents for desktop licenses.
Is Drake a good tax software?
Drake offers professional return preparation in desktop and cloud-based options, plus tools for client documents, workflow, e-signatures and AI data extraction. Whether it fits depends on your return mix, user count and workflow. The pricing information alone doesn’t establish how it compares with other tax software.