Everything professional tax preparers need to know about renewing Drake Tax — pricing, deadlines, early discounts, step-by-step instructions, and what to do if you run into trouble.
Drake Tax is used by more than 64,000 tax professionals to prepare over 33 million returns annually. It is sold as an annual software license — not a monthly subscription — which means renewing each year is essential to maintaining access to the latest tax law updates, IRS e-file capabilities, and U.S.-based technical support. Drake Software is now a Taxwell company, headquartered at 111 Technology Dr., Franklin, NC. Current customers should always renew through their existing Drake account at support.drakesoftware.com — not through the new-customer purchase page. Renewal pricing, early-bird discounts, and Software Purchase Assistance (SPA) options are available for existing customers; the exact renewal price appears inside your Drake account dashboard upon login.
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How do I renew Drake Tax software? Log in to your existing Drake account at support.drakesoftware.com, navigate to Account > Renew, select your product, and complete checkout. Do not use the new-customer purchase page.Drake Software requires all current customers to renew through their established Drake account — not through the public new-sale page. The URL for returning customers is support.drakesoftware.com. Drake moved to a single sign-on (SSO) model in late 2022, meaning your email address is now your username across all Drake sites. If you have not logged in since the SSO migration, you will be prompted to verify your identity via a six-digit code sent to your email. Multi-site account holders (multiple EFINs) renew sub-accounts from Account > Sub-Offices. Multi-site renewals that are not eligible for online processing must call the Drake accounting department at (828) 349-5900. Once the renewal is completed online, orders are processed immediately and you receive a confirmation email to the address on file.
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What is the renewal price for Drake Tax? Exact renewal pricing is shown inside your Drake account dashboard. Published list prices for tax year 2025 licenses: Drake Tax Pro Unlimited (single user) $2,195; (multi-user) $2,495. Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited (single user) $1,795; (multi-user) $1,995. Pay-Per-Return: $349.99 for 10 returns.Drake Software does not publish renewal-specific pricing publicly — renewal pricing for existing customers is shown only after logging in to your Drake account, and may differ from new-customer list prices based on early-bird timing, bank reward credits, and promotional offers. According to published 2025 pricing compiled by Nexus United and thefinopartners.com: the Pay-Per-Return plan is approximately $345–$350 for 10 individual returns with additional returns at $29.99–$39.99 each. Unlimited plans range from approximately $1,795 (single user 1040) to $2,495 (multi-user full Pro). Power Bundle (Drake Tax + Drake Accounting) is approximately $1,975 for the unlimited tier. For the most accurate renewal price applicable to your account, log in at support.drakesoftware.com or call the accounting department at (828) 349-5900.
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When is the best time to renew to save money? Renew as early as possible — typically May or June — to get the lowest price of the year. Drake’s best early-bird renewal price historically expires May 31. The later you renew, the higher the price. Renewing in May vs. September can save hundreds of dollars on unlimited plans.Drake Software uses a tiered early-bird pricing model: the earlier you renew after the renewal window opens (typically in spring, post-tax-season), the lower your price. A 2025 Facebook post from Drake Software confirmed their best renewal price deadline was May 31, 2025. The Software Purchase Assistance (SPA) program — a zero-percent-down, zero-percent-interest deferred payment option through a bank partner — also opens for Early SPA enrollment on May 1 each year. Early SPA allows you to lock in the lowest renewal price while deferring actual payment until January. Early SPA enrollment runs May through September; after September, the standard SPA bank enrollment process applies. To maximize savings: renew or apply for Early SPA in May. Check your Drake account at support.drakesoftware.com in late April or early May to see your specific renewal price and current promotions.
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What is the Drake Software Purchase Assistance (SPA) program? SPA is a zero-down, zero-interest deferred payment program through one of five Drake-partnered banks. You get pre-approved in May, lock in the early renewal price, and repay through a percentage of your preparer fees once e-filing begins — no cash out of pocket at renewal.The Software Purchase Assistance program is specifically designed for tax professionals who need Drake Tax but want to defer the cost until tax season revenue is flowing. After approval, your chosen bank partner covers the software purchase — you repay through a small percentage of your bank product preparation fees withheld during the filing season. The percentage withheld varies by bank and is detailed in each bank’s SPA Agreement. Drake works with five bank partners for the SPA program. To apply for Early SPA (May 1 – September): log in at support.drakesoftware.com, go to Account > Bank Enrollment, select your bank, and check the SPA enrollment box. Bank approvals typically take up to 5 business days. Eligibility generally requires a history of bank enrollment and accepted bank products in the prior tax year — check your specific bank’s minimum requirements. This program is one of the most practical options for smaller practices or preparers with variable return volume.
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What’s the difference between Drake Tax Pro, Drake Tax 1040, and Pay-Per-Return? Drake Tax Pro: unlimited individual AND business returns (1040, 1120, 1065, 1120-S, 990, etc.); single or multi-user. Drake Tax 1040: unlimited individual 1040 returns only; business returns added à la carte. Pay-Per-Return (PPR): 10 returns included; pay as you go for more.The three Drake Tax desktop products differ primarily in the return types included and user count. Drake Tax Pro is the flagship unlimited plan — best for full-service tax firms preparing both individual and business returns. Drake Tax 1040 is best for preparers who handle mainly individuals, with the option to add business return packages. Pay-Per-Return includes 10 individual 1040 and 1040-NR returns in the base price, with each additional return at approximately $29.99–$39.99; this is the lowest-entry plan and best suited to very low-volume or seasonal preparers. All three plans include free, unlimited U.S.-based phone, email, and live chat support, plus access to Drake’s Knowledge Base, training videos, and practice returns. Drake Tax Online (DTO) is a separate, fully web-based product with its own pricing model based on return volume — contact Drake at (800) 890-9500 for DTO renewal pricing.
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What is Drake Tax Online, and how is renewal different? Drake Tax Online (DTO) is Drake’s fully web-based tax preparation platform — no local installation required. Renewal is handled differently: you receive a renewal email with a link, log in with your SSO credentials, select your return package, and pay. Former Drake Zero users are automatically transitioned to DTO.Drake Tax Online is Drake Software’s response to demand for cloud-based tax preparation. It prioritizes accessibility and security for preparers who work from multiple locations or prefer browser-based workflows. Drake Zero — the prior web product — was sunset in 2025, and all Drake Zero customers were migrated to Drake Tax Online upon renewal. If you were a Drake Zero user: you received a renewal email with a direct link to the DTO renewal page. Log in using your existing SSO credentials, choose your return count (individual and/or business), and confirm payment. Unused prior-year returns purchased under Drake Zero can be used to file prior-year returns through December 31, 2028, as long as you maintain an active DTO license. For 100+ individual returns or 50+ business returns on DTO, custom pricing is available — contact Order Management at (828) 349-5900.
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What happens if I don’t renew Drake Tax? If you do not renew, your software will not receive the new tax year’s updates, you will lose access to e-filing for the current season, and Drake’s U.S.-based support will not be available to your account. You can still use prior-year software to file prior-year returns but cannot prepare or file current-year returns.Drake Tax is an annual license — each year’s software version covers that specific tax year’s forms, IRS rules, and e-file specifications. Not renewing means your installed software becomes outdated and cannot prepare returns for the new tax year. E-filing access is year-specific: without renewal, you cannot electronically file current-year returns through Drake. Prior-year software continues to function for prior-year returns for a supported period. Importantly: Drake’s 2026 support policy change — noted by users on Capterra — has required that cloud-hosted Drake Tax use either Rightworks (Drake’s approved cloud hosting partner) or local computer/server installation. Third-party cloud hosting providers not on the approved list may experience installation issues with Drake 25 and forward. If you currently use a third-party cloud provider, contact Drake support at (828) 524-8020 before renewing to confirm compatibility with your hosting setup.
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What payment methods does Drake accept for renewal? Online renewal accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express, and Discover credit/debit cards. The SPA deferred-payment program is available through bank partner enrollment. Multi-site renewals and non-eligible accounts can renew by calling (828) 349-5900 or faxing a form to (828) 369-9928.Drake’s online renewal portal at support.drakesoftware.com processes card payments immediately upon checkout confirmation. You will need the cardholder name, billing address, card number, expiration date, and CVV. Always review product selections, quantities, and pricing before clicking Submit Payment — orders are processed promptly and cannot easily be reversed. For accounts that are not eligible for online renewal (multi-site accounts or new sales), the Drake accounting department at (828) 349-5900 handles the renewal manually. A renewal PDF form can also be faxed to the sales department at (828) 369-9928. Bank reward credits earned from prior-season bank product enrollment may also be applied toward renewal costs — check Account > Bank Enrollment > Bank Status in your Drake account to see any available credits before paying.
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Is there a free trial available before renewing or switching plans? Yes. Drake provides a free trial download of Drake Tax that includes sample clients and practice returns for 1040 and business forms. A separate free trial of Drake Tax Online is also available. These allow preparers to explore the interface and verify compatibility before committing to renewal.The Drake Tax free trial is available at drakesoftware.com and includes pre-loaded sample client data, test returns for Form 1040 and business forms, form calculations, and workflow navigation. It does not allow live e-filing — it is for evaluation and training purposes only. Drake Tax Online also has a free trial option, allowing preparers to test the fully browser-based experience before committing to a DTO subscription. This is particularly useful for preparers considering switching from the desktop product to the online version, or for new staff members learning the system before tax season. The trial does not affect your renewal eligibility or pricing. For hands-on training beyond the trial, Drake offers free webinars, a comprehensive Knowledge Base at kb.drakesoftware.com, video tutorials, and downloadable guides. All of these resources are available without cost to active Drake customers and trial users.
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Who do I call if I have problems renewing or need help with my account? Sales / renewal questions: (800) 890-9500. Technical support: (828) 524-8020. Accounting / billing / multi-site renewal: (828) 349-5900. Fax for renewal forms: (828) 369-9928. Email: use the contact form at drakesoftware.com. Live chat: available when logged in to support.drakesoftware.com.Drake Software is known in the professional tax community for fast, knowledgeable U.S.-based support — users on GetApp consistently report wait times of under 2 minutes to reach a live agent. Drake was the only software to place first in both NATP Product Satisfaction survey categories (price and software conversion package results). If you are locked out of your account or cannot log in with your SSO credentials, call (828) 524-8020 to have support verify your identity and restore access. If your account shows as ineligible for online renewal (multi-site or flagged as a new sale), call the accounting department directly at (828) 349-5900 — they can process renewal by phone and confirm whether bank credits or promotional pricing applies to your account. For TheTaxBook research subscription questions: the research add-on purchased with Drake Tax must be activated by April 1 of the filing year; the subscription expires December 1 of that year.
Sources: drakesoftware.com (pricing page; renewal portal; support.drakesoftware.com; 800-890-9500 sales; 828-524-8020 support); kb.drakesoftware.com (SPA program; multi-site renewal; SSO login; Drake Zero sunset; DTO renewal steps; system requirements); Drake Software Facebook (early renewal best price May 31); Nexus United / thefinopartners.com (2025 plan pricing); GetApp (64,000+ users; NATP #1 ranking; support response times); Capterra (2026 Rightworks cloud hosting policy); verito.com (33M+ returns processed); Taxwell company 111 Technology Dr Franklin NC
Sources: verito.com (64,000+ users; 33M+ returns); drakesoftware.com (all plans include unlimited US support; phone email live chat); nexusunitedinc.com (PPR ~$345–$350, $29.99–$39.99 additional); GetApp verified reviews (under 2 min wait; NATP #1)
Do not use the new-customer purchase page to renew. If you are a current Drake customer, go to support.drakesoftware.com and log in with your existing credentials. Using the new-sale path may create a duplicate account and billing complications. Multi-site account holders must call (828) 349-5900 if the online renewal shows as ineligible.
Sources: drakesoftware.com (renewal portal; SSO login; Download Center; bank enrollment); kb.drakesoftware.com (multi-site renewal; SSO migration; Drake Zero to DTO transition; SPA program; system requirements; network setup; prior-year carry-forward); Capterra 2026 reviews (Rightworks cloud hosting requirement; Drake 25 installation issues); GetApp verified reviews (prior-year data carry-forward praised; setup effortless)
After your annual license expires, you will no longer be able to prepare or e-file returns for the new tax year. However, your prior-year software remains functional for preparing and filing prior-year returns during the period those years remain IRS-supported. You will not receive software updates, new form releases, or tax law changes, and you will lose access to active technical support for your account. If you renewed Drake Tax Online (DTO), unused prior-year returns purchased under Drake Zero can be used through December 31, 2028, as long as you maintain an active DTO license. For standard Drake Tax desktop users, there is no equivalent carry-over provision — each tax year requires an active license for that year. The bottom line: do not let your license lapse if you plan to continue preparing returns. Renewal is annual, and the earlier you renew, the lower your price.
You can switch from PPR to an unlimited plan at any time by contacting Drake’s sales team at (800) 890-9500 or through the renewal portal. The unlimited plan becomes economical once you exceed approximately 55–70 returns depending on the plan tier — at roughly $29.99–$39.99 per additional return in the PPR plan, the math tips in favor of unlimited around that return count. Drake Tax 1040 Unlimited (single user) is approximately $1,795/year for unlimited individual 1040 returns — if you are doing even 50 returns at the PPR add-on rate, the unlimited plan pays for itself. Drake Tax Pro adds all business return types (1120, 1065, 1120-S, 990, 706, etc.) at approximately $2,195/year (single user). When comparing plans, call Drake sales — they can review your prior-year return volume from your account history and recommend the most cost-effective plan for your practice size.
Yes — Drake Software was acquired by Taxwell (formerly known as TaxAct for professionals). Drake Software now operates as a Taxwell company but continues under the Drake Software brand at drakesoftware.com, headquartered at its original location: 111 Technology Dr., Franklin, NC 28734. The software product lines, support structure, sales numbers, and branding remain unchanged from the customer perspective. Support is still at (828) 524-8020 and sales at (800) 890-9500. Copyright notices on Drake’s website now read “Drake Software, LLC, a Taxwell company.” For all practical purposes — renewal, support, pricing, and downloads — nothing has changed for existing customers. All existing account credentials, EFIN associations, and bank enrollments remain valid.
To restore or re-download Drake Tax after renewal: log in to your Drake account at support.drakesoftware.com, navigate to the Download Center, and download the current installation file for your renewed tax year. Always download directly from your Drake account to ensure you get the fully patched, current release — not an outdated version from a third-party site. If you are reinstalling on a new computer or after a hardware failure: download the same version, install, and use your account credentials to activate. Your prior-year client data should be restored from your most recent backup — Drake Tax stores data locally by default (check your data path under Setup > Options > Directories). If you used Drake Documents for cloud storage, your files are retrievable through your Drake account. Call (828) 524-8020 if you need help locating your data or re-activating your license on new hardware.
Sources: drakesoftware.com (Taxwell company; 111 Technology Dr Franklin NC; renewal via support.drakesoftware.com); kb.drakesoftware.com (Drake Zero sunset; DTO unused returns valid through Dec 31 2028; Download Center; data backup/restore); drakesoftware.com copyright “Drake Software LLC a Taxwell company”; nexusunitedinc.com ($29.99–$39.99 PPR additional returns; $1,795 unlimited 1040 single user; $2,195 Pro single user)
Use the links below to go directly to the most important Drake renewal resources. Current customers: always log in to your existing account first before purchasing.
🔑 Log In to Renew — support.drakesoftware.com 💰 View Plan Pricing — drakesoftware.com/pricing 📚 Knowledge Base & How-To Guides 🏦 Software Purchase Assistance (SPA) — Defer Payment 🆓 Download a Free Trial of Drake Tax 📞 Call Drake Sales: (800) 890-9500- Renew as early as possible after tax season ends — typically May — to lock in the best price. Drake’s lowest early-bird pricing historically expires May 31. The longer you wait, the higher the price. Check support.drakesoftware.com as soon as the renewal window opens.
- Consider the SPA deferred-payment program if cash flow is tight. Early SPA enrollment opens May 1 — apply through Account > Bank Enrollment. Zero down, zero interest; repayment comes from your bank product fees during filing season. Five bank partners available. Apply early — approvals take up to 5 business days.
- Verify your cloud hosting setup before renewing if you use a third-party cloud provider. As of 2025–2026, Drake officially supports only Rightworks-hosted or local installs. Non-approved cloud environments have reported crashes and installation failures with Drake 25. Call (828) 524-8020 to confirm before paying for renewal.
- Check your bank reward credit balance before paying. Credits earned from accepted bank products in the prior tax season can reduce your renewal cost. Log in to your Drake account and go to Account > Bank Enrollment > Bank Status to see your available credit before completing checkout.
- After renewing, download the new version from the Drake Download Center immediately — not from a third-party source. Use prior-year carry-forward to import client data, verify your EFIN in Setup, confirm bank enrollment for the new season, and complete Setup > Options before preparing live returns. Call support at (828) 524-8020 for any installation questions.
This guide is independently researched and written for informational purposes only. We are not affiliated with, compensated by, or endorsed by Drake Software, LLC or Taxwell. Pricing, renewal deadlines, product features, and eligibility requirements change frequently — always confirm directly with Drake Software before purchasing or renewing. This page does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice.
Primary sources: drakesoftware.com (renewal portal; pricing; SSO; Download Center; Taxwell company; 111 Technology Dr Franklin NC; 800-890-9500 sales; 828-524-8020 support; 828-349-5900 accounting); kb.drakesoftware.com (SPA program; multi-site renewal form; SSO migration Oct 2022; Drake Zero sunset 2025; DTO renewal steps; unused returns valid Dec 31 2028; system requirements; network setup; prior-year carry-forward; bank enrollment; TheTaxBook subscription activate by Apr 1; 828-369-9928 fax); Drake Software Facebook (best renewal price expires May 31 2025); thefinopartners.com ($2,495 multi-user Pro; $2,195 single-user Pro; $1,995 multi-user 1040; $1,795 single-user 1040; PPR $349.99/10 returns 2025); nexusunitedinc.com (PPR $345; additional returns $29.99; unlimited $1,825; Power Bundle $1,975); GetApp (64,000+ users; NATP #1 price and conversion; <2 min phone wait; 33M+ returns verito.com); Capterra 2026 (Rightworks-only cloud hosting; Drake 25 installation failures 3rd-party cloud)