Drake Accounting®: FAQs
Some common questions are answered below concerning payroll, e-filing, forms, accounting features, software installation, and software system requirements. For other questions, contact Drake Accounting® Support at (828) 349-5908.
What is Drake Accounting®?
Drake Accounting® is an accounting software that offers Payroll, reporting, off-setting entry bookkeeping, Financial and Accountant reports, and Accounts Payable with check writing capability.
- The current software is Drake Accounting® 2022.
- Drake Accounting® can be installed from an internet download.
- During the year, updates are available via internet.
Payroll
- Can I write payroll checks with Drake Accounting®?
- Yes. We offer printing on pre-printed check stock and MICR printing on blank check stock.
- Can I direct deposit payroll checks with Drake Accounting®?
- Yes. We are partnered with Kotapay (formerly InterceptEFT).
- Do I have to print checks in the software to create payroll reports?
- No. You can enter all payroll info after-the-fact (ATF) at Employees > Payroll > ATF. ATF entries create a payroll file allowing payroll reporting.
- If I enter payroll for check writing purposes, do I have to reenter the individual checks again?
- No. You can set up Drake Accounting® so that once checks are written you can write the entire payroll to the journal in one step, or you can use Auto Post for payroll, Live or ATF.
E-Filing
- Can I e-file 94x series forms through Drake Accounting®?
- Yes, after you receive IRS authorization.
- Can Forms W-2 be e-filed?
- Yes. Drake Accounting® creates a Form W-2 file that you can transmit to the SSA for Federal filing. The individual submitting the Forms W-2 through Drake Accounting will not need a BSO account for that transmission. However, if you are not using Drake Accounting to e-File Forms W-2 or if you are transmitting a state W-2 e-File, a BSO account will be required.
- Drake Accounting® includes the ability to create a state electronic submission file for the Forms W-2. Drake adds this function for a state when information is available (if your state is not included, please contact Drake Accounting® Support, at (828) 349-5908, with link or contact information from your state).
- Both Federal Forms W-2 and State e-Filings for NC (Forms NC-3, 1099-R and W-2) can be transmitted through Drake Accounting®. Additional states will be available in the future.
- Can Forms 1099 be e-filed?
- Yes. Drake Accounting® creates a transmittal file to upload to the IRS.
- Depending on the state and your setup for e-filing, the federal Forms 1099 state information in some cases may be sent from the IRS to the state.
- To e-file Forms 1099/1096, you first must set up an account with the IRS and you must have a Transmitter Control Code (TCC).
Forms
- Does Drake Accounting® use check stock and forms from a specific distributor?
- Yes. We work with Nelco. See the Nelco web page for details and pricing.
- Are pre-printed forms needed to print Forms W-2 and W-3 for year end?
- Drake Accounting will print both the form and data for all available formats (2-up, 3-up, 4-up, and 4-down).
- Blank perforated forms for the 3-up, 4-up , and 4-down formats are suggested and are available from Nelco.
- Are pre-printed forms needed to print Forms 1099/1096 for year end?
- Yes. You will need the Forms 1099 IRS copy A and the Forms 1096 red lined form. You can get these from the IRS, Nelco, or other office supply.
- Do you have state forms?
- Yes, we offer many state forms. In Drake Accounting®, please refer to Employees > State Tax & Wage.... for examples.
- Drake incorporates state forms into Drake Accounting® as the states make available the information that is necessary to program them.
- Newly-programmed forms are subject to a state approval process.
- A water mark visible on a form when you save it indicates the state has not yet approved the form for filing.
Accounting Features
- Do you have an Accounts Receivable/billing function?
- An Accounts Receivable module is included.
- How detailed is Drake Accounting®’s Accounting Module?
- Drake Accounting® offers accounting flexibility. You can set up your client’s Chart of Accounts using an existing template. You also can create your own Chart of Accounts for a client and then import it into other client files for use there.
- Can I update clients and bookkeeping from year to year?
- Yes. Client/Employee/Vendor/Contractor setup information updates under Client > Update Prior Year Clients. After you have closed the prior year in the prior year software, you can update bookkeeping in the current year software at Accounting > Chart of Accounts.
- Can I keep books on a fiscal year basis?
- Yes. There are additional considerations for fiscal year accounting. If you expect to use a fiscal year, call Drake Accounting® Support for more information about this capability.
Software Installation
- Can Drake Accounting® be networked?
- Yes. You install Drake Accounting® on the root drive of the server and map workstations to that drive as a network drive. We recommend that you install and update the software from the most used workstation. The Peer-to-Peer network setup is supported starting with DAS21.
- Does Drake Accounting® provide a way for my clients to supply employee information directly without me having to enter it manually?
- That capability is available in Drake Accounting®’s portal function.
- Your client only needs internet access and a user setup on the portal. It permits your client to send employee information to a Drake web site that you can access to update Drake Accounting® with your client’s current information.
- This includes time card information from which checks can be written using Drake Accounting®.
- If you update that employee information in Drake Accounting®, you can pass it back to the client through the web site to ensure both you and your client are always in sync.
- I am using Drake Accounting® demo software. How do I get a serial number to activate it?
- Drake will supply the serial number to activate Drake Accounting® when you purchase the software.
- Is there a way to convert information from other software for use in Drake Accounting®?
- Yes. Drake offers QuickBooks, Sage 50 (Peachtree), Easy/ACCT, and Dillner's Tax conversions for Drake Accounting®.
- Conversion from the 1099-Etc program from Advanced Micro Solution is not available.
System Requirements
Supported Operating Systems
- Windows 8.1
- Windows 10
- Windows Server 2012
- Windows Server 2016
- Windows Server 2019
All operating systems are expected to have the latest updates installed.
Windows 10 in S mode is not compatible.
System Recommendations
Operating system
|
Windows 10 Pro, 64-bit
|
Processor |
2.0 GHz or faster multi-core processor (Intel Core i5 or equivalent)
|
RAM |
8 GB or more
|
8 GB or more
|
2 GB or more of available hard drive space, plus 10–20 MB per client*
|
Monitor |
Capable of 1920 x 1080 resolution
|
Internet connection
|
Internet access is required to install program updates and to e-file. High-speed internet
access (e.g. DSL, cable, fiber optic) can improve user experience with direct deposit and
portal access.
|
Printer
|
Laser printer (required if submitting printed forms to the Social Security Administration)
Laser printer with magnetic ink catridge if printing MICR checks.
|
Browser
|
Internet Explorer 11 or Edge browser must be installed (other browsers such as Chrome and
Firefox can be installed and used as the default)
|
Microsoft® .NET Framework
|
Version 4.8 or higher |
Other |
Adobe Reader |
*Actual space requirements will vary based on the type and number of clients you serve. Solid-state (SSD) hard drives can enhance system performance.
Minimum System Requirements
The following minimum system requirements will support Drake Accounting® on most systems. For superior performance, we
recommend system upgrades above the stated minimums. Actual requirements will vary based on your system configuration and
the features and other programs you install.
- 1 GHz processor (Intel Core i3 or equivalent)
- 4 GB of RAM
- 1 GB of available hard drive space, plus 10–20 MB per Client
- Monitor capable of 1024 x 768 screen resolution
- Internet access (required to install program updates)
Network Capabilities
- Whether you are an office of one or 100, it’s easy to network Drake Accounting® with a dedicated server or peer-to-peer (P2P) setup (starting with DAS21).