Drake Audit Defense is a post-filing service that gives your clients access to credentialed tax experts when they receive an IRS notice, state notice, audit inquiry, or experience tax-related identity theft. This service is provided by Drake Software and is fully integrated into your existing Drake tools.

For eligible cases, the Drake Audit Defense team assists with case communications and documentation related to the covered tax authority matter.

Drake Audit Defense covers the following post-filing issues:

• IRS notices

• State notices

• Audit inquiries

• Assistance and guidance for tax-related identity theft

Find a full list of services in the Audit Defense Terms.

Enrollment Types

• Practice Coverage: blanket enrollment for your entire tax client base for individual and/or business returns audit defense for all eligible returns that you prepare and file

• Per-Return Coverage: add audit defense on a tax return-by-return basis as elected by the client for individual returns

Both options are managed directly through the Drake Software interface. Enrollment details, tracking, and status updates regarding the Covered Return are accessible from where you already work.

Enrollment Steps

Coverage applies beginning with eligible Tax Year 2026 returns filed on January 1, 2027, or later. To complete your enrollment, follow these steps:

1. Log into the Drake Software Support website.

2. Click Purchasing > Tax Protection.

3. Click Enroll for 2026 under which coverage type you would like to enroll in:

   • Practice Coverage

   • Per-return Coverage

   

Practice Coverage

• Business return coverage is optional under Practice Coverage. If you do not wish to include business returns in your coverage, toggle the Business Returns option off.
  

  
  

• Add your payment information and click Save.

  • You will not be charged at the time this registration is submitted.

  • This card will be charged periodically as you file tax returns.

• Review the Terms.

• Select the box under Drake Audit Defense Terms to acknowledge that you have read the Terms and authorize charges on the card provided.

• Click Enroll.

  

• The confirmation that you have enrolled in practice coverage displays. 

  • Enrolled in practice coverage for all individual and business returns:
    

    

  • Enrolled in practice coverage for all individual returns (no business included):
    

    
    

Per-return Coverage

• If you offer refund transfers to your clients, you have the option to process the Drake Audit Defense fee from the client’s refund. You also have the option to add a markup fee to the service. Select the applicable Refund Transfers Markup Distribution option:

  • I do not plan to use refund transfers this year, and do not wish to provide bank information for markup distributions collected from returns with refund transfers.

  • I would like to enter my bank account information.

    • Enter a bank account you would like to receive markup fee disbursements.

  

• Enter a markup fee (optional). Enter 0 if not applicable.
  

  
  

• Add your payment information.

• Review the Terms.

• Select the box under Drake Audit Defense Terms to acknowledge that you have read the Terms and authorize charges on the card provided.

• Click Enroll.
  

  

• Confirmation that you have enrolled in the Per-return coverage:

  

Billing

The firm, preparer, ERO, or company enrolled in Drake Audit Defense will be billed periodically for covered returns.

Pricing

Drake Audit Defense pricing depends on which program you decide to enroll in.

• Per-Return Coverage 1040 Returns only – $54.95

• Practice Coverage 1040 Returns – $9.00

• Practice Coverage Business Returns (1041, 1065, 1120, 1120-S) – $65.00

Frequently Asked Questions