The following information refers to the requirements for the desktop version of Drake Tax. If using Hosting on Rightworks, see Rightworks – Frequently Asked Questions for requirements, as they may differ.

Supported Operating Systems

• Windows 10

• Windows 11

• Windows Server 2012

• Windows Server 2016

• Windows Server 2019

• Windows Server 2022

All operating systems are expected to have the latest updates installed.

System Requirements

The following minimum system requirements will support Drake Tax 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.

Requirement	Details
Operating system	Windows 10
Processor	1.0 GHz processor (Intel Core i3 or equivalent)
RAM	1 GB of RAM for 32-bit OS and 2 GB of RAM for 64-bit OS IMPORTANT: ARM Processors are not supported.
Hard drive	2 GB of available hard drive space (actual space requirements will vary based on the number of clients you serve)
Monitor	Capable of 1024 x 768 screen resolution
Internet connection	Internet access is required for certain features, such as e-file, software updates, online help, and PPR purchases
Printer	Windows GDI (Graphical Device Interface) or HP-compatible laser printer
Browser	Edge browser must be installed (other browsers such as Chrome and Firefox can be installed and used as the default). (Web1040 and Drake Zero do not support IE.)
Microsoft .NET Framework	Version 4.7 or higher
Microsoft .NET Desktop Runtime	Version 8.0.0 or higher
Microsoft ASP.NET Core Runtime	Version 8.0.0 or higher
Optical drive	CD drive (only required for CD service) CD service is not available after Drake Tax 2023.
WebView2 Runtime	(Required for Drake Portals integration with Drake Documents). If you need to install WebView2, go to Drake Documents > Help menu > Get Webview2.

• After installing Drake Tax, if any of the required peripheral Microsoft programs are missing, the Drake Tax Prerequisites Setup Wizard is opened automatically. Follow the steps to install the needed programs.

• Some program features and functions, including Drake Documents and GruntWorx integration, are available only if using a supported operating system with the appropriate .NET Framework and Runtime versions installed.

System Recommendations

Recommendation	Details
Operating system	Windows 10 or 11 Professional, 64-bit
Processor	2.5 GHz or faster multi-core processor (Intel Core i5 or equivalent)
RAM	4 GB or more
Hard drive	Solid-state (SSD) hard drives can enhance system performance.
Monitor	Capable of 1920 x 1080 resolution
Internet Connection	High Speed Internet
Scanner	TWAIN-compliant scanner (for Drake Documents and GruntWorx)
Additional Programs	Microsoft Excel and Adobe Reader

Network Capabilities

Whether you are an office of 1 or 100, it’s easy to network Drake Software with a dedicated server (recommended) or peer-to-­peer network.

Windows 11 and prior years

Windows 11 is compatible with Drake Tax 2022 and later versions of Drake Tax.

Windows 10 and prior years

Windows 10 is compatible with Drake Tax 2015 and later versions of Drake Tax.

Drake Software has tested Windows 10 against the basic functions of earlier software with the following results:

• Drake Tax 2012 to Drake Tax 2014 - These Drake Software products are compatible with the following limitations:

  • Some printers may require new drivers from the printer manufacturer.

  • Some screens and views in Drake Software show minor differences when displayed in Windows 10.

• Drake Tax 2003 to Drake Tax 2011

  • may not run as expected under Windows 10, particularly those containing a DOS component (Drake Tax 2004 and before).

• Drake Tax 2002 and prior

  • will not run.

Mac and Linux Operating Systems

Currently there is no version of Drake Tax that is written for installation directly on a Mac or Linux operating system. Some users have been able to successfully run Drake Tax on a Virtual Windows environment installed on a Mac or Linux operating system, however, this configuration is not officially supported. Troubleshooting for this setup is not available with the assistance of Drake Support.

Even when running a Virtual Windows environment, on the newest Mac products running the M1 family of chipsets, Drake Tax will not function as expected due to those chips being ARM-based processors.

A Mac computer can be used if accessing Drake through the Hosting on Rightworks product; see Rightworks - Accessing the Rightworks Desktop (Mac) for details.