A complete list of shortcuts and commonly used keyboard shortcuts for Drake Tax is available in the Drake Tax - Drake Quick Reference Guide.

The lists below are extracted from the Quick Reference Guide. For information on setting up your own custom hot keys, see Drake Tax - Macros.

Asterisked actions (*) – The listed Hot Key is overridden if standard Windows keystrokes are enabled.

Main Screen

DESIRED ACTION	HOT KEYS
Open Returns	Ctrl + O
Calculate Returns	Ctrl + C
Print Returns	Ctrl + P
View Returns	Ctrl + V
Open Recent Client Files	1 through 9
Open the Quick Estimator	Ctrl + Q
Open the Client Status Manager	Ctrl + L
Open the EF Return Selector	Ctrl + S
Transmit / Receive	Ctrl + T
Open Drake Software Help	Ctrl + F1
Exit the program	Esc
Repair index files	Ctrl + R

Data Entry

DESIRED ACTION	HOT KEYS
Move cursor forward one field	Tab, Enter, or ↓
Move cursor back one field	Shift+ Tab Ctrl + ↑ Shift + Enter
Move cursor within a field	← or →
Delete character behind the cursor	Backspace
Delete character in front of the cursor	Delete
Move to last field on the screen	Ctrl + End
Move to first field on the screen	Ctrl + Home
Bring up additional data entry screens (W-2, 1099, schedules, etc.)	Page Down
Return to previous screen or exit	Esc
Go to the first position in a data entry field	Home
Go to the last position in a data entry field	End
Navigate up and down a data entry screen	Ctrl + ↑ Ctrl + ↓
Access view mode *	Ctrl + V
Access print mode	Ctrl + P
Access data entry from view / print mode	Ctrl + E
Access an action menu	Right Click in Field Right Click in Gray Area
For field help during data entry or to verify a Social Security Number	F1 Shift + ?
Insert today’s date in any date field	Alt + D
Calculate a return *	Ctrl + C
View a return *	Ctrl + V
Print a return	Ctrl + P
Return to data entry from view or print mode	Ctrl + E
Split MFJ return to MFS return	Ctrl + S
Open a Detailed Worksheet; Access Form 4562 from the Depreciation field	Double-Click Ctrl + W Right-Click > Add Worksheet
View preparer notes	Ctrl + R
Enter the Preparer note pad (PAD screen)	Ctrl + Shift+ N
Increase Declaration Control Number (DCN)	Ctrl + M
Open Interview Sheet Number and Section Entry (use numbers to the right of the Proforma section to navigate).	Ctrl + I
Toggle heads-down and standard data entry	Ctrl + N
Delete a data entry screen	Ctrl + D
Carry data to the amended screen* This function is used if you selected No when you opened the X screen and decide that you want it to auto-fill, or if you delete a value and need it to re-fill.	Ctrl + X
Reset the screen	Ctrl + U
Exit screen without saving changes	Shift + Esc
Open Help	Within Data Entry Ctrl + ? Ctrl+ F1 from Home
Flag a field for review	F2
Clear a flagged field	F4
Clear all flagged fields on the screen	Ctrl + Shift+ Space
Open the Drake Document Manager	F6
Open the Tax Planner	F7
Open the Set Client Status menu	F8
Go to EF database	F9
Activate the calculator	F10
E-mail a client data file	F11
Exit data entry	Esc
View / Open Forms Based Data Entry (Drake Tax 2023 and prior)	Ctrl + G (toggles inside 1040 return) Ctrl + E (from Home Window, to open any return in Forms Based Data Entry)
Open Macros	Ctrl + Shift + M
Force an entry into a field	Ctrl + F

Enhanced Print Mode

DESIRED ACTION	HOT KEYS
Return to Data Entry	Ctrl + E
Print Selected Form	Ctrl + P
Quick Print Select Form	Ctrl + Q
Toggle in and out of basic mode	Ctrl + S
Help	F1
DESIRED ACTION	HOT KEYS

Basic Print Mode

DESIRED ACTION	HOT KEYS
Adjust spacing if text is overlapping in View	Ctrl + Z
Toggle in and out of Enhanced mode	Ctrl + S
Toggle in and out of classic mode	Ctrl + C
Edit properties of the selected form	F9
Select all forms to print	F2
Deselect all forms to print	F3
Select federal forms to print	F5
Select state forms to print	F6
Select miscellaneous forms to print	F7
Print the selected form(s)	Enter

Email

DESIRED ACTION	HOT KEYS
E-mail a client data file from data entry	F11
Check mail / Send and Receive	Ctrl + M
Open a message	Ctrl + O
Edit address book	Ctrl + E
Create a new mail message	Ctrl + N
Print a message	Ctrl + P
Reply to a message	Ctrl + R
Forward a message	Ctrl + F
Delete a message	Ctrl + D
Send a message	Alt + S
Open an address book list in the New Message window	Alt + T
Attach a file to a message in the New Message window	Alt + A
Check Mailbox Status	Ctrl + S

CSM

DESIRED ACTION	HOT KEYS
Open the CSM from the Home window	Ctrl + L
Open the selected client in the CSM	Ctrl + O
Search for a client record	Ctrl + F
Customize the display	Ctrl + D
Refresh the display	F5
Filter the client list	Ctrl + L
View information for the currently selected return	Ctrl + Q
Generate reports	Ctrl + R
Export to Excel	Ctrl + E
Help	F1
Exit CSM	Esc
Update CSM Data	Ctrl + A

Windows Keys

If Enable Windows standard keystrokes is selected on the Data Entry tab at Setup > Options, the following hot key combinations must be used instead:

Desired Action	Hot Key
Cut	Ctrl + X
Copy	Ctrl + C
Paste	Ctrl + V
Auto Fill Amended Screen	Ctrl + Shift + X
Calculate	Ctrl + Shift + C
View	Ctrl + Shift + V

Typeable Commands

In any return, you can type these commands in the Selector Field, or you can assign them to a macro so they can be used with a hot key combination:

Command	Action	Result
LBL	Loads the client label user interface.	You can print several different labels as well as a custom label.
SORT	Opens the sorting window for depreciable assets if the return has more than one asset.	You can sort assets.
HELP	Clicks the Help button menu on the toolbar.	Displays a drop menu - Program Help, Navigation Help, Support Website, Drake Software Knowledge Base, Drake e-Training Center.
EML	Clicks the Email button on the toolbar.	Opens a new message window and attaches the return data file.
PLAN	Clicks the Tax Planner button on the toolbar.	Opens the Tax Planner.
DDM	Clicks the Doc Mgr button on the toolbar.	Opens Drake Documents.
CALC	Clicks the Calc button on the toolbar.	Calculates the return.
VIEW	Clicks the View button on the toolbar.	Goes to View mode.
PRT	Clicks the Print button on the toolbar.	Goes to Print mode.