Drake Tax – Email Setup

Last Updated: November 02, 2026

You can send emails to Drake Support from return data entry without setting up an email account or using your Windows Default Email application. Attached client data files sent to Drake Support are sent separately from the email, by a secure file transfer protocol.

To email other recipients from Drake Tax, you can use the Windows Default Email application or set up a third-party email account (if supported by that email provider). See the sections below for details on setup and other options. See Publication 4557 for details on IRS requirements and recommendations regarding email, protecting personally identifiable information (PII), and taxpayer data.

Watch the video Drake Email Setup Options for a demonstration.

Email a Client Data File from the Home Window

To email a client data file to someone other than Drake Software Support, set up a third-party email account in Drake Tax (see Third-Party Email Account Setup in Drake Tax, below). To send a client data file while a return is open in data entry, see Drake Tax – Email a Return Data File to a Different Computer (KB 10119).

To email a client data file from the Home window:

1. From the menu bar, select Help > Email. The Email window is displayed.

2. Click New to open a blank Compose Message window.

3. Click Add or Attach to open the Email – Attachments dialog box.

4. In the SSN/EIN search text box of the Client Data Files section, enter the SSN or EIN of the file and click Attach (or press Enter) to attach a current-year data file (top item in the Attachments pane).

5. (optional) Attach prior-year files and Drake Documents files.

6. Click Done. You are returned to the Compose Message window with the file attached.

7. Complete the To and Subject fields and compose your message.

8. Click Send. The message and attachment are sent to the recipient.

Enter a partial SSN or EIN in the SSN/EIN search text box and click Search (or press Enter) to view a list of returns beginning with those numbers. Double-click a return on the list to attach it to the email.

Prior-year returns

To attach returns from prior years:

1. Click New to open a blank Compose Message window.

2. Click either Add or Attach to open the Email – Attachments dialog box.

3. In the SSN/EIN search text box of the Client Data Files section, enter the SSN or EIN of the file to send.

4. (optional) Click Prior Year to open the Prior Year dialog box.

5. From the Select Drive drop list, select the drive where your prior-year Drake Tax files are kept.

6. Choose a tax year from the Select Year drop list.

7. Click a return and click Attach. The prior-year return appears in the Attachments pane on the right side of the Email – Attachments dialog box.

Importing Addresses

Import addresses from a spreadsheet into your Local Address Book. Your spreadsheet must have the proper headings before you can run the import.

Create the address import file

To create a file to be imported into the email program:

1. Using a worksheet program (such as Microsoft Excel), create three columns: Last Name, First Name, and Email Address.

2. Enter last names, first names, and email addresses of all clients to be imported.

3. Click File > Save As.

4. Choose a location to save the file. The default location is the FT folder in the current Drake Tax program folder (for example, Drake2025).

5. Assign a file name.

6. From the Save as type drop list, select CSV (Comma delimited).

7. Click Save.

Import the file into your Local Address Book

1. From the Email window, click the Address Book button to open the Edit Address Book dialog box.

2. Click Import.

3. From the Import Address Book File window, browse to the address book file and double-click it (or select it and click Open).

4. Click OK.

To delete an address from the Local Address Book, select it and click Delete.

Report Generated Recipient List

Report Generated Recipient List allows you to create a customized report using client, EF, and Scheduler data to generate a list of email addresses. The keywords selected during the query are then used to create an email message. Keywords inserted into the body of the message are replaced with the client’s information.

Use Scheduler data to send appointment reminders to groups of clients. To do so, select a Scheduler report in step 4 of the following procedure. See Batch Email – Client Appointment Reminders (KB 11900) for details.

To create a report-generated recipient list:

1. From the Drake Tax Home window, click Help > Email.

2. Click New to open a blank Compose Message window.

3. Do either of the following to open the Report Manager window:

   • Click To in the Compose Message window and click the Create Report Generated Recipient List link in the top-right corner of the Address Books window.

   • Click the arrow next to the To icon on the toolbar and select Report Generated List. The Report Manager window is displayed.

4. Select (or create) a report that includes only those clients who fit the criteria for the email list. (For example, to include only those clients who have filed an extension application, you would create an “Extensions” report.) See Drake Tax – Reports: Report Manager (KB 14165) for help creating or editing reports.

5. Click View Report. A message states the number of matching email addresses found. Click OK to close the message window.

Your recipient list has been generated. When you click Send, the email message goes to all email addresses in the list. To view the addresses, click the Edit button; to remove a name from the address list, select it and click Remove.

Any keywords that were available to the report appear in the Keyword Selector pane of the Compose Message window. Double-click a keyword to add it to the body of the email. Click in the body of the email before double-clicking a keyword to insert it at that location. After you add keywords, edit the message, enter a subject line, and add any attachments, then click Send.

For additional batch-email guidance, see Drake Tax – Bulk or Batch Emailing Clients (KB 14439).

Using Your Default Email Program

Your installed email program will work in Drake Software View mode, Drake Documents, Drake Scheduler, and the PCM (Drake Tax 2022 and future) if it meets these conditions:

• It is MAPI- compliant (Messaging Application Program Interface).

• It is set as the default Windows email program, described below.

Windows Default Email Program Setting

1. Open the Windows start menu and choose Settings.

2. Select Apps.

3. Click Default Apps.

4. Locate the Email section and select the appropriate email provider. Changes are saved automatically.

Third-Party Email Account Setup in Drake Tax

We know that an efficient work flow is important to your business and have always tried save you a step by configuring the email of your choice inside Drake Tax. Unfortunately, some email providers are no longer allowing access to full functionality outside of their own program or website. Consequently, certain email addresses can no longer be configured for use inside Drake Tax. The list of affected email providers includes, but is not limited to, the following: AOL, Yahoo (some), GoDaddy, and Microsoft Office 365.

If your email provider still supports third-party access, follow the steps below to configure your email in Drake Tax.

Admin Settings

You can set up third-party email accounts for three kinds of users: ADMIN, office, and preparer.

• ADMIN – Log in as ADMIN. On the Home window, go to Help > Email > Setup > Accounts. Click Add Account, select the account type, click OK and complete setup on the Add Account dialog box. Click Test Settings to make sure the setup works. Click Save to save the setup.

• Office – Log in as ADMIN.

  • On the Home window, go to Help > Email > Setup > ADMIN Options. Click Setup Office Email Account. Select the account type, click OK and complete setup on the Office Account dialog box. Click Test Settings to make sure the setup works. Click Save to save the setup.

  • When you complete office account setup, turn the account on by selecting Use Office Email Account (Help > Email > Setup > Accounts).

• Preparer – Direct the preparer to log in and complete these steps. On the Home window, go to Help > Email > Setup > Accounts. On the Account Settings dialog box, click Add Account, select the account type, click OK and complete setup on the Add Account dialog box. Click Test Settings to make sure the setup works. Click Save to save the setup.

You control who uses an Office email account or a Preparer email account. Log in as ADMIN and go to Help > Email > Setup > ADMIN Options.

• The three option boxes are general settings that apply to all preparers.

  • No option selected – preparers can set up and use only their own individual email accounts.

  • Allow Each Preparer to Use the “Office” Email Account – If office email is set up, preparers can use the office account and also can set up and use individual email accounts.

  • Force Each Preparer to Use the “Office” Email Account – If office email is set up, preparers can use the office account but cannot set up individual email accounts.

  • Only Allow Preparers to Send Messages/Files to Drake Software – Preparers cannot set up individual email accounts and cannot use the office account (if one is set up), but they can send emails and attached client files to Drake Support from within a return.

• To override the general settings for one or more individual preparers, click Override ADMIN Settings for Individual Preparers.

Add Account

When you set up your Drake email account (Help > E-Mail > Setup > Accounts > Add Account), you have a large list of popular email suppliers to choose from. Your selection automatically completes the incoming and outgoing mail server information in the email setup window, and you can still set up server information manually, if you prefer.

After you select an account type (an email provider) and click OK on the Account Type dialog box, the Add Account dialog box opens for preparer or ADMIN email, or the Office Account dialog box opens for office email. They are the same except for the dialog box name. The Add Account dialog box is shown below.

Complete all fields. The Incoming Mail Server and Outgoing Mail Server fields may already be completed, based on the email provider you selected.

• Account Information

  • Name/Description – Enter a familiar name for the account, one that you will recognize.

• User Information

  • Your Name – Enter the name you want your email recipients to see when they receive your email,

  • Email Address – Enter the email address for the account you use (for example, MaxsTaxes@EmailProvider.com).

• Server Information

  • Incoming Mail Server – available from your email provider.

  • Outgoing Mail Server – available from your email provider.

• Login Information

  • Username – the username you use to log in to your email account.

  • Password – the password you use to log in to your email account. Note Drake cannot retrieve or reset this password. You must contact your email provider.

• Test Settings – after completing all the fields on the dialog box, click Test Settings.

  • If the Test Account Settings pop-up indicates Test succeeded, click OK and click Save to save the settings. This completes account setup.

  • If the Test Account Settings pop-up indicates Test Failed, click OK and proceed.

    • For a failed test, confirm that the information entered is correct. Make any corrections needed and test again.

    • If the information is correct, click More Settings to open a dialog box.

    • Confirm that the More Settings information in each field is correct. You may have to contact your email supplier for port numbers. Make any needed corrections, click Save to return to the previous screen and test the account again.

  • When the test succeeds, click Save to save the account.

Drake Documents and Drake Scheduler

Drake Documents and the Drake Scheduler can use the Windows Default Application or a third-party email provider (called the Drake email account).

• In the Drake Documents, go to Setup > Options and mark I use an email program on my computer (default) or Use my Drake email account.

• In the Scheduler, go to Setup and select the Email tab. Mark I use an email program on my computer (default) or Use my Drake email account.

Password Protection

To further ensure the security of taxpayer data and personally identifiable information (PII), password protection on attachments sent by email is required starting with Drake Tax 2024. It was an available option in Drake Tax 2023 and prior.

You can choose the format of the password that is assigned to an attachment by going to Setup > Options > Administrative Options. This password is applied when you create PDF while using any of the email options inside Drake Tax. The default email template contains instructions for the taxpayer.

The password explanation in the standard email template is based on the standard password format, which is the first one in the drop list on the Administrative Options tab at Setup > Options. The email explanation doesn’t change if you change the password from the standard format. If you don’t use the standard password format, you have to change the email explanation or provide the password to your client by another means.

Password protection of other PDF documents created or stored inside Drake Tax and Drake Documents is recommended, but not required.

See Publication 4557 for details on IRS requirements and recommendations regarding email, protecting personally identifiable information (PII), and taxpayer data.

View/Print Mode Settings

You can change default email settings in View/Print mode using the Email Setup dialog box. Click the arrow next to the Email icon and select Email Setup from the drop list (ADMIN privileges are required for the selection to be visible). These are the default settings that ship with the software:

• Select Email Method – The drop list offers Use Drake Software Internal Email and Use My Email Software. These choices determine whether the Drake Tax email editor, or your Windows default email program, opens when you click the Email icon.

• To… Leave this setup field blank. This permits individual returns to supply an email address from screen 1 as default when the email editor opens. Any setup entry here becomes the consistent default address for all future View/Print emails for all clients.

• Cc… – allows entry of a consistent carbon copy email address for all future View/Print email.

• Bcc… – allows entry of a consistent blind carbon copy email address for all future View/Print email.

• Subject: – The shipped default is “2025 Tax Return Information,” referring to the current tax year. Any text entered here applies to all future View/Print email.

• Email body – Default text provided with the software advises the recipient how to open encrypted files. Don’t change this unless you have an adequate replacement text or another method of providing the recipient with this information. Any text entered here applies to all future View/Print email.

  • You can change the default password that is applied to the Drake PDF by going to Setup > Options > Administrative Options. See Drake Tax – Drake PDF Printer FAQs for details.

Click Save at the bottom of the Setup dialog box to save changes.

Drake Email Errors

Error sending “under current settings”:

Under the current settings/configuration, the software only supports sending messages to Drake Software.

When an email account is set up, messages can be sent to others.

Drake Software requires a third party email account from an online provider to send email to any address other than DrakeSoftware.com. To connect with your client, your choices are to:

• use Drake Portals and upload documents through the secure file transfer system on the SecureFilePro^TM exchange,

• use a MAPI- compliant Windows default email program,

• set up an email account in the software,

• email from outside Drake Software.

The specified sender address is invalid or not recognized.

This error can be caused by punctuation in the Your Name field on the Email setup window. Remove any periods, commas, etc. from that field and test settings again.

SMTP error: unable to authenticate the specified user

If you receive an “SMTP error: Unable to authenticate the specified user” when attempting to send an email through Drake, return to email setup under Help > Email > Setup > Accounts. Select the email that has been set up, then select Edit Account. Verify that the email information is correct, then select Test Settings. If the test fails and all email information (including the email password) is entered correctly, check your inbox for an email from your email provider with information regarding the blocked log in. In some cases, instructions for resolving the issue may be included. If you are unable to get the settings to be successful, and only need to send an email to Drake Support, delete the failed email accounts from setup. Drake Tax will use the resident email functionality and secure file transfer protocol instead.

Tip This message is different from authentication failed that may occur when attempting to e-file. See Drake Tax – Authentication Failed or Invalid EFIN e-File Password for details.

Internal Messaging Error

This message may show if you have a special character (i.e., &) in the subject line.