Overview

If you prepare a large number of 1040 returns, but a small number of business/estate returns, the Drake Tax 1040 package might be right for you. Details regarding pricing can be found on the support website pricing page. State programs and e-filing* are available at no additional charge with all versions of Drake Tax.

A Drake Tax 1040 user can purchase:

• Business/Entity Returns (1120, 1120-S, 1120-H, 1065, 1041, 990, 706 Returns) - 0 included, purchase as needed

• Drake Accounting - choose from:

  • Professional Edition (accounting and payroll)

  • Forms Edition (forms only, included in the Professional Edition)

• TheTaxBook WebLibrary Plus Research Tool

• Drake Portals

• GruntWorx Dollars

Starting with Drake Tax 2024, there are two versions of Drake Tax 1040: Single User or Multi-User. See Drake Tax – Single-User and Multi-User Versions for more information about which version of Drake Tax 1040 you will need to purchase.

Internet Required

Internet access is required for the use and activation of the Drake Tax 1040 version and the purchase of additional business/estate returns. As with the Pro version, internet access is also required to keep the software updated.

Installation

Drake Tax can be installed on peer-to-peer networks.

• On networks not using a true server (networks where one computer is designated a “server” and the other computers share files through that computer), returns can be redeemed on any of the computers in the network. Do not, however, transmit from more than one computer.

Drake Tax can be installed on a server.

• On networks using a true server, all returns are redeemed from the server, and all computers on the network have access to all the returns through the server.

Redeemed returns can be moved to other computers.

• A redeemed return can be copied and moved to another computer without counting against your total. Both computers must have the same ERO setup in order to allow for this movement.

The SSN/EIN field is grayed out on all return types in the Drake Tax 1040 Package. See below for more information about changing file types and changing the ID number on a return.

Summary

Open Drake Software and go to the Setup > Pay Per Return screen:

• Account Summary - broken down in the following categories, cross-referenced with whether the return is an Individual (1040, 1040-NR, 1040-SS Returns) or a Business/Estate (1120, 1120-S, 1120-H, 1065, 1041, 990, 706 Returns).

  • Total Returns Purchased

    • Shows how many returns have been purchased. The Drake Tax 1040 package comes with:

      • An Unlimited number of Individual returns

      • Zero (0) Business/Estate returns.

  • Total Returns Redeemed

    • A return is “redeemed” when you:

      • Start a new return

      • Update an existing return*

      • Change the EIN on a return

    Note  A return redeemed on this machine can be moved to another machine.

  • Total Returns Remaining

    • The total returns remaining are the amount of returns that have been purchased, but have not been redeemed.

• Account Details - This section shows how much it will cost to upgrade your 1040 package to Pro.

• Purchase Returns - This section allows you to purchase additional returns (see below for details).

• PPR List - Verify which ID numbers were used to activate returns.

Purchasing Returns

To successfully complete a PPR purchase, you must have:

• an active Drake account

• the correct account information entered on the ERO screen

• an internet connection

To purchase:

1. Go to Setup > Pay Per Return.

2. Enter valid credit card and billing information.

3. Select the number of Business/Estate Returns to purchase.

4. Verify the transaction details and click Purchase.

5. Respond to the prompts to confirm the purchased. A successful purchase confirmation is returned within a few seconds after the purchase has been completed.

PPR Bank (Business/Estate)

When you have available returns during the Open/Create process, you will see the notification that the redemption will decrease the available number of returns in the bank and show how many will remain after that return is redeemed.

It is important to note that zero (0) business/estate returns are included with your initial purchase. You must purchase a business/estate return before you will be able to redeem and create any business or estate returns. If you attempt to redeem a return when there are no available (un-redeemed) returns for that type, you will see the message

"There are no Business/Estate returns available. Do you wish to purchase more Business/Estate returns (Y/N)?"

Updating and Redeeming

It is recommended that you update returns as you begin to work on them. If you choose to update a return, it will not be redeemed until you choose to open it in data entry. The following pop-up will ask if you want to redeem the return or continue in read-only mode.

There are several ways to use PPRs so that they are counted against your total of purchased and redeemed returns.

Starting a new return

1. From the Home window toolbar, click Open/Create.

2. Enter an SSN or EIN in the Open/Create a New Return dialog box. Click OK.

3. In the Open Return window, click Yes.

4. Verify the SSN/EIN entry.

   Note  This is required for all returns, even though 1040 returns are unlimited in this version.

5. Select a Return Type.

6. Enter a name in the Name Entry text box. Click OK.

7. Click Yes to verify that you want this return counted against your total.

Updating a return

1. From the Home window, go to Last Year Data > Update Clients 2023 to 2024.

2. In the Update Client Selection dialog box, enter an SSN/EIN and click Add Client.

3. Click Next.

4. In the Update Options menu, select the items to update.

5. Click the Update [return type] button. (If you are updating business* returns, the button will be labeled with the appropriate return type - 1120, 1120-S, 1065, etc.)

6. You are offered the opportunity to count the newly updated return against your supply of purchased but un-redeemed returns, or to open the return in read-only mode. You cannot make any new entries or calculate the return while in read-only mode.

Another method of updating a return is to click Open/Create from the toolbar, enter the SSN or EIN of a previous year’s client, and then make selections from the Update Options menu. You are then given the option to redeem the return, open in read only, or cancel.

Changing the TIN

Individual

Since you have an unlimited number of 1040 returns in this package, you are not charged to change the SSN on a return. T​o change the SSN:

1. From the Home window, go to Tools > File Maintenance > Change ID Number on Return.

2. In the Incorrect ID number text box, enter the current SSN.

3. In the Correct ID number text box, enter the new SSN to associate with this return.

4. Click Continue, and then click Exit.

5. After changing a return’s SSN, update your client list by running the Repair Index Files tool. From the Home window, go to Tools > Repair Index Files.

Business/Estate

When the EIN is displayed on screen 1​ of data entry, the return is counted against your supply of returns. You can change the EIN associated with a return, but this will cost you another business/estate PPR*. To change it:

1. From the Home window, go to Tools > File Maintenance > Change ID Number on Return.

2. An alert reminds you that changing the ID counts against your total number of PPRs. Click Yes.

3. In the Incorrect ID number text box, enter the current EIN.

4. In the Correct ID number text box, enter the new EIN to associate with this return.

5. Click Continue, and then click Exit.

6. After changing a return’s EIN, update your client list by running the Repair Index Files tool. From the Home window, go to Tools > Repair Index Files.

Changing File Type

You cannot change an individual return into a business/estate return or vice versa. You can change the file type of a business/estate return to a different type of business/estate return, but this will cost you another business/estate PPR*. To change the file type:

1. From the Home window, go to Tools > File Maintenance > Change File Type to open the Convert Client Data File Type dialog box. An alert reminds you that changing the ID counts against your total of PPRs.

2. Click Yes.

3. Enter the EIN of the return you wish to change.

4. Click Continue.

5. From the Convert this file to: section, select the type of return you wish this return to be converted to.

6. Click Continue, and then click OK.

Upgrading

If you want to upgrade your Drake Tax 1040 package, contact our Software Accounting department at (828) 349-5900 for assistance. The fee to upgrade varies depending on which version of Drake Tax 1040 you had purchased and which version of Drake Tax you want to upgrade to.

Once you have upgraded your purchase, you will see the following message when you go to Setup > Pay Per Return. You can click Yes to access the setup screen for reporting purposes:

IMPORTANT: Your software has been upgraded to the Drake Tax PRO package.

Do you wish to access the PPR setup screen for reporting purposes?

If you are prompted to purchase additional returns after upgrading to Drake Tax Pro, take the following steps (even if you completed this setup previously):

1. Log in to the Drake Software Support website and go to Downloads > Drake Tax.

2. Locate the e-file Password line and click Copy.

   Tip  This password is case-sensitive so you should use copy/paste to prevent typos.

3. In Drake Tax, go to Setup > Electronic Filing and Account Information (ERO) and paste the password in the e-file Password field.

4. Click OK.

5. Go to Setup > Firms.

6. Select Firm 1 and click Edit Firm (or double-click to edit).

7. Beside your EFIN, click Confirm.

8. Then click Save.