GruntWorx - Overview

Article #: 10680

Last Updated: January 07, 2026

 

Tags:Grunt WorxGruntWorxDrake TaxDrake Documents1120S15223 16916

GruntWorx logo

Note  This article comprises former KB articles 15223, 16916, and 10680. It is herein referred to as KB 10680.

Overview

GruntWorx is a secure, web-based application that automates the time-consuming tasks of organizing data and entering it in Drake Tax. This cutting-edge technology is integrated into Drake Tax and uses Drake Documents for scanning, printing and file management. It is accessed from the home window of Drake Tax under Partners > GruntWorx or from Drake Documents > GruntWorx icon.

Note  GruntWorx Populate products can only be used in the current year of Drake Tax Software. You can request a prior year Organize, Trade Detail, or Trade Summary job, however, the trades job will be returned in the format used in the current year of the software. Some edits may be needed to the Excel spreadsheet to allow the format to match the prior year import formatting. For more info on the format required, see Drake Tax - Schedule D Form 8949 Import.

Products Available

GruntWorx offers different job types to improve your office productivity. Every GruntWorx PREMIUM job starts with an Organize and you can add on one or more of the other products as needed. GruntWorx CORE includes all product options in the DIY solution.

Caution  The Populate and Trades add-ons extract data from forms submitted and incorporated in the bookmarked Organize PDF. Populate and Trades add-ons substantially reduce, but do not eliminate all data entry, and you are still responsible for reviewing imported data to ensure it is correctly entered in the software.

  • Populate is available for current year individual and business packages 1040, 1041, 1065, 1120, and 1120-S.

  • Locality information is not currently supported and must be manually entered where applicable.

  • Trades import is available for individual and business package types 1040, 1041, 1120, 1120-S, and 1065.

Using GruntWorx

To use GruntWorx, follow these steps:

  1. Gather your client’s tax documents.

  2. Scan the tax documents as a PDF document into the client's Drake Documents folder. You can scan them into Drake Documents as separate PDFs or as a single PDF, in any sequence, as long as each tax document is scanned as a separate page and the pages of multi-page documents such as brokerage statements and K-1 papers are scanned sequentially.

  3. Submit the job to GruntWorx.

  4. For a GruntWorx PREMIUM job, download the completed job. If using GruntWorx CORE, use the Review Tool to verify the job details.

  5. Review the bookmarks and the Excel Trade sheet for accuracy.

  6. Import your client’s tax data by selecting the Import icon on main data screen of the return in Drake.

Although you can scan and upload individual clients separately, you might want to use the batch scan/upload feature so that you can scan documents for multiple clients at one time and upload them to GruntWorx together. An individual does not need tax training to perform this task.

Important  You are charged for every client submission regardless of whether you previously submitted the same client. Before you submit a client's documents to GruntWorx, make sure you have all the client's tax documents and determine whether you a want a Populate or Trades add-on. Once you submit a client, you cannot modify or add to the Organize job or change any requests for a Populate or Trades add-on - you will have to start with a new submission. Missing documents cannot be added to the client's Organize PDF except by resubmitting all documents, at which point you will be charged a second time. Populate and Trades add-ons not requested in a client's submission are not available later except as add-ons to a new Organize job.

Bookmark Order

The Organize product is a PDF that is bookmarked to allow you to immediately select and view a document. The bookmarks classify, organize, and label IRS documents in a standard order. See GruntWorx - Organized Forms for details.

Processing Time

Turnaround time depends on file size. See the Daily Wait Time Status page for updated estimates.

Payment

Detailed pricing information may be found by going to https://www.gruntworx.com/pricing/pricing.php.

Preparing to Use

To use GruntWorx, a computer meeting Drake Tax system requirements must also have:

  • Drake Documents

    • Drake Documents requires Microsoft .NET Framework version 4.7 or later.

    • If you have not kept up with regular Window updates and are running an older version of .NET Framework, you will automatically be directed to the Microsoft website, where you can download (at no charge) the newest version of .NET.

  • Adobe Reader (required), Adobe Standard (recommended)

  • Microsoft Excel 2003 or later (for Trades)

    • Must be the full program downloaded from Microsoft, not the Microsoft store (app store). Check to ensure that the full program is installed under your computer's control panel > Add/remove programs.

Drake Tax system requirements are detailed in Drake Tax - System Requirements.

Note  For information about using GruntWorx as a Rightworks user, see Rightworks - Frequently Asked Questions.

For information about using GruntWorx as a Drake Tax Online (DTO) user, see Drake Tax Online - Drake Tax Desktop Integration

Photos and Images

GruntWorx is able to process images of documents for any job type. PDF, JPEG, and PNG files are all supported. This fosters integration with Drake Portals where taxpayers can upload image files to preparers who can then use those images to send a GruntWorx job.

Scanners

Scan clarity affects the accuracy of GruntWorx products. Documents that do not scan properly are included in the Organize PDF, but they may be bookmarked "Poor Quality/Handwritten Notes" and may not permit data extraction for Populate or Trades files. See GruntWorx - Scanning Documents for best practices.

Drake Documents' features necessary for using GruntWorx are supplied in Drake Software's January release.

Troubleshooting

If the Select Client drop list is not showing all of your clients, you can correct this by repairing the index. Go to Tools > Repair Index Files (or press CTRL + R from the Drake Tax home window), then select Name Index (Client name list for File > Open) and click Continue. Make the desired selections on the Name Index Additional Options window, then click OK. When the repair is complete, the GruntWorx Select Client list has been updated with all client names.

Assistance

For assistance with using GruntWorx inside Drake Tax, contact Drake Software's GruntWorx Support line at (828) 349-5505.

For questions about GruntWorx purchases, including more specific information about costs or their refund policy, contact GruntWorx at (877) 830-6059 or review the GruntWorx website for additional options.