Column Tax vs Drake Tax (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Column Tax if

• Fits if you run a bank or app and want filing inside your product
• Makes sense if you need expert review and audit support for your users

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you are an individual, as filing is only available through a partner's account
• Tight if you want a price, as none is published and pricing is sold through a demo request
• Watch out: the company announced its acquisition by Aiwyn, so packaging may change
• Skip it if you file outside the US, as it covers US federal and state returns

Pick Drake Tax if

• Fits if you run a tax practice and prepare returns for clients
• Works for firms that want a Windows desktop program with an online option

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you are filing your own return, because it is sold to tax professionals
• Skip it if you use a Mac and want a native program, since the desktop edition is Windows only
• Pricey if you want the desktop suite, which runs about $1,895 to $3,295 a year
• Watch out: licences are per tax year, per site and per EFIN, and renewal prices show only inside your account
• Watch out: Portals, Workflow, E-Sign, Drake Pay, bank products and Audit Defense are all extra

Column Tax

• Individuals cannot sign up directly: filing and support are available only through a partner organization's account.
• No prices are published; terms and any fee to the taxpayer depend on the partner, and pricing is sold through a demo request.
• Covers US federal and state returns for individuals and small-business income that flows into a Form 1040.
• The company has announced its acquisition by Aiwyn, so the product's future packaging may change.

Drake Tax

• Sold to tax professionals; it is not a product for filing your own return.
• The desktop program is a Windows application; for a Mac the vendor points to Drake Tax Online or cloud hosting.
• Licensing is per tax year, per physical site and per EFIN, and renewal pricing is shown only inside a customer's Drake account.
• Portals, Workflow, E-Sign, Drake Pay, bank products and Audit Defense cost extra; Rightworks cloud hosting is listed at $114 per user / month.

Column Tax

Embedded DIY filing

Federal and state do-it-yourself filing sits inside a partner's app or website, with details the partner already holds pre-filled.

Expert Review

An add-on product in which a tax professional reviews a return and leaves notes and suggestions before filing.

API integration

Partners connect through APIs, with public API documentation, and the vendor says it can get a partner to accepted returns in a week or less.

Refund and accuracy guarantees

The FAQ describes a Maximum Refund Guarantee and an Accuracy Guarantee that covers penalties from a calculation error, with terms in its Terms of Use.

Audit support

For a return filed through the service, the vendor says it gives guidance on an audit notice, including organizing documents and answering questions.

Security posture

The vendor lists SOC 2 certification, bank-grade encryption and IRS e-file authorization for its infrastructure.

Drake Tax

Individual and business returns

Covers 1040, 1040-NR, 1040-SS and 709 returns plus 1120, 1120-S, 1065, 1041, 990 and 706 returns, with more than 4,300 federal and state forms and schedules.

Federal and state e-file

The pricing page says all states are included and e-filing carries no extra fee.

Return review tools

Hundreds of return diagnostics, plus DoubleCheck review, LookBack comparison with the prior year and LinkBacks from a diagnostic to its source entry.

Data conversion

Drake converts prior-year client data from most competing programs, and the vendor says the conversion is free for most packages.

Practice management add-ons

Drake Portals, Drake Workflow, Drake E-Sign and Drake Pay are separate products, bundled at a discount as the Practice Essentials Bundle.

Support included

Every package includes US-based support by phone, email or chat, plus a knowledge base, video tutorials and practice returns.

Column Tax

Pricing could not be confirmed. See columntax.com.

Drake Tax

• Drake Tax Online$299.99

  per tax year for the first user, then $99 per additional user

  Browser-based. Returns are paid as you go at $49.99 per individual and $74.99 per business return, with discounts when bought in bulk (25 or more).

• Pay-Per-Return$379.99

  per tax year, multi-user

  Desktop software with 10 individual returns included; further individual returns cost $49.99 and business returns $74.99.

• Drake Tax 1040 (150 returns)$1,995

  per tax year, multi-user, 150 individual returns included

  For 1040-focused preparers. Business returns are $74.99 each and extra individual returns $49.99. Listed retail price effective Dec. 1; the page shows $1,895 until Nov. 30.

• Drake Tax 1040 (unlimited)$2,445

  per tax year, multi-user, unlimited individual returns

  Unlimited individual returns, with business returns at $74.99 each. A single-user version is listed at $2,195. Retail price effective Dec. 1; the page shows $2,325 until Nov. 30.

• Drake Tax Pro (250 returns)$2,495

  per tax year, multi-user, 250 individual and business returns included

  All return types. Extra individual returns are $49.99 and business returns $74.99. Retail price effective Dec. 1; the page shows $2,375 until Nov. 30.

• Drake Tax Pro (unlimited)$3,295

  per tax year, multi-user, unlimited individual and business returns

  For high-volume firms. A single-user version is listed at $2,845. Retail price effective Dec. 1; the page shows $3,145 until Nov. 30.

Column Tax

No public discounts listed.

Drake Tax

• Other savings

  Discounted prices through November 30

  The pricing page shows reduced prices on Drake Tax Pro and 1040 packages (up to $150 off) through November 30, with the listed retail price taking effect December 1.

• Other savings

  Bundle and save 40%

  The Practice Essentials Bundle (Drake Portals, Workflow and E-Sign) is priced from $599, listed as 40% off, for customers who buy Pro, 1040 or Drake Tax Online with 25 or more returns.