In the 2026 Journal of Accountancy Tax Software Survey, Drake Tax tied for the highest overall rating among the seven leading professional tax software products—and earned the highest ratings for both the quality and accessibility of technical support.
Drake also stood out for:
- A 4.4 overall rating, tied for highest among major products
- The highest ratings for technical support—4.2 for quality and 4.3 for ease of access
- A standout 4.7 rating for handling software updates
- The highest-rated training, at 4.4
- 93.4% of users saying Drake Tax is suitable for a new practice—the highest percentage reported
- 86% of Drake users naming price as a top benefit, the strongest “top like” recorded for any product or attribute in the survey
For tax professionals, these results reinforce what Drake customers already know: Drake Tax delivers the combination of performance, support, usability, and value firms need to work confidently through tax season.
Source: 2026 Journal of Accountancy Tax Software Survey of 1,808 AICPA members who prepared 2025 income tax returns for a fee. View the survey
Each year, The Tax Adviser and the Journal of Accountancy ask survey respondents about the software they use and how it performs. In the 2026 Tax Software Survey, Drake Tax performed strongly across several categories, including overall rating, software updates, technical support, and ease of updating and installation.
Drake Tax users also gave the highest rating to training among those who received it, and 86% identified price as a top feature. The survey gathered responses from 1,808 AICPA members who prepared 2025 income tax returns for a fee. Respondents rated their professional tax preparation software based on their experience during the filing season.
Strong Results for New and Experienced Sole Preparer Tax Practices
The survey also provides insight into the types of practices using Drake Tax. Sole preparers accounted for 46.5% of the Drake Tax user profile included in the survey.
That result is particularly notable alongside the finding that 93.4% of Drake Tax users said the software is suitable for a new tax practice. For preparers starting a practice or working independently, the survey provides feedback directly from professionals using Drake Tax during filing season.
What the 2026 Tax Software Survey Shows
Choosing professional tax software involves more than comparing a single feature. Preparers need to consider how software fits their practice, how easily it can be maintained, and what resources are available when they need assistance.
The 2026 Tax Software Survey provides third-party feedback regarding users’ experiences with professional tax software.
For tax professionals evaluating software for a new or existing practice, those results offer valuable feedback from preparers who use professional tax software where it matters most: during filing season.
For more information about Drake Tax, please visit: https://www.drakesoftware.com/products/drake-tax/
Disclaimer: Survey results reflect the experiences and opinions of participating AICPA members and may not represent the experience of every Drake Tax user. See the full 2026 Tax Software Survey for additional context and complete results
