OpenTaxSolver
Partial: Calculates federal and 11 state personal returns and prints forms for mailing; no e-file and no business returns.
License: Open source
- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
Status: Verified
No free alternative to Drake Tax yet
Free options fill out personal returns, but no free software lets a preparer e-file individual, business and multi-state returns with IRS and state acceptance.
About this gap
- Drake Tax, Drake Tax Online, per tax year
$299.99 USDa year
≈$427.70 CAD a year (converted from USD)
- Build effort
Years, or a funded team
An editor’s estimate for a free tool that ranks Strong.
- Demand
Nobody has asked for one yet.
What a free alternative needs
The capabilities that keep people paying for Drake Tax.
IRS e-file for 1040 and business returns
Transmission of individual and business returns with acceptance testing and error handling.
State e-file across many states
Business forms and schedules
Partnership, corporation, estate and trust returns with the schedules each one needs.
Multi-client workflow for preparers
Client files, review, e-signature and returns tracked across a season.
Why it is hard
Each season needs IRS and state acceptance testing for e-file and updated calculations for hundreds of forms before filing opens.
Closest free options
Each covers part of the job. None replaces Drake Tax yet.
Listed alternatives for some uses
These are mapped to Drake Tax at the Situational tier: they fit some uses only.
OpenTaxSolver
Best for preparing your own personal return by mail
License: Open source- Windows
- macOS
- Linux
Status: VerifiedFree and open source. The 2025 tax-year builds cover federal and 11 states and run on Windows, macOS and Linux.
Building one?
List your tool on Gratistack when it works. Once an editor maps it to Drake Tax, it shows on this page and in search, and the people waiting here can hear about it.
- Listing is free. An editor reviews the free queue every week.
- Want a decision sooner? The optional $49 fast-track gets one within 48 hours. It buys speed, not approval, and a rejection is refunded.
- Once it is listed as an alternative, you can sponsor the alternatives page for $149 per 30 days. Sponsors are labeled and never change the ranking.
About this page
Last checked : an editor confirmed that no free alternative ranks Strong.
Price: Drake Tax Online, per tax year, checked Oct 7, 2026. Price source. USD to CAD at 1.4257 as of Oct 7, 2026.
Know a free alternative? Tell us.
Drake Tax is a product of Drake Software, named here for comparison only.