Stop clicking through the same screens hundreds of times per tax season. These 20 Drake macros automate your most repetitive tasks—from due diligence checkboxes to extension filing. Every macro has been tested and verified working in Drake Tax 25.
⚠️ Before You Start
- Change
PREPto your preparer code - Change
PREP1andPREP2to preparer codes for your office - Change
11111to your actual ERO PIN - Change
2025to desired year or year range (e.g., 2020-2025) - Test each macro on a sample return before production use
Quick Reference Table
| Hotkey | Name | What It Does |
|---|---|---|
| Alt-A | AOTC Education | Fills 8863 education credit questions |
| Alt-B | Direct Deposit | Sets up checking account refund |
| Alt-C | Dependent Child DD | Dependent due diligence for qualifying child |
| Alt-D | Due Diligence | Marks all 8867 questions Yes |
| Alt-E | Zero Extension | Files extension with $0 balance |
| Alt-F | Foreign + Preparer | Foreign accounts No + preparer code |
| Alt-G | 1120S Schedule B | S Corp other information (small corp) |
| Alt-H | HOH Due Diligence | HOH-specific 8867 questions |
| Alt-I | Clear Invoice | Clears prior year prep fee |
| Alt-M | 8949 Statement | Attaches multiple transaction PDF |
| Alt-O | Ohio Address | Ohio address verification |
| Alt-P | Enter PIN | ERO PIN + Ohio perjury |
| Alt-R | Ready After Ext | Marks return ready after extension |
| Alt-S | 8821 Spouse | Tax info authorization for spouse |
| Alt-T | 8821 Taxpayer | Tax info authorization for taxpayer |
| Alt-U | IDs Not Provided | Marks both IDs not provided |
| Alt-V | E-file 1040 | Marks Ready + selects 1040 |
| Alt-W | 2848 POA Taxpayer | Power of Attorney for taxpayer |
| Alt-X | 2848 POA Spouse | Power of Attorney for spouse |
| Alt-Z | Don’t Roll | Prevents rollover to next year |
Due Diligence & Compliance
Alt-D: 8867 Due Diligence – All Yes
8867>#1>X>3>X>5>X>7>X>9>X>11>X>13>TP SIGNED DUE DILIGENCE>14>X>16>X>19>X>22>X>25>X>27>X>29>X>32>X>34>X>36>X>38>X>40>X>42>X>44>X>#~Marks Yes on all due diligence questions and enters “TP SIGNED DUE DILIGENCE” as the note. Replaces 20+ manual clicks.
Alt-H: HOH Due Diligence
8867>#29>X>32>X>34>X>#~Marks the Head of Household specific questions on Form 8867. Use after Alt-D for HOH returns.
Alt-C: Dependent Child Due Diligence
2>[NEXTTAB][FJ:1]X[FJ:3]X[FJ:14]X[FJ:16]X[FJ:19]X[FJ:22]X~Opens Screen 2 Due Diligence tab, marks qualifying child questions Yes (unmarried, lived with TP, US citizen, explained CTC/divorce rules), selects school records for residency documentation.
Business Returns (1120S)
Alt-G: 1120S Schedule B – Small Corp
B>#2>X>4>X>8>X>12>X>16>X>18>X>19>X>22>X>25>X>26>X>28>X>31>X>#~Fills Schedule B “Other Information” for small S Corps. Answers No to most questions, Yes to Q11 (under $250k receipts/assets to skip Schedule L/M-1), and Yes to Q14a/14b (1099 filing). Perfect for typical small business S Corps.
E-file & Extensions
Alt-V: E-file Federal 1040
EF>#1>X>2>X>#~Marks Ready for EF and selects 1040. Quick way to mark a return ready to transmit.
Alt-E: Zero Balance Extension
EF>#1>X>6>X>#~EXT>#1>X>3>0>6>0>7>0>8>0>9>0>#~STEX>#2>X>#~Multi-screen macro: marks Ready + 4868 on EF, enters zeros on EXT, marks state extension. Perfect for extensions with no balance due.
Alt-R: Ready After Extension
EF>#1> >6> >#~EXT>#5>X>#~STX2>#1>X>#~Clears Ready/4868 flags, marks “extension was previously filed”, marks state ready. Use when filing a return after an extension was already transmitted.
Client Setup & Data Entry
Alt-F: Foreign Accounts No + Preparer
1>[FJ:64]N[FJ:66]X[FJ:68]PREP~Opens Screen 1, enters N for foreign accounts question, checks No, and enters your preparer code. Change PREP to your code.
Alt-B: Direct Deposit – Checking
DD>[FJ:1]A[FJ:9]X[FJ:6][?]Opens DD screen, selects Federal (A), checks Checking, then pauses at the bank name field for you to enter account details.
Alt-U: IDs Not Provided
IDS>[FJ:24]X[FJ:26]X~Marks both taxpayer and spouse as “did not provide ID” on the IDS screen.
Tax Info Authorization (8821)
Alt-T: 8821 Taxpayer
8821>T>#5>X>27>INCOME>28>1040>29>2020-2029>40>X>52>PREP1>53>X>57>PREP2>#~Creates Form 8821 for taxpayer with standard settings: INCOME description, 1040 form type, years 2020-2029, and two preparer codes.
Alt-S: 8821 Spouse
8821>S>#5>X>27>INCOME>28>1040>29>2020-2029>40>X>52>PREP1>53>X>57>PREP2>#~Same as Alt-T but for spouse. Creates Form 8821 with identical standard settings.
Power of Attorney (2848)
Alt-W: 2848 POA Taxpayer
2848>T>#6>X>27>INCOME>28>1040>29>2025>40>X>41>X>42>X>52>PREP1>53>X>57>PREP2>#~Creates Form 2848 Power of Attorney for taxpayer. Uses preparer info, sets INCOME/1040/2025, checks access IRS records, authorize disclosure, and substitute representative.
Alt-X: 2848 POA Spouse
2848>S>#6>X>27>INCOME>28>1040>29>2025>40>X>41>X>42>X>52>PREP1>53>X>57>PREP2>#~Same as Alt-W but for spouse. Creates Form 2848 Power of Attorney with identical standard settings.
Education Credits
Alt-A: AOTC Education Credit
8863>#7>X>9>X>11>X>13>X>22>X>34>X>36>X>#~Opens Form 8863, answers Yes to questions 23-26, checks AOTC, and answers the 1098-T questions.
Miscellaneous
Alt-I: Clear Invoice Flag
MISC>#3> >#~Clears the prior year prep fee/invoice field on the MISC screen.
Alt-Z: Don’t Roll to Next Year
MISC>#20>X>#~Checks “Do NOT update client to next year” on the MISC screen. Use for one-time clients or deceased taxpayers.
Alt-M: 8949 Multiple Transaction Statement
PDF>SCH D,FORM 8949 INST>FORM 8949 EXCEPTION TO REPORTING>FORM8949EXCEPTIONREPORTINGSTMT.PDF~Sets up the PDF attachment for Form 8949 exception statement when reporting multiple transactions.
State-Specific (Ohio)
Alt-O: Ohio Address Verify
OH>1>[FJ:47]X[FJ:5]~COMP> >[FJ:23] ~Checks the Ohio address verification box and clears the comparison flag.
Alt-P: Enter PIN + Ohio
PIN>[D]>11111>[NEXTTAB][FJ:7]X~Opens PIN dropdown, enters your ERO PIN, and checks the Ohio perjury statement box. Change 11111 to your PIN.
How to Install Macros
- Open Drake Tax and go to Setup > Macros
- Select the hotkey you want to use (Alt-A through Alt-Z)
- Paste or type the macro string exactly as shown
- Click Save
- Test on a sample return before using in production
💡 Pro Tips
- Find field numbers: Press Ctrl+N in data entry mode
- View your macros: Press Ctrl+Shift+M in data entry
- Create your own: Record your clicks and convert to macro syntax
Pam
January 10, 2026Have used for bank names and routing number, filling out 2848, but nothing as extensive as this.
Debits
January 11, 2026I hope you find them helpful. Have a great tax season!
Michael Petrushansky
January 11, 2026Do you have a macro for dependent children by any chance?
Debits
January 11, 2026I’ve added a macro for Dependent Child Due Diligence. Let me know if that helps!
Michael Petrushansky
January 11, 2026Thank you very much. It does help, but it does not seem to work. Drake does not switch to the Nexttab “Due Diligence” for the responses to be entered.
Debits
January 16, 2026I tested today and it is populating that Due Diligence screen for me. If you can walk me through your process I’d be happy to take a look at the issue you are experiencing.