User's Manual - Drake Software

What’s New in Drake for 2012
Drake Software User’s Manual
What’s New in Drake for 2012
Drake Passwords
Each year, Drake strives to offer the most efficient and comprehensive tax software in
the industry while staying current with the latest technology. Listed here are short
descriptions of some of the more significant changes to the 1040 program, and to the
software in general, for tax year 2012. (Information on what’s new in business and
other packages is also detailed in Chapter 14, “New Features in Other Packages.”)
Drake passwords have been reformatted for greater security. Beginning with Drake12,
the Drake password will consist of eight to 15 characters (numerals and case-sensitive
letters). No special characters will be allowed and at least one character has to be a
numeral.
Passwords are assigned by Drake and included in your software packing slip or download
e-mail. Drake recommends you change this password at your earliest convenience
by going to Support.DrakeSoftware.com > My Account > Edit Account. The
new password must meet the criteria listed above. Anytime you change your password,
it is critical that you update the password entered in ERO Setup in Drake.
Drake E-Mail
Because of the new password system, it’s no longer possible to e-mail returns using
prior-year Drake programs. To e-mail returns from prior tax years, open the e-mail
program in Drake12, click Add or Attach, and use the Prior Year function. For
details, see “E-Mail Program” on page 275.
Program Enhancements
Changes and enhancements to the program include:
Printing
Updates
Drake has made changes to its print engine as a part of an ongoing effort to create
nearly exact replicas of tax forms on the many different makes and models of printers
that are used in tax offices today. Some of these changes are necessitated by the emergence
of stricter requirements enforced by some government tax agencies for paper
processing.
Drake has provided a way for you to print a test page in the preferred Printer Command
Language (PCL) mode to see if your printer is compliant with these software
changes. See “Testing Your Printer” on page 49.
PDF Attachments
Binary, or PDF, files can now be attached to e-filed 1040 returns in Drake Software.
These attachments are generally signature or third-party documents such as a copy of
a signed lease, or a signed appraisal statement, possibly a divorce decree or bankruptcy
papers. In some instances, the IRS requires that a document be attached to an e-
filed return; in other instances, a document can be attached voluntarily to support or
explain an entry in the return. In either case, a PDF must be available to be attached to
the return in order to be e-filed with the return.
The link to the PDF Attachments screen is on the right side of the Data Entry Menu.
or enter PDF in the selector field.
2 Tax Year 2012