Exporting Individual Tax Preparations to Drake - Step By Step Guide (2026)

How the Integration Works

Unlike file-based exports, the Drake integration enters your client's data automatically, directly into Drake - Juno types it in for you. Because of this, there are a few moments where you'll need to keep your hands off the mouse and keyboard while Juno works.

Prefer a video? Watch the Drake export walkthrough here

One-Time Setup

Configure your Drake Settings

You only need to do this once.

1. In Drake, click Setup (top left), then select Options
2. On the Data Entry options, confirm the following:
   1. Activate W-2 wage.... is unchecked
   2. Display warning for missing required field is set to Never
   3. Use grid data entry format on available screens is checked
3. Click the Calculation & View/Print tab and confirm:
   1. Audible notification of calculation error messages is unchecked
   2. Pause Option for Calculation is set to After View or Print only (per Drake's own guidance)

Set your Drake File Paths

Juno needs to know where your Drake files live. You'll set this in the Drake Configuration modal, which appears during your firm's initial Drake onboarding - or anytime after by clicking Change Drake Location in the top right of the Juno Integration App.

The modal shows one container per tax year (e.g. "2025 Drake Folder" and "2024 Drake Folder"). For each year:

• Pick from the Select a path dropdown (paths Juno detected automatically), or
• Click Choose a different path to browse and pick one manually

Once at least one path is set, click Save.

Exporting a Return

Step 1: Open the Return in Drake

Launch Drake and open the tax return for the client you want to export. 

Step 2: Select the Client in Juno 

With the return open, open the Juno app in the same window as Drake and select the same client.

Step 3: Scan for Existing Documents

Click Scan for existing documents. This scan prevents duplicate data in Drake, so it's especially important for returning clients, pro-forma returns, and prior-year carryovers. 

Brand-new client with no carryover data? You can click Skip Scan for now instead.

Step 4: Close the Return in Drake

Once the scan finishes, close the client's return in Drake. 

Step 5: Map your Documents in Juno

Back in the Juno Integration App, use the dropdown in the Action column to tell Juno what to do with each document:

• Add — Creates a new form in Drake and inputs the validated data into it.
• Skip — Skips the document when you export.
• Index — Directs Juno to navigate to the specified document and input the validated data there.
  
  

Step 6: Click "Export to Drake"

Once everything is mapped, click Export to Drake. A modal appears with instructions before anything starts.

When you've confirmed no return is open, click Proceed, No Return Open (Need to stop? Click Cancel Export or the X - nothing will be exported, and you can restart anytime.)

Step 7: Juno Prepares the Export

Juno gets the data ready for export. If it takes a moment, you'll see a loading indication. You can still cancel at this point.

Step 8: Reopen the Return in Drake

When the Ready to Export modal appears, open the client's return in Drake, then click Proceed, Return is Open in the Juno modal.

If Juno doesn't detect an open return, it will let you know - just open the right return and try again.

Step 9: Let the Export Run

Juno now enters the data directly into the open return.

Step 10: Export Complete

When the export finishes, the Export Successful message appears and all imported data is visible in Drake. 

Finishing Up: The Preparation Checklist

Juno exports the majority of your data, but a few fields aren't included. Click here to learn more about how to use the Preparation Checklist.