Is anyone having a problem converting Drake 2018 to Proseries 2019?

[PBinNJ]

I'm getting an error at conversion due to corrupt files. I've repaired the Drake files and still won't convert.

[IRonMaN]

I think you have two choices at this point.

1.  Since ProSeries normally is bug infested at this point in time, you might want to wait for awhile before doing the conversions.

2.  If you don't want to wait, you should call support.

[Just-Lisa-Now-]

Doesn't Inuit have to do the conversion for you?

https://proconnect.intuit.com/proseries/data-conversion/

[PBinNJ]

No, you have to back up your Drake data to a conversion folder on your C drive, then in the ProSeries 2019 program under Import tab, submit the data or make the conversion if you have already submitted it to PS.  After a few phone calls, I finally did it but about 1/3 of my Drake files did not convert. Support was very helpful but concluded that the Drake files were somehow corrupted or incompatible or whatever.  I'm going to have to use blank organizers for about 1/3 of my clients.

[rbynaker]

It depends on the counts but you might consider buying Drake PPR for 2019 just so you can do the organizers (1/3 of 30 returns, not worth it; 1/3 of 300 returns, probably worth it).  There's a minimum charge for the software but no extra charge to do an unlimited amount of organizers, the PPR only kicks in when you do that actual returns.  That's probably a bad short-term solution for a long-term problem.  Without converted prior data files, you're going to have to enter 1/3 of your clients from scratch into ProSeries for 2019 tax prep.  Start now.  Also, never assume that any conversion program is going to be 100% compatible.  I don't know about Drake > ProSeries specifically, but just because of how PS stores data, I would not expect any of your state data to transfer and I would look very carefully at federal data, particularly depreciation and any carryovers (such as suspended PALs, capital loss, overpayments applied, etc.)

Obviously it depends on the complexity of the returns involved, but the last time I changed software I opened the converted prior year return for every client in the new software and compared it to what was actually computed and filed in the old software before doing any future returns in the new software (I hope that made sense).  So, in your case, going from Drake 2018 > PS 2019, I would open every return in PS 2018 (including state returns) and compare it to what was filed with Drake in 2018.  Then you have a clean start for converting PS 2018 to PS 2019 and much fewer headaches during tax season.  After a few of them you get a feel for things that do not convert over well so you know where to start with the rest of the clients.  The first week of December might be a little late to start on such a project but every second/minute/hour/day you spend now is time you don't have to spend Jan.-Apr.  This is why most people are reluctant to change software (and rightfully so, there's a huge up-front cost in time and manpower to do the conversion correctly, and then a much higher risk that something will slip through the cracks in the middle of tax season and then you're stuck paying penalties with unhappy clients).

Rick

[abctax55]

:+1:

[PBinNJ]

Rick, thank you for such a comprehensive reply, it will be very helpful.  Fortunately, all the 1040's came over to PS18, it's just the organizer that 1/3 of them did not convert.  I can live with that. Thanks, again.

[rbynaker]

Ah, thanks for the clarification.  That's weird.  As much as PS wants to blame that on Drake, if you're converting PS 2018 files to PS 2019 Organizers, that's on PS to get right.  I would have SERIOUS concerns about what's going to happen when you try to convert PS 2018 to PS 2019 and start doing returns.  If the conversion put bad data in your 2018 files, it's just going to flow forward and you might be pulling your hair out by March.

[PBinNJ]

Sorry if I have made this confusing. Originally we tried to convert Drake 18 to PS18 which did not work at all

[PBinNJ]

so we then converted Drake 18 to PS19 which did work, all the 1040's came over but only 1/3 of the organizers came over. I can deal with the blank organizers.  Thanks again.

[beckynguyentx]

I spent almost a day, still cannot convert data from Drake to Proseries. Even with the help of customer support. They still cannot figure it out when the file corrupts. I call Drake 's customer support as well, and they said the file is fine. Sad..