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Keeper is an app that helps independent contractors, freelancers, and employees file their taxes while keeping track of work-related expenses.
The app is available for both iOS and Android devices, but you can also use a web-based desktop version.
Keeper could be a good solution if you want to stay organized come tax time. It's important to think about pricing and features before signing up. Here's a closer look at Keeper Tax and what you need to know if you're looking for an app to track expenses and file taxes.
See how Keeper compares to our list of the best tax software here.
- Keeper helps freelancers and independent contractors with tax write-offs.
- Automatically scans your bank and credit card statements for tax-deductible expenses.
- Tax Assistance requires an annual subscription, which costs $192 per year.
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Annual subscription (including tax return) |
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What is Keeper?
Keeper, formerly Keeper Tax, is an expense tracking and tax filing app for independent contractors and small business owners. Keeper can scan your bank and credit card statements to look for expenses you can track and write off to reduce your tax bill. It also takes care of your tax return and provides tax professionals with the opportunity to provide answers to tax return-related questions.
Founded in 2018 by Paul Koullick and David Kang, the company has changed its name from Keeper Tax to Keeper. The app receives high ratings on both the App Store (4.8 out of 5) and Google Play (4.5 out of 5).
How does Keeper work?
Keeper is a mobile-first app that works online and on your phone. Users link bank and credit card accounts to the app to automatically scan purchases for potential write-offs.
After you log in to Keeper, you will be asked a series of questions before you can proceed to the next screen. For example, it asks whether you are a freelancer, employee or business owner. You will also be asked whether you are using your vehicle or traveling for work.
How much does Keeper cost?
There is a free seven-day trial of Keeper. Once this is complete, here are your pricing options:
- Monthly subscription (cost tracking only): $20
- Annual subscription (cost tracking and taxes): $192
The monthly plan costs $20 per month and includes expense tracking features only. Keeper offers an annual plan that includes all the benefits of the monthly plan plus the ability to file your taxes at no additional cost.
Remarkable keeper features
Let's take a look at some key features of Keeper.
Tax Pro Help
If you use a platform that helps you file taxes, you may not have access to a live expert. Otherwise, you will need to upgrade to a higher tier. The beauty of Keeper is that you have access to a tax expert who can answer your questions. It may not be possible over the phone, but at least someone can help you with your specific problem.
Keeper is proud to be a premier producer of educational content for those with 1099 taxes, so the company may also be able to provide you with a video, article, or calculator.
Audit protection
Aside from an expert to answer your questions, you may also want to know what would happen if you were audited by the IRS. Keeper offers audit protection, meaning its team of tax assistants will help you put together all the necessary documents to send to the IRS if you are the subject of an audit. They also give you access to accountants and tax experts who can answer any questions you may have.
Depreciation recognition
Keeper offers write-off detection that scans your credit card and bank accounts and notifies you of expenses you can write off. Keeper reviews up to 18 months of transactions to automatically show which tax breaks may have been missed. All deductions are then categorized and automatically added to your tax return. The keeper also double-checks the deductions to make sure they don't raise any red flags with the IRS.
There are a few steps required before you can use this feature. This includes letting Keeper know what type of work you do. You will then need to link your accounts to Keeper so that your transactions can be scanned.
Tax bill forecast
Nobody likes being surprised by a huge tax bill. That's why, throughout the year, Keeper gives you estimates of how much you're likely to owe or tells you what your refund will be.
You'll need to enter your status, state, W-2, and 1099 income to instantly calculate this number. Your calculations include all federal and state taxes, including deductions and credits.
This is a helpful feature because it lets you know how much you need to save or how much you'll get back, so you can plan for taxes in advance.
tax declaration
Since Keeper is already scanning your tax write-offs and preparing you for tax season, it may make sense to file your taxes with Keeper. It offers automatic uploading of tax forms and pre-filling documents for you. In general, it is a very user-friendly experience for filers.
You can file all your taxes using your smartphone. Keeper says it takes users an average of 22 minutes to file their taxes. Once you submit your paperwork, a tax professional will review your documents before submitting them to the IRS.
How does Keeper compare?
Although Keeper is a user-friendly platform that helps you with accounting and filing, it has limited accounting features. You'll have to pay $192 per year to manage your expenses, but you won't have access to the detailed reports and features you get with QuickBooks, Xero, or other accounting apps. It's also a bit more expensive at $20 per month just for expense tracking.
For a cheaper option, you could look at Hurdlr, a similar bookkeeping, bookkeeping and income tax app that is completely free and offers the option to upgrade to Premium for $8.34 per month (billed annually) or sign up for the monthly version to decide. Monthly option for $10 per month. Hurdlr has a similarly priced tier, Pro, for $16.67 per month (billed annually).
Everlance helps freelancers track their business expenses and income. The app makes it easy to fill out a Schedule C for your taxes. Everlance offers a free 10-day premium trial, but many of the features are available in the free version. Everlance Premium offers dedicated customer service access, PDF reports, and automated trip tracking. Premium costs $8 per month or $12 per month for Premium Plus.
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If your tax return is not that complicated, you can file your tax return completely free of charge. Check out our favorite options to file your taxes for free.
Numerous other lower-cost options allow you to export your data at no additional cost of $39. TurboTax tops The College Investor's list as the best, easiest-to-use tax software (though it's also a bit pricey). You can import PDFs and spreadsheets directly from your employer, financial institutions and investment companies to download your tax data.
If you want a human to guide you through the process, consider H&R Block, which has robust software with the ability to import most tax PDFs, such as: B. Turbotax, but also has the added advantage of thousands of physical locations across the country. Here's our review of H&R Block.
Visit College Investor's Tax Center to learn about the best tax software, resources, and tools and what you should know about your taxes.
To contact customer service, you can send an email to support@keepertax.com. There is no phone number for customer service.
How to log in
You will be asked for an email address and a phone number. You can then choose whether you want to link your checking or credit card accounts to find suitable write-offs, for example if you work as a freelancer.
After answering the questions and entering your email address, you will be prompted to download the app to your computer via a QR code. You can also download the app directly from the App Store or Google Play.
Free tax resources and customer service
Keeper is committed to educating you on what you need to know about your taxes so you can save money and reduce your taxable income. They do this through their Free Tax Resources page, which includes knowledge articles, free calculators, tools, articles, and FAQs on their website.
For more specific answers to customer questions, visit their help page.
Why should you trust us?
The College Investor team has spent years reviewing all major tax filing options, and our team has personal experience with most tax software tools. I personally have been the leading tax software reviewer since 2022 and have compared most of the major companies in the market.
Our Editor-in-Chief Robert Farrington has been trying and testing tax software tools since 2011 and has tested and tried almost every tax filing product. Additionally, our team has created reviews and video tours of all major tax preparation companies, which you can find on our YouTube channel.
We are tax do-it-yourselfers and want a good deal, just like you. We work hard to provide an informed and honest opinion on every product we test.
Is Keeper actually a keeper?
Keeper is an impressive combination of expense tracking and tax filing. If you freelance, have a 1099 income, and your finances are relatively straightforward (such as filing a Schedule C), you may appreciate the app. Keeper is easy to use and the expense tracking features may be worth the $20 monthly fee for some people.
However, if you have a more complicated work, income, and financial situation – for example, if you own rental properties or regularly buy and sell cryptocurrencies, you may consider a more robust software such as TurboTax or H&R Block in combination with an appropriate accounting software suite.
Keeper features
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Monthly subscription fee (cost tracking only) |
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Annual subscription fee (including tax return) |
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Ask a Tax Expert (Free Service from Keeper) |
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