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Keeper
Federal starting price
$20
State returns starting price
Included

Our verdict

Find hidden tax write-offs with this 1099 expense tracker for freelancers and independent contractors.

Keeper launched in 2018 and has already saved freelancers a combined $40 million in taxes, according to its site. Keeper is best for freelancers, contractors or 1099 employees who want to make sure they find every tax write-off imaginable without adding more work to their plate. The program uses AI and licensed tax bookkeepers to catch and categorize your business expenses as you make them, estimate your quarterly estimated tax payments and help you file your taxes. There's a $20 a month subscription fee to use Keeper's expense-tracking features and automatic deduction tool. If you decide to file your state or federal taxes through Keeper, you must have the annual plan for $192/year. If you have a lot of business expenses, it may be worth the price. But if you’re a one-person show with little to no overhead, you may be better off tracking things manually.

Pros

  • Catches missed write-offs
  • Free trial
  • Free resources
  • Assigned licensed tax bookkeeper
  • Audit protection

Cons

  • Costs money

In this guide

  • Our verdict
  • Your reviews
  • Ask a question
Keeper is a 1099 expense tracker that scours your financial accounts to catch every expense you can write off on your taxes. It’s best for independent contractors, freelancers and small business owners who want to maximize their tax savings without having to do extra work. But it costs $16 per month, with a one-time fee of $39 per tax season for exporting write-offs. Alternatively, you can choose the annual plan at Keeper, which includes tax filing through Keeper.

How much does Keeper cost?

Keeper’s monthly plan costs $20 per month and its annual plan is $192/year. The annual plan can save $48 dollars over a year, and you must have the annual plan to file your state or federal taxes with the service.

PlanCostService
Monthly plan$20/month
  • Automatic tax break detection with AI
  • Unlimited tax expert assistance
  • In-app tax resources
Annual plan$192/year
    Everything with monthly plan, plus:
  • Federal and state tax filing
  • Expert tax review before filing

How to sign up

Follow these steps to sign up for Keeper:

  1. Select Apply now.
  2. Enter your phone number on Keeper‘s website and select Text me the app.
  3. Tap the link on your phone to download the app from the Google Play Store or Apple App Store.
  4. Follow the prompts to create your account and connect your financial accounts.

What are the benefits of Keeper?

Here are only a handful of benefits you may enjoy when you use Keeper as a freelancer or contractor:

  • Catches missed write-offs. Keeper claims it saves the average customer $6,428 a year in taxes by catching write-offs that are often overlooked.
  • Free trial. You get a 7-day free trial when you sign up, giving you plenty of time to decide if it’s the right program for you. But if you don’t plan to continue using it, make sure you set a reminder to stop the trial or you’ll risk a charge.
  • Free resources. You’ll find all sorts of free resources on Keeper‘s website, including a tax bill calculator, tax rate calculator, tax deduction finder, questions answered by tax accountants and more.
  • Assigned licensed tax bookkeeper. As a Keeper subscriber, you’ll get access to a licensed tax bookkeeper who can answer your questions and help you file your taxes.
  • Audit protection. If Keeper spots an expense that could be flagged for audit, they’ll contact you to get it corrected.

What to watch out for

Keeper has some sweet perks, but there are a few downsides to watch out for:
  • Costs money. After your 7-day free trial expires, you’ll pay $20 a month, or $240 per year. And to officially file your taxes with the app, you need the annual plan.

If you’re looking for a cheaper way to file your taxes, explore your options here.

Is Keeper safe?

Yes. Keeper uses Plaid to connect to your financial accounts via a secure connection. This system has read-only access to your transactions, so it can never view or store your bank credentials.

Keeper reviews and complaints

Keeper has an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and scores a high 4.7 star customer rating on its BBB profile. Keeper has 4.5 stars on the Google Play app store, and 4.8 stars on the App Store, both platforms sporting thousands of ratings.

Overall, feedback is positive. Customers say that even with the $20 subscription fee, the app is worth it because it saves them hundreds in taxes. One user reported seeing a $500 savings within 30 minutes of opening their account. Still, some users report having issues getting the app to connect to their bank account.

Compare tax filing services

Use this interactive table to see how Keeper compares to other tax filing services.

Name Product Federal starting price State returns starting price Maximum return guaranteed? Free options available? Photo import of W2? Live chat?
FreeTaxUSA
$0
$14.99
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Keeper
$20
Included
Yes
No
No
Yes
Jackson Hewitt
$25
$25
Yes
No
No
Yes
Intuit TurboTax
$129
$64
Yes
Yes
Yes
No
Liberty Tax
$45.95
$36.95
Yes
No
Yes
Yes
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How can I contact Keeper customer support?

You can reach Keeper customer service via email or social media:

  • Email: support@keepertax.com
  • Facebook: @keepertax
  • Twitter: @keepertax
  • Instagram: @Keeper.Tax
  • LinkedIn: Keeper

Frequently asked questions

How does Keeper connect to my bank account?

Keeper connects to your bank accounts and credit cards using Plaid — a platform that currently supports over 2,000 financial institutions. If your institution isn’t currently supported, you can put in a request to have it added.

Who should use Keeper?

Keeper is designed for freelancers, entrepreneurs and 1099 employees. It could be a good fit for you if you’re a:
  • Freelance writer, photographer, developer or consultant.
  • Contract worker in construction or the fossil fuels industry.
  • Driver for Amazon Flex, Uber, Lyft, DoorDash, Grubhub and more.
  • Event or wedding planner.
  • Independent actor, model or teacher.

How does Keeper track purchases bought with cash?

If you use cash for your business, simply take a picture of the receipt and submit it to Keeper through the app. They’ll categorize it the same as a purchase you bought with your card.

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