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In-app vs. web dashboard
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In App: Deductions tab
The Keeper app is a feature-rich environment designed to help you manage your business expenses and file your taxes! Below is a roadmap to help you navigate every tab and feature available in the app.
You'll see the "Deductions" tab once you log in to the app. Much of your experience with Keeper will be focused on this page.
Year
With the touch of a button, you can jump back and forth between your deductions for this year and from the previous year.
Keep in mind that we only support tracking deductions for the current year and the previous year at this time.
Navigation: Deductions tab
Manually adding an expense
The "+" icon in the top right corner is where you can manually add a business expense.
All you need is:
- The name of the purchase
- Amount spent
- Category
- Date
You can also attach a photo of your receipt if you prefer.
Don't forget to hit 'Save' so the expense gets added to your deduction spreadsheet!
Navigation: Deductions -> Plus sign
Deleting a manually-added expense
If you need to remove a manually added expense, navigate to the Deductions tab, locate the expense you want to delete, and then tap on 'Delete' at the bottom of the page.
Navigation: Deductions -> select manually added expense -> Delete
Three-dot Menu
The three-dot menu next to the "+" sign in the app offers four handy tools:
- Rules
- Financial accounts
- Tax estimate
- Export deductions
Let’s explore these features in more detail.
Navigation: Deductions -> three-dot menu
Creating rules for recurring expenses
The "Rules" feature helps you automatically categorize recurring expenses so you won’t need to update them manually. Whether it’s a monthly utility bill or a personal subscription like Netflix, creating a rule means these expenses will be consistently marked according to your preferences.
To manage your rules, open the three-dot menu in the Deductions tab and select "Rules." This brings up a window where you can create new rules or review and update any existing ones.
When creating a rule, all you need to enter are:
- Merchant name
- Deduction status
- Category
Here are some types of rules you can create for managing your expenses:
- Deduction: Set up rules for recurring deductions such as utilities, subscription services, and insurance. This way, you won't need to manually add them each month.
- Not Deductible: Create rules for personal transactions to ensure they aren't mistakenly categorized as deductions. This is ideal for expenses like grocery store purchases or non-work-related streaming services.
- Ask Me: For expenses that might qualify as deductions only in specific situations, create a rule and select 'Ask Me' for the status. This means these expenses won’t be automatically categorized. Instead, you can review them in the app and decide if they qualify as deductions. If you prefer to manually categorize certain expenses, you can set up rules for those and choose 'Ask Me' as well.
You can also choose to apply the rule to past purchases. By selecting this option, all expenses with the exact merchant name will be automatically updated according to the rule you’ve set.
Navigation: Deductions -> three-dot menu -> Rules
Linking your accounts
By selecting the "Financial accounts" option from the three-dot menu, you'll be directed to the "Connected financial accounts" section in the Settings tab. Here, you can link your bank accounts or cards, allowing us to scan and track your expenses while identifying potential deductions.
Navigation: Deductions -> three-dot menu -> Financial accounts
Estimating your tax bill or refund
Curious about how much you might owe in taxes or whether you’ll get a refund? The "Tax Estimate" feature in the app provides a quick calculation, giving you a rough idea of your potential tax bill or refund.
Keep in mind that while the estimate provides a helpful ballpark figure, it doesn’t take into account other sources of income, credits, or deductions that will be factored in during the actual filing process. Think of it as a useful guide, but not a final calculation. Your actual tax bill or refund may vary once you complete your filing with us and submit your return for review.
Navigation: Deductions -> three-dot menu -> Tax estimate
Understanding your tax profile
Your tax profile includes important details about your income, work, and some of the credits or deductions that can affect your taxes. This helps the app give you a better estimate of your potential tax bill or refund. It also uses this information to calculate your tax rate, which plays a role in figuring out your Estimated Tax Savings.
Additionally, you can update the percentage of your vehicle, home, and phone expenses that are used for business. You can also let us know if you travel for business or have meals with clients.
To access your Tax Profile, just select "Improve this estimate" under the Tax Estimate feature. Below, we’ll explain each section of your tax profile in more detail.
Navigation: Deductions -> three-dot menu -> Tax estimate -> Improve this estimate
Household Details and Income
In this section, you can update your:
- State of residence
- Tax filing status
- Dependents (if any)
- Expected annual W-2 employee income
- Expected annual freelancing/business income
Keep in mind that updating your household details and income information will also adjust your tax rate in the app, which can affect your Estimated Tax Savings. If you notice a change in your Estimated Tax Savings amount, it's likely due to the updates you've made in your tax profile. You can always check your current tax rate by selecting your Estimated Tax Savings amount in the Deductions tab.
Freelancing Details
Here, you can update the type of 1099 work or business you do. If you can’t find an exact match, just choose the option that best fits your situation.
As you continue to use the app, it will learn from your spending habits, helping to categorize your expenses and suggest possible deductions based on your work.
💡Tip: If your occupation or industry isn’t listed in the dropdown menu, you can select “Other.”
Next, you’ll see toggle switches and sliders for common deductions like business meals, travel expenses, home office, vehicle use, phone-related expenses, and public transportation costs. The information you provide here helps Keeper calculate your potential savings and determine which expenses you can deduct.
You can easily use the toggle switch to indicate if you have business meals with clients or colleagues, or if you travel for work.
Below, you can adjust the sliders to reflect the percentage of time you use your vehicle, phone, home, or public transportation for 1099 work or business purposes. For example, if you drive six hours per week and spend three of those hours on work-related tasks, set the slider to 50%. You can update these percentages at any time.
📝 If a deduction doesn’t apply to you, simply set the percentage to zero. For example, if you don’t have a dedicated home office for your business, set the home office slider to zero.
💡Tip: For a better understanding of which expenses qualify for these deductions, we recommend checking out our helpful articles on our website at https://www.keepertax.com/free-resources. You can also find these articles in the Tax University section under the Settings tab.
Taxes Paid, Credits, and Deductions
In the final section of your Tax Profile, you can enter details about the federal and state income taxes withheld from your W-2, or any quarterly tax payments you’ve made. You’ll also have the option to indicate if you qualify for any of the following credits or deductions: student tuition payments, mortgage interest, or traditional IRA contributions.
Exporting your deductions
One of the helpful features we offer is the ability to export your deductions. If you're on an active subscription plan (at least the monthly plan), you can easily download a copy of your deductions whenever you need it.
If you'd like a copy of your deductions to print or use elsewhere, simply export them as a spreadsheet. To do this, tap the three-dot menu and select "Export deductions." Just make sure to choose the correct year in the top-left corner of the Deductions tab before exporting.
Navigation: Deductions -> three-dot menu -> Export deductions
Estimated tax savings
The amount you see is an estimate of the money you'll get back from the government at tax time, either as a tax refund or a bill reduction.
Keeper does the math so you don't have to. For those who want to know, the value is determined by multiplying your tax rate by the dollar value of your total tax deductions.
📝 The Estimated Tax Savings amount doesn’t reflect your total deductions. To see your total deduction amount, tap on the Estimated Tax Savings in the app. This will bring up a page displaying both your total deductions and your current tax rate.
Also, keep in mind that the tax rate used to calculate your estimated tax savings is based on the income and personal details in your tax profile. You can update your tax profile anytime under "Tax Estimate."
Navigation: Deductions -> Estimated Tax savings
View business expenses by category
When you tap on your estimated tax savings amount, a pop-up window will appear with a breakdown of your total deductions X your tax rate and your total estimated tax savings.
This is where you'll also see a list of all your business expenses per category. And where you can view, manage, and edit them.
By tapping on the chevron symbol in a specific category, you’ll see all the added deductions.
Reviewing these sections is a great way to stay organized and ensure all your deductions are tracked.
Navigation: Deductions -> Estimated tax savings
Search expenses by name
The magnifying glass icon 🔍 will let you search your transactions by name. (e.g. Amazon)
Navigation: Deductions -> Magnifying glass
Sorting Expenses
Below estimated tax savings, you can see a list of all your expenses that you can filter by:
- Status
- Category
- Account
- Amount
- Most recent or highest amount
Navigation: Deductions
Filtering expenses by transaction status
If you tap on Status, you’ll be able to filter your transactions by:
- Deductions
- Not deductible
- Ask Me
Navigation: Deductions -> Status
Ask Me expense category
Under Ask Me, you'll see a list of business expenses for you to go through if there are expenses that haven't been categorized. With a tap of a button, you can mark each expense as either a deduction or not.
Checking this area of the app frequently to correctly mark each expense is a great habit to develop.
More deductions equal more tax savings!
Navigation: Deductions -> Status -> Ask Me
"Ask" Feature
Not sure whether an expense can be deducted? Don't worry; we got you covered!
You'll notice that your uncategorized or unreviewed expenses (transactions with a 💡 icon) have an "Ask" option under them. This feature allows you to instantly ask if that specific expense can be deducted. Simply tap on that button and it will take you to the "Ask" tab where our AI Assistant answers your question in seconds! Moreover, if the AI assistant determines that a human response is needed, it will alert one of our staff members to provide an answer instead.
Navigation: Deductions -> Select the uncategorized expense -> Ask
Editing an expense
Tapping on any expense in the "Deductions" tab opens up a list of tools to help you micro-manage the transactions that are added to your list of deductions.
You can tap on a specific purchase to:
- Create/View rule
- Add receipt photo
- Add a note
- Edit the amount spent
- Edit the category
- Mark the purchase as a deduction
- Remove it from your deductions
You'll also see other details such as the amount spent, your current tax rate, your tax savings for that specific expense, and the account it's coming from.
Navigation: Deductions -> Select an expenseAdd a receipt photo
In the Deductions tab, you can easily attach a photo of your receipt by tapping on an expense and selecting "Add receipt photo."
Navigation: Deduction -> Select expense > Add receipt photo (optional)
Add a note
You can also add a note to your expenses. This is helpful if you'd like to add extra documentation for your transactions, especially business meals, such as who you're with or what the meeting was about.
Navigation: Deductions -> Select an expense > Note (optional)Bulk edit
The bulk edit feature allows you to make changes for multiple transactions at once. Simply press an expense and hold it for a few seconds until you see the multi-edit mode. You can then select the expenses you'd like to edit.
Navigation: Deductions tab -> Press and hold an expense
After selecting the expenses, tap on 'Edit.' This will pull up a screen where you can bulk change the expenses by the following:
- Split amounts
- Add a note
- Change expense categories
- Mark as tax deductions
- Mark as personal
Split amounts allows you to change the business-use percentage of the transactions you have selected.
Add a note lets you add the same note for all expenses selected.
Mark as tax deductions will add the expenses to your deductions, and
Mark as personal lets you mark the expenses as personal.
Navigation: Deductions -> Press and hold an expense -> Edit
By selecting change expense categories, you can edit the category of the expenses with just one tap. Here, you can see all the categories you can choose from. Kindly note that you can only select one category for all the expenses you have selected.
Navigation: Deductions tab -> Press and hold an expense -> Edit -> Change expense categories
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In App: File Taxes tab
The “File Taxes” tab is your personalized gateway to filing taxes with Keeper. You can get started with the touch of a button. The process is completely automated, easy to follow, and fast, so there's no need to be a tax expert.
The filing flow will walk you through the process of uploading your forms and documentation. After that, our team of tax assistants does the heavy lifting so you don't have to.
File Taxes Interface
When you first go into the file taxes interface, you can enter the filing flow to start your taxes, track your progress, pause, and go back later if necessary. As an annual subscriber, you can access our tax filing flow at no additional cost and enjoy the benefits:
- Easy form upload
- Max refund
- 100% accuracy
- Professional prep
Rest assured, filing with us is quick and straightforward. Before your tax return is sent to the IRS, it will be professionally reviewed by a tax expert.
And don’t worry, your tax return won’t be submitted until you have reviewed and confirmed your intent to file. You can go back to edit your information or ask questions if needed!
Navigation: File Taxes -> Continue Filing
Estimate my refund
Wondering how much you might owe at tax time or if you'll receive a refund? Use our "Estimate My Refund" feature to quickly calculate your potential tax bill or refund in just seconds!
📝 Please note that while the calculator gives you a rough estimate, it does not consider other sources of income, credits, or deductions during the filing process. Therefore, it should be used as a helpful guide rather than an exact calculation. Your actual tax bill or refund may differ once your return is submitted for review.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Estimate my refund
Discover the benefits of filing with Keeper
Explore some of the benefits of filing with us!
1. Seamless form upload
With our drag-and-drop feature, filing your taxes is as simple as uploading your tax forms, and Keeper will handle the rest.
2. Reviewed and signed by a tax professional
Your return is meticulously reviewed by a tax professional, ensuring accuracy and giving you the confidence to file.
3. Tax experts on standby
Our tax experts are available around the clock to provide advice at no additional cost. Just visit the 'Ask' tab for any questions or assistance you may need.
Find answers to common tax filing questions
Scrolling down to the bottom of the File Taxes interface, you'll discover answers to frequently asked questions that our customers often encounter while filing their taxes.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Frequently asked questions
Share your feedback
You can provide feedback on Keeper at the bottom of the File Taxes page.
Navigation: File Taxes -> How are you liking Keeper?
Navigation
When you first start your tax return, we'll ask who you’re filing for: yourself, your spouse, or dependent(s). Following that, you'll begin the filing process, which involves three key stages:
- Share details
- Keeper review
- Sign & file
We'll delve into each of these stages in greater detail later on.
To access the tax filing navigation, tap on the button with the three lines at the bottom left corner of your screen.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Three Lines in Left Corner
Under navigation, you'll see the following:
File taxes
Selecting this will guide you through the filing process. If you've already begun, it will take you directly to your current progress.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Three Lines in Left Corner -> File Taxes
Past returns
All tax returns filed through Keeper, including both current and previous years, will be available in this section. You can request to have a copy of any return emailed to you. Additionally, if you uploaded any tax forms during the filing process, you'll be able to download them under the 'Documents' section once your filing is complete.
Moreover, when you select a specific tax return to download, you'll also see a brief summary showing how your tax bill or refund was calculated. This summary will include key details such as:
- Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
- Standard or itemized deductions
- Total taxable income
- Any non-refundable credits
- Gross taxes owed
- Taxes withheld and refundable credits
If you need to quickly check information like your AGI, simply go to the Past Returns section after filing and select your tax return to view the details.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Three Lines in Left Corner -> Past Returns
File on your computer
Provides instructions on how to log in to your account on the Keeper website.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Three Lines in Left Corner -> File on your computer
Exit tax filing
Takes you back to the interface of the “File Taxes” screen.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Three Lines in Left Corner -> Exit tax filing
Tax Assistant Chat Box
You can also access our AI Assistant chat box if you have any questions while going through the filing flow. Simply tap on the chat box icon at the bottom of your screen.
Our AI assistant is powered by the collective intelligence of Keeper accountants and tens of thousands of previously filed tax returns, which can help you easily get through the filing process.
💡 Tip: For more personalized assistance, simply ask for help from a staff member, and they’ll be happy to assist you.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Chat box icon
Navigating the Tax Filing Process
Let's now explore the various sections of the filing process!
1. Share details
Drop off tax forms
At the beginning of the tax filing process, you can upload the necessary tax forms or documents for your return. You can do this by dragging and dropping your files, uploading a photo, or selecting documents from your device.
📝 After you’ve uploaded your tax forms, you can review them by returning to the 'Drop off tax forms' section of the File Taxes tab. This will show all the forms you've uploaded, and you can view the details by selecting each specific form.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Share details -> Drop off tax forms
Moreover, if you prefer to input your tax form details manually, you can easily do so by selecting Enter manually. This option directs you to a page where you can choose the specific tax form you wish to enter manually.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Share details -> Drop off tax forms -> Enter manually
Scan for deductions
Once you've uploaded all your tax forms, you can scan your bank accounts to identify potential deductions. After scanning, be sure to review your deductions to confirm that everything is accurate.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Share details -> Scan for deductions
Answer personalized questionnaire
Once you're done reviewing your deductions, you can start answering the questionnaire. You'll be prompted with a series of questions tailored to your tax situation. Please answer them as accurately as possible. If you have any queries or find any part unclear, feel free to let us know. We're here to assist you every step of the way!
Navigation: File Taxes -> Share details -> Answer personalized questionnaire -> Start questionnaire
Submit for review
The next stage of the filing process involves reviewing all the details you've entered. Once you've completed answering all the questions, you'll land on a summary page that neatly organizes the information you've provided. Each section in your tax filing summary is interactive, allowing you to easily make any adjustments if necessary.
During this stage, you also have the option to include any additional income, credits, or deductions by simply clicking on the sections marked with a + sign.
Navigation: File Taxes -> Share details -> Your tax information
If everything appears accurate, you can proceed to submit your return for review by selecting Continue to Keeper review. Our dedicated team of tax experts will then review your filing to ensure its accuracy.
2. Keeper review
Once we have completed the review of your return, we will inform you if there are any issues that need your attention. If everything is in order, you will see your tax bill or refund details when you return to the filing process. Before you submit your tax filing to the IRS, you’ll have the opportunity to review your return and the final tax calculations, which will show your tax bill and/or refund amounts for both federal and state taxes.
Remember, we won't submit your return without your approval!
Tax return summary
On this page, you'll see your finalized tax bill or refund amounts, as well as a summary of your tax filing information.
Tax bill amounts are displayed in red, while refund amounts appear in green. You also have the option to edit your return by selecting 'Unlock to make edits.'
📝 Please note that you will only see your finalized tax bill/refund details in the File Taxes section after submitting your return for review.
3. Sign & file
Once you’ve confirmed your tax bill or refund details and are ready to proceed with filing your return, simply click ‘Sign & File’ to move on to the next step.
Selecting your payment method
On the next page, you’ll choose your payment method. This will be utilized for either paying your taxes or depositing your refund if you're entitled to one.
You have the option to add a bank account or choose the 'pay later' option.
If you choose 'Add a bank account,' you can either select from the accounts already linked to the app or manually enter your bank account information.
Opting to 'pay later' allows you to set up a payment plan with the IRS, giving you more time to pay your taxes. However, if you're anticipating a refund from either the IRS or your state, selecting this option means they will mail you a check to the home address you provided on your return.
Sign your return
After selecting your payment method, we'll ask if you'd like a copy of your return emailed to you. It's important to carefully review your tax return before signing.
On the following screen, you'll be able to sign your return.
Once you've signed, you'll see another overview of your finalized tax bill or refund with a breakdown of your tax information.
At the bottom of this page, confirm your intent to file by clicking on the Send to IRS button.
📝 Important Note: Once you send your return to the IRS, you won't be able to make any further changes to your return.
Congratulations! Your return will be transmitted to the IRS.
Now, sit back and relax. You'll receive a confirmation once the IRS accepts your return.
If, for any reason, the IRS rejects your return, don't worry. We'll promptly notify you and provide details on why it was rejected and how to correct the error.
Want to know more? See our Filing with Keeper articles for more useful tips.
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In App: Ask tab
The Ask tab is where you can ask us questions you have about your business deductions, tax return, membership, how to use the app, or anything in between. And as your tax assistant, you'll get an answer from us directly.
Did we mention, that this feature is completely free? And you can message us anytime in-app!
Navigation: Ask -> Type message here
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In App: Referrals tab
The Referrals tab is where you can access your unique referral link to share with friends. This tab provides details about Keeper's referral program and allows you to input your PayPal account for reward payments.
When you refer a friend, they will receive a 25% discount on Keeper's annual or premium subscription. If they subscribe to Keeper (Annual or Premium) and remain a user for at least 30 days, you will earn a $50 reward. You can earn up to $500 through Keeper's referral program by referring multiple friends.
You can also track the progress of your referrals. When your friend signs up for Keeper, a clock icon will appear next to their name in your referral bank. Once your friend has subscribed and used Keeper for 30 days, the clock will turn into a green check, showing that you are eligible for your $50 reward.
You will be paid $50 via the paypal account you provided for reward payments. It's that easy! -
In App: Settings tab
The 'Settings tab' serves as a central hub for managing key aspects of your Keeper account. From here, you can link and manage your financial accounts to ensure all your expenses are properly tracked. You can also customize your notification settings, review past returns, update your login credentials, and manage your subscription.
On top of that, the Settings tab gives you access to Tax University, where you’ll find great resources to help you learn more about taxes. Let’s take a closer look at each feature and see how they work.
Profile & Preferences
Connected financial accounts
Simply tap on "Connected financial accounts" in the Settings tab to link your bank accounts or cards. Once you link your account(s), our system will begin finding potential deductions.
Navigation: Settings -> Connected financial accounts
You can even control whether or not a specific account is used for work, personal, or both. You can remove an account from here, too.
Navigation: Settings -> Connected financial accounts -> Select an account -> Remove this account
We partner with Plaid to connect your accounts. By connecting through Plaid we do not have access to your personal information.
We're only able to see purchases from your linked accounts. And that's to find deductions that put more savings in your pocket.
Notification settings
Here, you can adjust your notification preferences to:
- App notifications
- SMS text messages
- Don't notify me
📝 Please note that the notifications displayed in the Settings tab are only examples, not your actual notifications. If you choose to receive app notifications, you'll get push alerts whenever the Keeper app provides updates about your potential deductions or tax filing status. If you prefer SMS notifications, these updates will be sent to you via text messages instead.
Navigation: Settings -> Notification settings
Past returns
All tax returns filed through Keeper, including both current and previous years, will be available in this section. You can request to have a copy of any return emailed to you. Additionally, if you uploaded any tax forms during the filing process, you'll be able to download them under the 'Documents' section once your filing is complete.
To access the 'Past Returns' section, you can either go through the 'Settings' tab or navigate to the 'File Taxes' tab by tapping the hamburger icon in the bottom left corner.
When you select a specific tax return to download, you'll also see a brief summary showing how your tax bill or refund was calculated. This summary will include key details such as:
- Adjusted Gross Income (AGI)
- Standard or itemized deductions
- Total taxable income
- Any non-refundable credits
- Gross taxes owed
- Taxes withheld and refundable credits
If you need to quickly check information like your AGI, simply go to the Past Returns section after filing and select your tax return to view the details.
Navigation: Settings -> Past Returns
Account & Subscription
Login credentials
In this section, you can update your:
- First and last name
- Email address
- Phone number
Navigation: Settings -> Login credentials
Manage subscription
This is where you can view and manage your membership plan.
- Edit subscription
- Edit payment method
- Cancel subscription renewal
📝 When you cancel the renewal of your subscription, you are effectively unsubscribing / deactivating your account. You will not incur any charges moving forward unless you decide to resubscribe.
Navigation: Settings -> Manage subscription
Towards the bottom of the 'Manage subscription' page, you'll find an option to permanently delete your Keeper account. Please note that choosing this option will unlink all connected bank accounts and erase all data stored in your account, with the exception of your tax filing information. To comply with federal regulations, tax filing data must be retained for three years.
Navigation: Settings -> Manage subscription -> Delete account and all data
Tax University
Our Tax University can be accessed from here where you can learn about all things taxes without the jargon.
Here, you can explore a variety of essential topics, including:
- Understanding your 1099 tax bill
- Managing receipts for taxes
- Car expenses and mileage
- Home office deductions
- Business travel deductions
- Business meal deductions
- Education deductions
- Quarterly taxes
- LLCs
- Advertising deductions
- Clothing deductions
For added convenience, you can also access Tax University online at https://www.keepertax.com/free-resources.
Navigation: Settings -> Tax University
Log out
To sign out of your Keeper account, scroll to the bottom of the Settings tab and select the "log out" button. This will safely log you out of your account.
Navigation: Settings > Log out
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Tax University
Now that you've set up your Keeper account, you might have questions about various tax topics, such as:
- Your 1099 tax bill
- Receipts for taxes
- Car expenses & mileage
- Home office deduction
- Business travel deduction
- Business meal deduction
- Education deduction
- Quarterly taxes
- LLCs
- Advertising deductions
- Clothing deductions
For clear, comprehensive answers and resources, check out Tax University! This free resource, available both within the Keeper app and online, offers valuable information on everything from business deductions to tax filing.
To access Tax University in the app, go to the Settings tab. You'll find Tax University listed as the last item.
You can also access Tax University online at https://www.keepertax.com/free-resources for your convenience. Explore our resources and get the answers you need to navigate your taxes confidently!
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