Getting started with Keeper

Question

Answer

What is Keeper?

Keeper is a tax filing software that connects to your bank to automatically personalize your experience and uncover tax breaks. We help independent contractors, small business owners, and freelancers discover deductions and file taxes.

By linking your accounts, our expense tracking app lets us track and categorize your business expenses as they happen throughout the year — creating a list of business deductions that will save you time and money when you file your taxes. Deductions will automatically be applied to tax returns filed with Keeper. 

You can interact with our AI tax assistant via the Ask tab in the app and get help from a tax assistant staff member. Our team of tax professionals and experts is always on standby to assist you with tax-related questions!

Can Keep​​er track my income? 

How do I update my payment method?

To update your billing information, log in to your Keeper account and go to Settings in the mobile app or Profile in the web dashboard. From there, select Subscription and choose Edit payment method to update your payment details.

Can I include deductions on my quarterly taxes?

You can use the deductions you've tracked in the Keeper app to estimate how much your deductions will be for the entire year. This will help you determine your estimated net self-employment annual income, which is what your quarterly tax payments should be based on. You can user Keeper's free Quarterly Tax Calculator and read more about quarterly taxes here: https://www.keepertax.com/quarterly-tax-calculator 

I have multiple LLCs. How do I separate my expenses for each business within the app?

If your LLCs are single-member LLCs, the IRS generally treats them as disregarded entities for federal income tax purposes. This means the business income and expenses are generally reported on your personal tax return, so you can track expenses for your LLCs together in Keeper.

To add your LLCs to your tax profile, go to the Bookkeeping tab, select the three-dot menu, and choose Tax Estimate. From there, go to Jobs & Income and select + Add Job to add your LLCs.

Once your LLCs are added, you can allocate expenses between them using Keeper’s Smart Split feature. Select an expense marked as a deduction, then choose Switch to custom job split to assign the expense to the appropriate LLC.

Important: If you also have a multi-member LLC, such as an LLC taxed as a partnership or S corporation, its expenses should not be tracked in Keeper alongside your other self-employment income sources. These expenses need to be tracked separately outside of the app.

Can I use my tax refund to pay for my subscription?

You will need to purchase your subscription with us before you file your tax return. Every return filed with Keeper is reviewed by a tax expert before it is filed, so we need to charge for the subscription before we send it to the IRS.

How can I add receipts to the app?

To add a receipt to an existing transaction, tap the transaction and select Add receipt photo.

If you’d rather start with the receipt, go to the Bookkeeping tab, select Add transaction, and choose Scan receipt. Keeper will read the receipt and attach it to the matching transaction. If there’s no matching transaction, Keeper will give you the option to create a new one from the receipt.

Can I deduct the income I pay to myself?

For sole proprietors and single-member LLCs, paying yourself (owner's draws) is not considered a deduction so we won’t track it in the app.

How can I update my filing status in the app?

You can update your filing status and other personal information anytime from your tax profile. Just go to the Bookkeeping tab, select the three-dot menu, and choose Tax Estimate. This will ensure the best estimates while you’re tracking your expenses throughout the year.

If you are currently working on your return in the app and need to update your filing status, you can do so from the “Household Details” section of the File Taxes tab.

Does Keeper track mileage?

Keeper doesn’t track mileage directly, but we provide a free template that you can use to record it. You can access the mileage template here: https://www.keepertax.com/posts/mileage-log-template

If you use your car for work, we automatically track your car-related expenses, such as gas and maintenance. In some cases, this could be more beneficial for you at tax time!

When you file your taxes with Keeper, you can enter your mileage information along with your vehicle details in the File Taxes tab. This information will help us decide whether you should claim your actual car expenses or opt for the standard mileage deduction.

How much does Keeper cost?

We offer different subscription plans to fit your needs.

• Filing + Deductions – $199/year: Best for freelance (1099) or business income. Includes tax filing and the ability to claim 1099/business deductions.
•  Premium – $399/year: Our most comprehensive plan, including everything in the Deductions + Filing plan plus prior-year returns, amendments, quarterly tax support, 1:1 quarterly calls with a tax pro, and personalized assistance for complex tax situations.
• Only Deductions – $20/month: Track deductions for freelance (1099) or business income without filing taxes.

Can I pay the annual subscription in installments?

We are not currently offering any installment plans for our annual subscription. We do have a monthly subscription of $20 per month, but it does not include tax filing.

How do I log into the Keeper app?

Press “Get started” or "Login" and enter the same phone number or email address you used when creating your account. Keeper doesn't use passwords.

We will send you a 6-digit security code to your phone number or email address instead to confirm your sign-in.

Kindly note that if you enter a different number than what you used previously, this may create an additional subscription, which may cause you to be charged extra.

 I already filed my personal return, can you help me file my business return?

If you have a single-member LLC, the IRS considers you and your single-member LLC or sole proprietorship to be one entity for tax filing. This means that you’ll need to file an amended return to include your business income and expenses if you've already filed an individual tax return. If you’d like to file an amended return, Keeper can provide free resources that can help you with the process. We also have a Premium subscription that includes filing amended returns.

If you have a multi-member LLC, such as a partnership or an S-Corp, Keeper can assist you with filing your business return through our add-on services. Simply reach out, and we’ll provide more details.

How do I include my LLCs information or my EIN on my tax return?

During the filing process, you’ll be able to add your LLC’s income along with its business name and EIN.

I have foreign income, how do I include this when I file taxes?

If you paid taxes to another country, our Premium subscription ($399/year) includes tax return preparation and help applying the Foreign Tax Credit (FTC) to reduce the chance of being taxed twice on the same income.

If you’re a digital nomad or expat with a more complex tax situation, such as qualifying for the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion (FEIE) or meeting foreign bank account reporting (FBAR) requirements, we also offer specialized tax support through our add-on services.

If you need help with your specific situation, reach out to us and we’ll be happy to point you in the right direction. You can also learn more about our add-on services here.

How do I file my taxes with Keeper?

You can get started with filing your taxes with Keeper by accessing the File Taxes tab in the Keeper app or logging in at keepertax.com

How do I update my vehicle business usage, home office percentage, or business phone usage?

You can adjust your vehicle, home office, and phone business usage percentages in your tax profile. Simply go to the Bookkeeping tab, select the three-dot menu, and choose Tax Estimate.

My refund says deposited in the Keeper app, but I haven’t received it.

The refund status indicator in the Keeper app is based on a 21-day estimate. The most up-to-date information can be found at irs.gov/refunds. The IRS processes most returns within 21 days, but some returns take up to 90 days for the IRS to process. Continue checking your status at irs.gov/refund and call the IRS if there is no update within 90 days of filing.

Do I need to keep receipts?

The Keeper app helps you track your expenses and provides a summary of your transactions. While it's a useful tool for maintaining records, it's not a replacement for actual receipts. The IRS may require original receipts for certain tax-related matters. We suggest adding a photo of the receipt to the app when possible. Bank statements can also be used in some instances as evidence of an expense when a receipt isn't available.

Where do I enter my medical expenses?

You can track your medical expenses in the app by categorizing them as “medical expense” under the Bookkeeping tab. Please note that these are considered personal deductions, but they’ll automatically appear in the File Taxes tab if you choose to itemize your personal deductions during filing.

Itemized deductions include premiums for health insurance, medical and dental bills, mortgage interest paid, real estate taxes, gambling losses, and charitable donations. If the total amount you paid for these items equals less than the standard deduction amount, then we recommend you use the standard deduction amount, as this will be most beneficial to you.

Note that the amount you can deduct for medical expenses depends on your total medical costs and your adjusted gross income (AGI). Generally, you can deduct medical and dental expenses that exceed 7.5% of your AGI for the tax year.

It is saying my income is lower than my deductions.

You can check your total deductions in the Bookkeeping tab or by exporting them. You can then compare this to the total amount of income you entered under Freelance Income. If some deductions category totals seem high, you can review those deduction categories from the same tab and remove any invalid business expenses. If your deductions are valid, you can bypass the warning in the app and proceed with submitting your information for review.

It says my vehicle expenses or mileage is too high.

You can review the Credits and Deductions > Vehicle Deduction section in the tax filing menu to ensure you’ve entered your mileage correctly. You can also review the deduction categories on the Bookkeeping tab that are related to your vehicle expenses. If your mileage and deductions are accurate, you can bypass the warning and submit your return for review.

Can you tell me more about the Premium plan?

Our Premium subscription includes preparing complex tax returns, filing prior-year returns and amendments, estimating quarterly taxes, providing one-on-one consultations with a tax pro each quarter, and audit resolution support. Premium subscribers are assigned a dedicated tax expert who can answer tax questions and prepare returns, including those involving complex situations such as rental income, S-Corp shareholder income, foreign tax credit, and more.

I need an export of my expenses.

To export your tracked expenses, go to the Bookkeeping tab, choose the year you want to export, and select the three-dot menu in the top-right corner. An export copy will be sent to the email address associated with your account.

If you haven't received the requested export, please check your spam or junk folder. Next, verify the email address registered in the app under Settings/Profile > Login credentials, ensuring you're checking the correct inbox. You can also update your email address and request a new export. If these steps don't resolve the issue, please let us know and we will further assist you.

I need a letter from my tax preparer or a CPA.

If you’re on the Premium plan, a CPA verification letter is included for up to two years. If you’re not on Premium, you can request this service for a $50 add-on fee.

For both Premium and non-Premium subscribers, an additional $25 fee applies for each year beyond the first two years of verification.

To get started, simply reach out to us and let us know that you need a CPA verification letter. If your lender or other requesting party has specific requirements for what the letter should include, please provide those details as well. We’ll be happy to help with the next steps and make sure we have the information needed to prepare your letter.

I thought Keeper was free. I’ve been using it for a while, but now it’s suddenly asking me to pay an annual fee.

Keeper does offer a free version that is limited to linking your bank accounts and has limited expense-tracking abilities. To access the full app, including the tax deduction summary export file, you will need a paid monthly or annual subscription.

We offer a monthly plan for $20/month, which includes expense discovery and tracking, as well as access to a tax deduction summary file and a 24/7 AI Tax Assistant. You can also request assistance from a staff member for further help. You can view subscription options in Settings/Profile > Subscription and start a 14-day free trial.

You can permanently delete your Keeper account and all associated data from Settings > Manage Subscription section in the Keeper app. If you’re using the online dashboard, go to Profile > Subscription.

Important: Be sure to export your deductions before deleting your account. Once your account is deleted, your linked bank accounts and deduction records will be permanently removed, and your account cannot be recovered.

Can I deduct charitable donations?

We don’t track charitable expenses as deductible in the app since they aren’t business expenses. However, you can categorize them as “charity” in the Bookkeeping tab, and these expenses will automatically be included in the File Taxes tab if you choose to itemize your personal deductions during filing.

Itemized deductions include premiums for health insurance, medical and dental bills, mortgage interest paid, real estate taxes, gambling losses, and charitable donations. If the total amount you paid for these items equals less than the standard deduction amount, then we recommend you use the standard deduction amount, as this will be most beneficial to you.

How do I cancel?

You can cancel your subscription directly from your Keeper account.

If you’re using the mobile app, go to Settings > Manage Subscription.

If you’re using the online dashboard, go to Profile > Subscription and follow the prompts to cancel your subscription.

Can I deduct the purchase of a $3,000 computer for my business with Keeper?

If the business-related cost of the computer is less than $2,500, you can categorize it as "supplies" in the app. Remember to deduct only the portion that is used for business purposes.

If the business-related cost exceeds $2,500, it will be classified as a "capital expense" and will not be included with your Schedule C business expenses. Generally, equipment costs over $2,500 must be depreciated as a capital asset instead of being claimed as a business expense deduction.

If you need assistance with depreciating the cost of your computer, we can help you with this when you file your taxes with us through our premium subscription.

I received a 1099-K and 1099-NEC from Uber, how do I enter this? I think the 1099-NEC amount is included in the 1099-K amount.

If you received both a 1099-K and 1099-NEC from Uber, you should enter both under the Freelance Income section. While entering your 1099-K, make sure to include your expenses as well. If you believe the 1099-NEC amount is included in the 1099-K amount, you might want to double-check your records or reach out to Uber for clarification.

When filing your Uber taxes, we'll help you choose between the actual expense method and the standard mileage method ensuring you receive the greatest possible return.

I need help linking my Uber Pro card. It says I’m entering the wrong number every time I try to verify. 

Uber Pro Card has a unique login flow which could be the issue. The login flow is this:

1. Enter your phone number
2. Enter the OTP code sent to your phone number
3. Enter your Passcode, which is a PIN code that you set up in your app

What we've seen happening is that users enter the OTP code a 2nd time which you should be entering the Passcode. If you don't know what your Passcode is, here's instructions on resetting it here: https://support.branchapp.com/hc/en-us/articles/360045621272-How-do-I-Reset-my-Passcode-

Is there a restriction on the number of devices I can use to access my Keeper account?

Currently, there is no limit. Simply log in to your account using the phone number or email address linked to your Keeper account. We'll send you a 6-digit security code via text or email to verify your sign-in. Enter this code on the device you wish to use to access your Keeper account.

I have my Capital One card linked, but it’s not displaying all my transactions

While our system can track up to 18 months of transaction data, it is still dependent on your bank on how far they allow us to see past purchases. Some banks only allow a few months. 

Unfortunately, Capital One only allows us to view the past 90 days of transactions, so if you have transactions past that timeframe that you haven't already selected, you'll need to add those manually by using the + symbol on the Bookkeeping tab.

I'm married filing separately, do I need to include my ex's SSN/information?

If you are still legally married but separated, you have a few options for your filing status: "Married Filing Jointly," "Married Filing Separately," or "Head of Household."

• If you choose to file as married (either jointly or separately), you will need to include your spouse’s information.
• If you have a dependent, you can opt to file as "Head of Household," which allows you to file without including your spouse’s information.

The amounts listed on my 1095-A for my monthly premium vary. What should I enter?

Keeper supports C-Corp filings through our add-on services. This service incurs an additional fee and requires manual preparation by one of our tax pros. If you’re interested, just reach out to us, and we’ll be glad to assist you further.

Please note that if you have other self-employment income sources, we recommend not tracking your C-Corp’s expenses in the app. Instead, use the app to track your Schedule C business expenses.

When you file your tax return with Keeper, you can enter your property taxes if you choose to itemize your personal deductions instead of selecting the standard deduction.

However, if you have a home office for your 1099 work or business, you can classify this expense as "Home Office Expense" in the app. This lets you deduct it directly instead of itemizing it on your return.

You can delete an expense individually by opening it, selecting the three-dot (...) menu in the top-right corner of the expense details page, and choosing Delete transaction.

To remove all transactions from a linked account at once, go to Settings/Profile > Linked accounts, remove the account, and select the option to delete its transactions.

You can also delete an expense file you’ve uploaded to Keeper under Linked accounts. Deleting the file will also delete the transactions that were imported from it.

You can visit Settings/Profile > Tax University > Quarterly Taxes to find more information about quarterly taxes and use our quarterly tax calculator.

If you’re accessing your account online, you can find the quarterly tax calculator here: https://www.keepertax.com/quarterly-tax-calculator

Please note that our tax filing system within the app is designed only for your annual federal and state return.

We also offer a Premium subscription that provides access to a tax expert who can assist you in calculating your quarterly tax payments.

You can use Keeper’s Tax Estimate feature to get a rough idea of how much you may owe in taxes or whether you may be due a refund. To access it, go to the Bookkeeping tab, select the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, and choose Tax Estimate.

Keep in mind that the Tax Estimate doesn’t account for all types of income, credits, or deductions, so it should only be used as a general estimate.

For a more complete picture, you can start the filing process from the File Taxes tab and submit your return for review. Our team of tax experts will review your return for accuracy. Once the review is complete, you can return to the File Taxes tab to see your estimated tax bill or refund.

If you’ve already filed your return, you can also return to the File Taxes tab to view your tax bill or refund details.

Keeper’s Premium subscription includes one free 1:1 call with a tax pro every three months. Once you’re subscribed to Premium or are on a Premium free trial, you can schedule your call from the Tax Pro section of the Keeper app or your online dashboard.

If you need additional calls beyond your free quarterly call, you can book them for $60 per call.

You’ll need an active Premium subscription or Premium free trial to schedule a tax pro call. If you’re not on Premium, we’ll ask you to upgrade before you can book. The $60 fee applies only to additional calls after your included quarterly call.

Keeper offers add-on services for business tax filings, including S-Corp and partnership returns. One of our experienced tax professionals will personally handle both your business and personal returns, making the entire process seamless and stress-free. Since this is an add-on service, an additional fee will apply on top of your subscription. You can learn more about our add-on services here.

If you're interested, let us know, and we'll be happy to assist you with the next steps!

We can take care of this for you automatically, so you don’t have to worry about remembering quarterly deadlines or potentially facing underpayment penalties. If you file your tax return with Keeper using the Premium plan, we can help calculate and schedule your federal quarterly tax payments so they’re automatically withdrawn from your bank account by the IRS.

If you haven’t filed your current-year tax return yet, you’ll be asked about setting up quarterly tax payments during the tax filing questionnaire.

If you missed that question, you can add Schedule 2026 Quarterly Tax Payments by selecting + Credits and Deductions in the final summary before submitting your tax information for review. We’ll then schedule the payments as part of the filing process.

If you’ve already filed your return, you can still set up automatic quarterly payments if you're on the Premium plan by going to File Taxes > Other Available Services > Schedule Quarterly Payments.

A few things to keep in mind: Keeper can’t schedule payments for quarterly deadlines that have already passed, so you’ll need to make any missed payments yourself. Currently, Keeper can only schedule federal quarterly tax payments. If you’d like help calculating your state quarterly estimated taxes, reach out to us and we’ll be happy to assist.