Getting started with Keeper

Question

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? 

We do not track income. We focus on tracking business expenses.

How do I update my payment method?

To update your billing information, log in to the Keeper app and go to the “Settings” tab located at the bottom right-hand corner of the screen. Scroll down to find and select “Manage Subscription”, then choose “Edit Payment Method.” From there, you can update your current 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 these within the app?

If your LLCs are single-member LLCs, the IRS considers you to be one entity for tax filing. This means that you can track all of your business expenses together! If you choose to file with Keeper, we’ll intelligently allocate your expenses by income source at tax time.

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?

Tap on the corresponding transaction and select 'Add receipt photo'. 

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 Deductions tab, select the three-dot menu, and choose Tax Estimate. From there, click "Improve this estimate" to access your tax profile. 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.

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 a variety of subscription options. Subscription options and features can be reviewed from the 'Manage subscription' settings in the Keeper app. We currently offer a monthly (Only deductions) plan that includes access to all of the features in the app except tax filing for $20/month, or we have an annual (Filing + deductions) plan that offers access to the same great features and includes tax filing at no extra charge for $199/year. If you have more complex tax situations, be sure to ask us about our Premium Plan designed for more hands-on help from a tax expert.

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” 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. 

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

The IRS considers you and your single-member LLC or sole proprietorship to be one entity for tax filing. We’ll use your social security number to file your income taxes - no need to include your EIN or LLC information. You can enter the income you received from your business in the Freelance income section of the tax filing menu and add all your expenses from the Deductions tab in the Keeper app.

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

Keeper doesn’t currently support in-app filing for foreign income. However, Keeper has a premium subscription for $399 annually which does include filing for foreign income! With a premium subscription, you’ll be connected to a tax professional who will assist you directly with filing your foreign income.

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 Deductions tab, select the three-dot menu, and choose Tax Estimate. Then, click "Improve this estimate" to access your tax profile.

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?

Medical expenses are typically considered personal expenses, and they aren’t something we track here in the app. Instead, you will be asked about that when you file your return with us. 

You have the option of itemizing your deductions or using the federal standard deduction amount. 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.

It is saying my income is lower than my deductions.

You can check the total amount of your deductions by tapping on the Estimated Savings amount to view your Total Deductions amount in the app or by exporting your deductions. 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 Deductions 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 Deductions 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 covers preparing complex tax returns, tax amendments, quarterly tax filings, and navigating audits. Premium subscribers have an assigned tax expert available to answer tax questions and prepare tax returns, including returns with complex tax scenarios such as rental income, S-Corp shareholder income, foreign income, and more. 

I need an export of my expenses.

To export your tracked expenses, go to the 'Deductions' 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 > 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.

Keeper is unable to provide a comfort letter or Profit and Loss statements. As a software company that aids in self-prepared returns, we lack the capability to verify whether or not you were self-employed. Verification of such information lies solely with you. However, we can certainly assist you by providing a copy of your return and Schedule C, which you can utilize to verify your income information.

I thought the Keeper tax was free. I’ve had Keeper tax for a while, and now, all of a sudden, it’s 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 have access to 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/mo which includes expense discovery and tracking, as well as access to a tax deduction summary file and a personal bookkeeper. You can view subscription options in the 'Manage subscription' settings in the app and start a 7-day free trial. 

You can delete your Keeper account and all data from the 'Manage subscription' settings in the Keeper app. IMPORTANT! - Don't forget to export your deductions before deleting your Keeper account. All your banks will be unlinked, and you'll lose all your deduction records. Your account will be unrecoverable. 

Can I deduct charitable donations?

We don't track charitable expenses as deductible in the app since they aren't business expenses, but you can classify transactions as Charity, and we will ask you about your charitable contributions when you file your return with Keeper. 

How do I cancel?

You can cancel your subscription from the Settings > Manage Subscription section in the app. 

Can I deduct the purchase of a $3000 computer for my business with Keeper?

If the business-related cost of the computer is less than $2,500, you can categorize it as either "Other Expense" or "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 1099K and 1099 NEC from Uber how do I enter this? I think the 1099 NEC amount is included in the 1099K 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.

The PDF you sent to sign my return is blank, or there's nowhere to sign. 

1. Ensure your browser or PDF viewer is up to date, as outdated software can sometimes cause issues with viewing documents.

2. Try downloading the form using a different browser or device to see if the issue persists. 

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 deductions past that timeframe that you haven't already selected, you'll need to add those manually by using the + symbol on the Deductions 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?

If the amounts are different, you should calculate the average amount for each column and enter that. Additionally, you can upload a photo or a copy of your 1095-A form in the 'Drop Off Forms' section of the File Taxes tab.

If you haven’t deleted your other Keeper account, you can easily recover it by logging in to the app using the email address or phone number associated with that account.

While Keeper specializes in helping freelancers and small business owners with their personal and business taxes, we don’t currently support C corporation filings. However, we can assist with your personal tax filings. If you’ve received dividends or other distributions from your C corporation, you should receive a Form 1099-DIV, which reports these payments. We can include this form in your return.

We also recommend not tracking your C-Corp’s expenses within the app, as those should be reported on your C-Corp's return. Instead, use the app to track your Schedule C business expenses if you have any self-employment income.

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.

To filter your expenses by account, navigate to the Deductions tab and select the 'Account' filter at the top of the page. Then, choose the specific bank account or card you want to view, and it will automatically display all expenses associated with that account.

At the moment, we don’t have a feature that allows you to delete all your expenses and reset your account. However, you can recategorize any expense in the Deductions tab of your app or dashboard. Just select the expense you want to edit, and you can adjust its amount, category, or mark it as deductible or non-deductible.

If needed, you also have the option to delete your Keeper account in the Settings tab > 'Manage subscription' section and create a new one.

For expenses that you've manually added, you can delete them by selecting the expense and choosing the delete option. Please note that this option is only available for manually added expenses, not for those imported from your linked account.

The amounts on your tax return are based entirely on the information and income you've provided to us. If this information is accurate, then the figures on your tax return should also be correct. You can revisit the File Taxes tab to check the information you've entered. If you’d like a draft copy of your return for a more detailed review, just let us know, and we’ll be happy to email it to you.

The fastest way to obtain your W-2 or 1099 form is to reach out directly to the issuer, such as your employer or client. However, if you filed with us and uploaded your forms during the process, you can easily download a copy from the File Taxes tab under the Past Returns section. Just select the return you filed with us, and you’ll find the option to download a copy of your return along with the tax forms you uploaded.

We have switched to a notification-based system for tracking expenses, replacing the previous text-based system. This means you will no longer receive expense messages in the chat. You can update your notification preferences regarding deductions anytime in the Settings tab under Notifications.

You can visit the Settings > Tax University > Quarterly Taxes section in the app 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.

If you choose to file an amended return on your own, you may find this IRS guide useful: https://www.irs.gov/filing/file-an-amended-return

If you're unable to log in with your phone number, please try using the email address you registered with Keeper. After entering your email, we’ll send you a security code to help you log in. Once you’re logged in, make sure to update your phone number by going to Settings > Login Credentials.

All tax returns are reviewed by experienced tax experts, each of whom is a registered agent. Our premium subscription also includes access to a dedicated tax expert who can answer your specific tax questions.

You can use the "Estimate my Refund" feature in the File Taxes tab of the Keeper app to know how much you will owe in taxes or if you're due a refund. However, please note that this calculator does not consider all your income, credits, and deductions, but it's still helpful for getting a rough estimate.

If you're accessing your account via the Keeper website, you can use this calculator instead: https://www.keepertax.com/1099-tax-calculator

Additionally, you can complete the filing process in the File Taxes tab and submit your tax file for review. Our team of tax experts will review your tax return for accuracy. Once the review is complete, you can return to the same tab to see if you owe taxes or are due a refund.

If you have already filed your tax return, you can go back to the File Taxes tab to check your tax bill/refund details.

We highly recommend reviewing all your expenses in the Deductions tab to ensure everything is properly accounted for. As Keeper learns your spending habits over time, it will better identify which purchases are consistently personal or business-related. Some transactions will be automatically categorized, but for others, you'll need to manually mark them in the app.

I’m sorry, but we don’t conduct phone calls or schedule meetings. Keeper is a text-first company, which enables us to provide you with the most accurate information possible. This method also helps us keep our costs low, allowing us to offer savings of up to ten times less than a traditional bookkeeper. However, we are always available to answer any questions you have through chat or email.

Keeper automatically prepares your Schedule C based on the income and deductions you report. You won't be able to view it until your tax return is finalized. If you’ve already submitted your tax return with us, you can download a copy of your return, including your Schedule C, in the File Taxes tab under the Past Returns section.

Currently, Keeper only supports the filing of annual federal and state tax returns. We do not handle sales and use tax returns and/or franchise taxes. For more information on how to file these, we recommend visiting your state’s website.