How to File Taxes as a Freelancer Using Keeper Tax
Tax season can be daunting for freelancers and gig workers, but with the right tools, it doesn’t have to be a horror story. Here’s a guide on how to use Keeper Tax, a popular bookkeeping and tax filing application, to streamline your tax process and minimize stress.
What is Keeper Tax?
Keeper Tax is an all-in-one platform that automatically scans your bank and credit card transactions to identify deductible business expenses. It features real-time chat with tax assistance for queries regarding mileage, home office costs, and more. Additionally, it can generate a clean Schedule C summary and, at tax time, file your federal and state returns directly from the dashboard. Essentially, it serves as your bookkeeper, tax preparer, and deduction coach, all under one subscription.
Getting Started with Keeper Tax
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Download the App: You can find Keeper Tax on iOS or Android, or access it via your web browser.
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Create an Account: Click on “Try for Free” and create an account using your email. Choose your role as a freelancer or a contractor (1099).
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Provide Your Details: Follow the prompts to enter your job type (e.g., graphic designer), the month you started freelancing, and answer any additional questions including your full name and phone number.
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Transaction Scanning: Within minutes, Keeper will pull the past 18 months of transactions and start tagging potential write-offs. Remember to add all bank accounts and credit cards you use for business to ensure you capture every deduction.
Reviewing Write-Offs
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Access Tax Savings Tab: Open the Tax Savings tab to view a feed of expenses that might be deductible, such as software purchases, phone bills, or travel expenses.
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Tagging Expenses: Swipe right to confirm a deduction or swipe left if it’s personal. For ambiguous items, tap “Ask Keeper” to consult a human assistant for clarification.
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IRS Categories: Keeper organizes your expenses into IRS categories like advertising, office supplies, and mileage, making it easy to track.
Tracking Mileage and Home Office Deductions
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Mileage Tracking: In the settings, enable GPS-based tracking or manually enter odometer readings for each trip. Keeper will multiply your business miles by the IRS mileage rate and add it to your Schedule C.
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Home Office Deduction: Enter the square footage of your workspace relative to your entire home. Keeper will calculate the best option between simplified or actual expense methods, helping you maximize your deductions.
Quarterly Tax Estimates
On your dashboard, you’ll see notifications for upcoming quarterly payments, including amounts and due dates. Keeper factors in your year-to-date profit, filing status, and self-employment tax to generate accurate payment estimates. You can easily make payments through the app without navigating through the IRS website.
Filing Your Year-End Return
Once your 1099s arrive (typically mid-February), click on “Start Filing.” Answer basic questions regarding marital status, dependents, and healthcare information.
Keeper pulls in Schedule C numbers from your tagged write-offs, eliminating manual entry. You’ll receive a summary showing your taxable income, total deductions, self-employment tax, and refund amount due. A filing fee (typically between $89 and $130 for federal plus state) is payable, and you can expect IRS acceptance within 24 hours. If you need additional assistance, consider upgrading to Keeper Premium for a live CPA review.
Pricing Overview
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Bookkeeping Plan: $20/month (billed annually) covers transaction scanning, chat support, and quarterly estimates.
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Tax Filing Add-On: Pay once at filing time; includes federal and one state return. This is significantly cheaper than hiring a CPA, often costing $400 or more.
Pros and Cons of Using Keeper Tax
Pros:
- Automates bookkeeping
- Access to real human help via chat
- Seamless Schedule C creation and e-filing
- Accurate quarterly estimates
Cons:
- Best suited for freelancers and sole proprietors; multimember LLCs may still require a CPA
- Must connect all accounts for full benefits
- Phone support is limited to chat-based assistance
Conclusion
With Keeper Tax, you can easily connect your accounts, confirm your write-offs, pay quarterly estimates, and file your taxes—all while letting the app find deductions you might otherwise miss. If you’re ready to simplify your tax filing experience, check out the referral link below for a free month.
If this guide has alleviated some tax season anxiety, please hit the like button, subscribe for more freelance finance tips, and share your biggest tax-time headaches in the comments. Happy filing!
