Keeper

Keeper (formerly Keeper Tax, rebranded April 2025) uses patented AI to monitor every bank and credit card transaction throughout the year, automatically flagging probable tax write-offs across 28 deduction categories — home office, software subscriptions, book research, professional development, advertising, and more. When tax season arrives, all discovered deductions feed directly into your return, which a licensed tax professional reviews and signs before filing. This is genuine tax professional involvement, not just software review. Under the "File Complex Taxes Confidently" positioning it now leads with, Keeper has moved upmarket, adding a dedicated Business plan for incorporated authors alongside its freelancer tiers.

Keeper reports over $1.2 billion in tax savings uncovered for users and 20,000+ five-star reviews across platforms, backed by a 100% accuracy guarantee. The iOS app has a 4.8/5 rating from 13,000+ App Store reviews; Android is 4.6/5 with 100,000+ installs.

Plans#

Keeper's plan structure matters: the cheapest filing option does not include the AI scanning that makes Keeper distinctive, and audit protection is reserved for the higher tiers.

• Only Deductions — $20/month: Full AI deduction scanning and bank monitoring. Flags write-offs across 28 categories. Does not include tax filing — you export your deductions and file elsewhere.
• Just Filing — $99/year: Tax filing (federal + 2 states) with tax professional review. Does not include AI deduction scanning. Suitable for authors with simple W-2 or basic 1099 situations who track expenses manually.
• Standard (Filing + Deductions) — $199/year: The plan most relevant to indie authors, now marketed as "Standard" on Keeper's site (the help center still calls it "Filing + Deductions"). Combines AI deduction scanning with filing. Covers Schedule C, up to 10 bank/card connections, receipt photo storage, and quarterly estimated tax calculations. Does not include audit protection or quarterly estimated-tax payment support.
• Premium — $399/year: Everything in Standard plus quarterly 1:1 calls with a tax expert, quarterly estimated-tax payment support, prior-year returns, up to three amendments, K-1s (Schedule E), multi-state filing (3+ states), EV credits, foreign income exclusion, and audit protection.
• Business — $1,199/year (includes Premium): Added for incorporated authors — S-Corp or partnership return preparation and filing (up to 5 members) plus the personal return, S-Corp election (Form 2553), and everything in Premium. S-Corp/partnership filing is no longer bundled into Premium; it requires this plan or à-la-carte add-ons (e.g. partnership/S-Corp return $800, annual payroll $400, 1099s $50 setup + $35/form issued).

A 14-day free trial covers deduction tracking and tax preparation but not actual filing.

Why Indie Authors Use It#

Authors earning royalties from KDP, ACX, Draft2Digital, or other platforms receive 1099-NEC income and must file Schedule C. Keeper's AI catches write-offs throughout the year — the Scrivener subscription, conference registration, research travel, book cover design — without requiring authors to log every purchase manually. The typical freelancer identifies $800–$2,400 in deductions annually through continuous passive scanning.

The "tax pro review and sign" on all filing plans means a licensed professional puts their signature on your return — not just software running a quality check. For authors anxious about Schedule C complexity or audit risk, this is a meaningful safeguard over DIY-only tools.

Platforms#

Available on iOS and Android, with a web interface. The experience is mobile-first — multiple reviewers note the web UI is functional but more limited than the apps. Keeper uses Plaid to connect securely to approximately 11,000 US banks and credit card issuers.

Strengths#

• Year-round passive monitoring: AI catches deductions as they occur, not just when you remember to log them at year-end.
• Tax pro review on every return: Licensed professionals review and sign all filing-plan returns — not just software-generated output.
• Strong user ratings: 4.8/5 App Store (13,000+ ratings), 4.8/5 Trustpilot (~313 reviews — though a high share are "Invited" post-filing reviews, which inflate the average).
• Audit protection on higher tiers: Premium ($399) and Business ($1,199) plans include audit protection — the $199 Standard plan does not.

Limitations#

• $99/year "Just Filing" lacks AI scanning: Authors buying the cheapest annual plan do not get the deduction discovery that defines Keeper — only filing.
• Audit protection costs extra: The $199 Standard plan excludes audit protection; you must move up to Premium ($399) to get it.
• Incorporated authors pay much more: S-Corp or partnership filing is no longer part of Premium — it requires the $1,199/year Business plan or à-la-carte add-ons (partnership/S-Corp return $800+, payroll $400/year).
• Mobile-first product: The web interface is more limited; authors who prefer desktop workflows may find it frustrating.
• Free trial excludes actual filing: You can test deduction tracking for 14 days but cannot evaluate the full product before paying.
• $20/month tracking plan requires filing elsewhere: Authors on the monthly plan must export deduction data and file through a separate service.
• US-only: Multi-state filing (3+ states) requires the $399/year Premium plan.
• Rating skew and 2026 complaints: Keeper's BBB rating is 1.8/5 and much of the polished 4.8 Trustpilot average comes from Invited (post-filing) reviews. Some App Store reviews from early 2026 report filing errors and fragmented customer support (rotating support reps). Small samples, but worth weighing for complex situations.

Alternatives#

FlyFin ($84–$348/year) is the closest competitor — similar AI deduction scanning but emphasizes a dedicated CPA rather than review-and-sign. FlyFin's Standard plan ($192/year) includes CPA-prepared filing; Keeper's equivalent ($199/year) offers pro-reviewed self-service filing. FreeTaxUSA ($0 federal, $15.99 state) costs dramatically less but requires you to track all expenses manually. TurboTax covers more complex situations and has deeper brand recognition but no year-round passive deduction monitoring.