Keeper Tax
Expense detection, tax help, write-off tracking, and filing for freelancers
Do not mistake the interface for the product. Keeper Tax's durable value is banking, compliance, trust, which a solo one-shot build cannot reproduce responsibly. The prompt therefore builds only the closest honest personal consolation tool.
Build verification: not recorded. How we judge buildability
What you give up
- audited security and recovery
- multi-user controls and accountant workflows
- live bank feeds and payment rails
- tax and accounting rule updates
Why people still pay
Keeper Tax: People pay because errors touch real money. Bank connections, reconciliation, tax changes, evidence, security, and support are the product.
Your build guide
The stack, security requirements, and agent rules for a focused replacement.
Before you start
- Node.js 22
- SQLite
- CSV exports from the user's own accounts
- Explicit README warning that this is a consolation build, not a production replacement
Use these project rules and optional skill references alongside the prompt. Review each skill before adding it to your agent; the AGENTS.md export includes the same guidance.
Project rule, data: Model accounts, source transactions, ledger entries, reconciliations, and reports; keep stable source IDs and timestamps.
Project rule, behavior: For tax filing + expense tracking, import one user-owned statement or enter a transaction with currency and source identifier.
Project rule, recovery: The sum of debits and credits must balance for posted entries; an import retry cannot change the closing balance.
Implementation plan
Phase 1, architecture and data
Use exactly this stack: Next.js 15 + TypeScript + SQLite. Model accounts, source transactions, ledger entries, reconciliations, and reports; keep stable source IDs and timestamps.
Phase 2, implement
For tax filing + expense tracking, import one user-owned statement or enter a transaction with currency and source identifier.
Phase 3, implement
Store money as integer minor units, reject duplicate source IDs, and record corrections as new audit events.
Phase 4, review and output
Reconcile a statement period and export a report with the unmatched entries visible.
Phase 5, recovery and acceptance
Verify this invariant with a saved fixture: The sum of debits and credits must balance for posted entries; an import retry cannot change the closing balance. State the practical limit: audited security and recovery.
Build me a focused tax filing + expense tracking workflow for the personal core of Keeper Tax. Requirements: - Use exactly this stack: Next.js 15 + TypeScript + SQLite. Model accounts, source transactions, ledger entries, reconciliations, and reports; keep stable source IDs and timestamps. - Paid product context: Expense detection, tax help, write-off tracking, and filing for freelancers. Build only this DIY scope: Build a private tax filing + expense tracking ledger that imports user-supplied CSV files, categorizes entries, reconciles balances, and exports reports. - For tax filing + expense tracking, import one user-owned statement or enter a transaction with currency and source identifier. - Store money as integer minor units, reject duplicate source IDs, and record corrections as new audit events. - Reconcile a statement period and export a report with the unmatched entries visible. - Use a local web page with input, progress, review, and export views. Required input or access: CSV exports from the user's own accounts. - Acceptance: with one labelled sample, show the input, saved intermediate state, and exported result; verify this invariant: The sum of debits and credits must balance for posted entries; an import retry cannot change the closing balance. - Out of scope: audited security and recovery; multi-user controls and accountant workflows. Keep this a personal, inspectable workflow. - Include a README with setup, a sample input, required keys or permissions, data location, and the supported scope.
$ open in your agent (prompt prefilled, you press enter), copy the prompt or copy AGENTS.md · generated from this app's build plan
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Keeper Tax pricing
| plan | monthly | annual (per mo) | what you get |
|---|---|---|---|
| standard | — | — | Package price shown as $199; up to 2 state e-files; up to 10 connected financial institutionsThe live comparison does not label the $199 amount as monthly, annual, or one-time, so recurring-price fields are null. |
| premium | — | — | Package price shown as $399; up to 2 state e-files; up to 10 institutions; includes quarterly support, 3+ states, K-1/Schedule E, EV/AMT/foreign-income support, audit support, and prior/amended returnsThe live comparison does not label the $399 amount as monthly, annual, or one-time, so recurring-price fields are null. |
free tierno verified permanent free tier; a free try/start flow is advertised without numeric caps
billingpackage cadence is not stated on the live pricing comparison
hidden costsCorporate returns are excluded from both packages. The displayed $199/$399 amounts were not forced into monthly or annual fields because the page did not state their cadence.
pricing sources checked 2026-08-10 · pricing source ↗
Questions about Keeper Tax
Can you build your own Keeper Tax with AI?
A full replacement is not the recommended project. Do not mistake the interface for the product. Keeper Tax's durable value is banking, compliance, trust, which a solo one-shot build cannot reproduce responsibly. The prompt therefore builds only the closest honest personal consolation tool.
What does the Keeper Tax build prompt cover?
The prompt starts with this scope: Build a private tax filing + expense tracking ledger that imports user-supplied CSV files, categorizes entries, reconciles balances, and exports reports. Full-product capabilities excluded from the comparison include: audited security and recovery; multi-user controls and accountant workflows; live bank feeds and payment rails. Follow the implementation plan and its prerequisites before expanding the build.
How do I use the prompt, AGENTS.md and agent skills?
Start with the Keeper Tax prerequisites and stack, then copy the prompt into your coding agent. Save the project rules as AGENTS.md in the project root. Linked skills are optional packages or source instructions for specific tasks; review their current contents and install only those matching the chosen stack. A skill does not supply API credentials or verify the finished app.
How long will this Keeper Tax project take?
The catalogue estimate is not a true replacement; consolation build in one to two days for the limited scope. Setup, integration approvals, debugging, deployment and ongoing maintenance can add time. This is an estimate, not a delivery guarantee.
What would I give up by replacing Keeper Tax?
audited security and recovery; multi-user controls and accountant workflows; live bank feeds and payment rails; tax and accounting rule updates. Keeper Tax: People pay because errors touch real money. Bank connections, reconciliation, tax changes, evidence, security, and support are the product.
What can I use instead of building Keeper Tax?
The prior-art section lists Actual Budget, Invoice Ninja as starting points. Review their current scope, license and maintenance before adopting one.