Column Tax vs Keeper (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Column Tax if

• Fits if you run a bank or app and want filing inside your product
• Makes sense if you need expert review and audit support for your users

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you are an individual, as filing is only available through a partner's account
• Tight if you want a price, as none is published and pricing is sold through a demo request
• Watch out: the company announced its acquisition by Aiwyn, so packaging may change
• Skip it if you file outside the US, as it covers US federal and state returns

Pick Keeper if

• Fits if you are a US freelancer or contractor who wants someone else to file
• Works for people who would rather be told what they can deduct than learn it

Look elsewhere if

• Not for you if you want it free, as there is no free plan and the trial needs a card
• Skip it if you track mileage, because that feature is marked coming soon
• Tight if you file in 3 or more states, since Standard covers federal plus 2 and more needs Premium
• Watch out: Bookkeeping Only is $20 a month, $240 a year, which costs more than the yearly Standard plan
• Watch out: S-Corp and partnership filing is only on the $1,199 Business plan

Column Tax

• Individuals cannot sign up directly: filing and support are available only through a partner organization's account.
• No prices are published; terms and any fee to the taxpayer depend on the partner, and pricing is sold through a demo request.
• Covers US federal and state returns for individuals and small-business income that flows into a Form 1040.
• The company has announced its acquisition by Aiwyn, so the product's future packaging may change.

Keeper

• Bookkeeping Only does not include tax filing; the yearly Standard plan at $199 costs less than 12 months of it at $240.
• Mileage tracking and an LLC formation service are marked coming soon.
• Standard covers federal plus 2 state returns; 3 or more states, audit protection and quarterly taxes need Premium.
• S-Corp and partnership filing is only on the $1,199 Business plan.

Column Tax

Embedded DIY filing

Federal and state do-it-yourself filing sits inside a partner's app or website, with details the partner already holds pre-filled.

Expert Review

An add-on product in which a tax professional reviews a return and leaves notes and suggestions before filing.

API integration

Partners connect through APIs, with public API documentation, and the vendor says it can get a partner to accepted returns in a week or less.

Refund and accuracy guarantees

The FAQ describes a Maximum Refund Guarantee and an Accuracy Guarantee that covers penalties from a calculation error, with terms in its Terms of Use.

Audit support

For a return filed through the service, the vendor says it gives guidance on an audit notice, including organizing documents and answering questions.

Security posture

The vendor lists SOC 2 certification, bank-grade encryption and IRS e-file authorization for its infrastructure.

Keeper

Automatic expense tracking

Connects unlimited bank and card accounts and tracks expenses and income, with AI that finds and categorizes deductions.

Receipt scanning

Snap a receipt to add an expense or match it to a transaction, and split mixed retail orders into business and personal items.

Rules for merchants

Tell Keeper once how to treat a merchant and it applies the rule to future expenses.

Tax filing with a pro

Federal and up to 2 state returns are included on yearly plans, and a tax pro checks and signs each return.

Quarterly taxes and consultations

Premium and Business schedule estimated payments and include one-on-one consultations with a tax pro.

Business filings

The Business plan files S-Corp (Form 1120-S) and partnership (Form 1065) returns and closes the books at year end.

Column Tax

Pricing could not be confirmed. See columntax.com.

Keeper

• Standard$199

  per year, billed yearly ($16.58 a month equivalent)

  Year-round bookkeeping plus federal and up to 2 state returns, reviewed and signed by a tax pro.

• Bookkeeping Only$20

  per month, billed monthly

  Expense tracking and deduction finding with unlimited connected accounts. Tax filing is not included.

• Premium$399

  per year, billed yearly ($33.25 a month equivalent)

  Adds audit protection, returns for 3 or more states, rentals and K-1s, quarterly taxes, tax pro consultations, amended and late returns.

• Business$1,199

  per year, billed yearly ($99.92 a month equivalent)

  Premium plus S-Corp and partnership tax filing and a year-end book review and close.