A lighter alternative to Keeper for quarterly taxes
On Keeper's pricing page, paying quarterly taxes is listed with the Premium plan at $399 a year. If you only need the number, Quartersafe works it out for $9/month or $49/year.
| Quartersafe | Keeper Premium | |
|---|---|---|
| Where it runs | In your browser tab. No install, no account, no bank connection. Your transactions are never uploaded. | Web and mobile app connected to your bank and card accounts |
| Price | Free: the estimate, the safe harbor, both installment methods, the January 15 payment and every check. Pro: $19 for 7 days, $9/month or $49/year. | Premium listed at $399/year (Standard at $199/year doesn't list quarterly taxes); 14-day free trial |
| What it does | Works out 2026 federal estimated tax from an income and expense file: the safe harbor, each 1040-ES installment by the regular and annualized (Schedule AI) methods, and what to pay by January 15. Doesn't track expenses, file returns or make payments. | Year-round bookkeeping with automatic expense tracking, federal and state returns reviewed and signed by a tax pro, and scheduled quarterly payments |
Honest take: Keeper does far more — it tracks deductions automatically and files your return with a tax pro. Quartersafe is for freelancers who keep their own books and just want the safe-harbor math and the January 15 number checked.
Competitor details checked on 2026-10-28 from their public pages: Keeper pricing. Prices change — check their site for the current offer. Product names are trademarks of their owners; we are not affiliated with them.
FAQ
Does Quartersafe pay the IRS for me?
No. It tells you the amount; you pay it yourself through IRS Direct Pay or EFTPS.
What does Quartersafe do?
It reads your 2026 business income and expenses, works out your 2026 federal tax (self-employment tax and income tax), the safe-harbor amount that avoids an underpayment penalty, and the required installment for each quarter under both the regular method and the annualized income installment method (Form 2210 Schedule AI). Then it subtracts what you've paid and shows what to pay by January 15, 2027. It doesn't pay or file anything.
Is my data uploaded?
No. Your file is read by JavaScript in your browser tab and never sent to us or anyone else. Transactions aren't stored, so closing the tab clears them. Settings can be saved in this browser.
What's the safe harbor?
From Form 1040-ES and the Form 2210 instructions: you generally won't owe an underpayment penalty if, on time each quarter, you pay at least the smaller of 90% of your 2026 tax or 100% of the tax on your 2025 return — 110% if your 2025 adjusted gross income was over $150,000 ($75,000 if married filing separately). You also owe no penalty if your 2026 tax minus withholding is under $1,000.
When are 2026 estimated payments due?
April 15, June 15 and September 15, 2026, and January 15, 2027. You can skip the January payment if you file your 2026 return and pay all the tax due by February 1, 2027.
What is the annualized income installment method?
If your income was uneven — say a slow spring and a busy fall — you can work out each required installment from the income you'd actually earned by the end of each period (March 31, May 31, August 31, December 31) using Form 2210 Schedule AI. That can lower or remove the penalty for the early quarters. Quartersafe runs it for you and compares it with the regular 25%-a-quarter method.
Which files can I use?
CSV, tab-separated or Excel with a date and an amount on each row — positive for income, negative for expenses — or separate income and expense columns. A description and category are optional and help spot IRS payments and transfers. Download the template to see the layout.
What's free?
Importing any number of rows, the tax estimate, the safe harbor, both methods' installments, what to pay by January 15, and every check, plus the first Schedule AI period line by line on screen and in print (with a footer). Pro shows and prints the full Schedule AI worksheet without the footer and exports the Excel workbook, a Schedule AI CSV and the categorized transactions CSV.
What isn't covered?
State estimated tax, capital gains and qualified dividend rates, tax credits, itemized deductions, other taxes such as the net investment income tax, the qualifying-surviving-spouse status (use married filing jointly, which shares its tables), and farmers' and fishermen's rules. The QBI deduction is left out above the income threshold where its limits begin.
Is this tax advice?
No. Quartersafe applies Form 1040-ES and Form 2210 (with Schedule AI) to the data you provide. Ask your tax adviser what applies to you.