Three jobs, one label
Search for “tax software for self employed” and the results mix three kinds of product:
- Year-round tracking. Income and expenses categorised as they happen, so deductions are not reconstructed in April. This is bookkeeping, whatever the marketing calls it.
- Set-aside and quarterly estimates. Working out how much of each payment belongs to the IRS, holding it back, and paying estimated tax each quarter so there is no underpayment penalty and no surprise bill.
- Filing. Preparing and submitting Form 1040 with Schedule C and Schedule SE, either as software you complete yourself or as a service where a tax professional prepares or reviews it.
Some products do one of these, some do two, a few bundle all three. Comparing a $0 tracker with a filing service that includes a tax professional is comparing different purchases.
What to decide first
- Who files? If you will keep using a CPA or enrolled agent, you need clean books and a reliable set-aside, not filing software.
- Bank feed or statement import? A bank connection saves time and means granting a third party access to your accounts. Importing statements shares nothing but takes a minute a month.
- Where does the money sit? Some products are banks or bank-like accounts that hold your tax money for you; others only tell you how much to hold.
- Is your income lumpy? If it arrives in irregular chunks, a flat “set aside 30%” rule is either too much or too little most months.
- What is the yearly cost after any introductory offer, including the filing fee if that is separate?
How the main options compare
Facts below were taken from each provider’s own pricing page on 12 October 2026.
| Product | What it is | Files your return? | Quarterly estimates | Price (as of Oct 2026) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Keeper | Expense and deduction tracking with filing | Standard and above: federal plus up to 2 state returns, reviewed and signed by a tax pro | Premium and Business plans | Bookkeeping only $20/mo; Standard $199/yr; Premium $399/yr; Business $1,199/yr; 14-day trial |
| QuickBooks (Solopreneur plans) | Bookkeeping for one-person businesses | Lite includes “Expert Assisted Tax” powered by TurboTax, paid when you file | Not stated on the page checked | Free $0; Lite $10/mo and Simple Start $19/mo for 3 months (then $20 and $38) |
| Found | Business banking with built-in tax tools | No; provides Schedule C forms and tax estimates | Real-time estimates on all plans; in-app quarterly federal payments on Plus and Pro (Schedule C filers) | Free; Plus $35/mo or $315/yr; Pro $80/mo or $720/yr |
| Wave | Invoicing and bookkeeping | No; free access for a Block Advisors tax pro is listed | Not stated on the page checked | Starter $0; Pro $19/mo or $190/yr |
| CashDesk | Tax set-aside, budgeting, invoicing and mileage; on-device | No; prepares the figures for you or your preparer | Yes; holds a reserve built from what you have actually earned | Free tier; Pro US$5.99/mo or US$59.99/yr; Tax Return feature US$39.99 one-off |
Where the alternatives are stronger. If you want someone else to file, Keeper’s Standard plan includes a reviewed and signed return, which no tracker does. If you want the tax money physically separated, Found is a bank account with a dedicated tax pocket. If you want automatic bank feeds, QuickBooks, Found Plus and Wave Pro all connect to your accounts, and QuickBooks and Wave both have free plans.
Worked example: the self-employment tax most people forget
$60,000 of net profit
An employee pays 7.65% Social Security and Medicare and the employer pays the other 7.65%. Self-employed, you pay both halves: 15.3% on 92.35% of net earnings.
$60,000 × 92.35% × 15.3% = $8,477.73
That is $8,477.73 of self-employment tax before a cent of income tax. Half of it, $4,238.86, is deductible when working out your income tax, which softens it but does not remove it.
Spread over four quarterly estimates, the self-employment tax alone is $2,119.43 a quarter. Your federal income tax, and any state tax, come on top. A plan that sets aside only an income-tax percentage will come up short every year.
The full method, including income tax and the safe-harbor rules for estimates, is in How much to set aside for taxes when you are self-employed.
Where CashDesk fits, and where it does not
CashDesk, which ProDesk makes, is a native app for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Android built for lumpy income: freelancers, contractors and traders. According to its product page, it works out the tax to hold back from what you have actually earned so far this year, under US rules including self-employment tax, and keeps that as a reserve you can see. It also budgets, invoices and logs mileage at the IRS standard rate.
Its limits. It does not file: it prepares the figures and shows its working, and you or your preparer file. It has no bank connection — you import statements yourself, and the ledger stays on your device with no account and no server. If you want a bank feed, a bank account for the tax money, or a professional to sign your return, one of the other products above is the better fit.
Putting it together
- Decide who files. That alone removes half the options.
- Get the set-aside right. Include self-employment tax and your state, not just federal income tax.
- Pay quarterly. Estimated tax is due four times a year; missing it costs penalties even if you pay in full in April.
- Compare yearly cost after introductory offers, filing fees included.