Free · Local-First · No Account Required

About Smart Deductions

Free expense categorizer for 1099 contractors, freelancers & LLCs

Smart Deductions reads your bank statement PDFs and CSVs entirely inside your browser, automatically maps every transaction to an IRS Schedule C line, and exports an audit-ready CSV — without uploading your financial data to any server.

How It Works

Upload a PDF, CSV, or ZIP of statements exported from your bank. Smart Deductions parses the file entirely inside your browser using PDF.js — your data never touches a server. A rule-based classifier maps each transaction to one of eleven Schedule C–aligned categories in milliseconds.

  1. 1

    Upload your statement

    Drag and drop a PDF, CSV, or ZIP file exported from your bank. Works with Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Citi, and most US banks.

  2. 2

    Review auto-categories

    Every transaction is classified into a Schedule C bucket — meals, office, utilities, transport, subscriptions, insurance, and more. Edit any label with one click.

  3. 3

    Export for tax season

    Download a pre-labeled Schedule C summary CSV ready for your CPA or TurboTax, or a full transaction ledger XLSX for your own records.

Who It's For

Smart Deductions is built for anyone who earns self-employment income and needs to track deductible expenses for IRS Schedule C:

  • Freelancers and independent contractors who receive a 1099-NEC
  • Sole proprietors filing Schedule C (Form 1040)
  • Single-member LLCs taxed as sole proprietors
  • Gig workers, consultants, and small business owners

What You Get

FeatureWhat it means for you
Zero-Knowledge ParsingYour bank PDFs are read locally. No file upload. No cloud storage.
Auto Schedule C CategorizerEvery transaction mapped to an IRS line — meals, utilities, transport, insurance, and more.
PDF · CSV · ZIP IngestionWorks with exports from Chase, BofA, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Citi, and most US banks.
IRS-Ready Schedule C ExportOne-click CSV pre-labeled by tax line. Hand directly to your CPA or import into TurboTax.
Full Ledger XLSX ExportComplete transaction history with categories, amounts, and source files.
No Account RequiredOpen the page, drop your file, export your data. Nothing to sign up for.

Smart Deductions vs. Alternatives

Smart DeductionsQuickBooks SESpreadsheet
CostFree~$15–$35/moFree
Data leaves deviceNeverYes (cloud)No
Account requiredNoYesNo
Auto Schedule C labelsYesYesManual
PDF parsingYesBank sync onlyNo
Bank credential sharingNoRequiredNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Is my financial data stored on a server?
No. Smart Deductions parses your PDF or CSV entirely inside your browser. Your transaction data is never uploaded, transmitted, or stored outside your device.
What expenses can I deduct as a 1099 contractor or freelancer?
Common deductible expenses include home office costs, software subscriptions, internet and phone bills, business meals (50%), mileage and transport, professional services, insurance premiums, and equipment. Smart Deductions auto-tags these to Schedule C lines.
Which bank statement formats are supported?
Standard bank statement PDFs, CSV/OFX exports, and ZIP archives. Works with Chase, Bank of America, Wells Fargo, Capital One, Citi, and most US banks.
What is Schedule C and who needs to file it?
Schedule C (Form 1040) reports profit or loss from self-employment. Required for sole proprietors, single-member LLCs, freelancers, and anyone who receives a 1099-NEC.
How accurate is the automatic categorization?
The classifier uses merchant name and keyword matching tuned for freelancer spending. Accuracy is typically 85–95%. You can review and edit any label before exporting.
Can I use Smart Deductions if I have an LLC?
Yes. Single-member LLCs taxed as sole proprietors file Schedule C and can use Smart Deductions directly. Multi-member LLCs and S-Corps have different requirements — consult a CPA.
Do I need to create an account?
No. No registration, login, or payment required. Open the app, upload your statement, export your CSV.
Is Smart Deductions free?
Yes, completely free. No premium tiers, usage limits, or paywalls.

About the Developer

Smart Deductions was designed and developed by Robert Van Liew as a free tool to help freelancers and 1099 contractors track deductible expenses without sharing their financial data with third-party servers.

Questions or feedback?

support@smartdeductions.app