Community Corner

Free Tax Prep for Local Low Income Households

GECC will help families with incomes of less than $50,000 in 2011.

Need help with your tax preparation? If you live in St. Louis or St. Charles County and your household income was less than $50,000 in 2011 you may qualify for free tax help.

The Gateway EITC Community Coalition will offer free tax help to those who qualify. For information on qualifications, locations, dates and documents needed see below or contact the United Way at 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626.

The average EITC return for St. Louisans was almost $1,700 last year, according to GECC. The assistance focuses on individuals or families who qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit, which is a federal tax credit designed to help people increase their financial stability numerous ways.

Find out what's happening in University Citywith free, real-time updates from Patch.

Locations/dates/times for Saturday sites are listed below. Weekday locations are also available and can be found online at www.gecc.us or by calling 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626.

There is no appointment necessary.

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Date Location Address Time Feb. 4 MET Center 6347 Plymouth Ave., St. Louis
9 a.m. - 1 p.m.   Five Star Senior Center 2832 Arsenal St., St. Louis
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Lincoln University 9041 Riverview Dr., St. Louis
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. RTR/DCC (Deaf Community Center) 8764 Manchester Rd., Ste 201, St. Louis
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Feb. 11 MET Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Five Star Senior Center
9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Schlafly Library 225 North Euclid, St. Louis
9 a.m. – 5 p.m.   Ferguson Municipal Library 35 North Florissant Rd., Ferguson 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lincoln University 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. RTR/DCC (Deaf Community Center) 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. 1300 N. Main St., O’Fallon 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Feb. 18 MET Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Five Star Senior Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Schlafly Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ferguson Municipal Library 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lincoln University 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. RTR/DCC (Deaf Community Center) 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. MEAAA-Lemay South County Senior Center 225 S. Lemay Ferry, St. Louis
9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Deer Run Branch of St. Charles City-County Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Feb. 25 MET Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Five Star Senior Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Schlafly Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ferguson Municipal Library 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Lincoln University 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. RTR/DCC (Deaf Community Center) 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. MEAAA-Lemay South County Senior Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Deer Run Branch of St. Charles City-County Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. March 3 MET Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Five Star Senior Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Schlafly Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ferguson Municipal Library 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. MEAAA-Lemay South County Senior Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Deer Run Branch of St. Charles City-County Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. March 10 MET Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Five Star Senior Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Schlafly Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ferguson Municipal Library 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. MEAAA-Lemay South County Senior Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. Deer Run Branch of St. Charles City-County Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. March 17 MET Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Five Star Senior Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Schlafly Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ferguson Municipal Library 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Deer Run Branch of St. Charles City-County Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. March 24 MET Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Five Star Senior Center 9 a.m. – 1 p.m.   Schlafly Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ferguson Municipal Library 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Deer Run Branch of St. Charles City-County Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. March 31 Schlafly Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ferguson Municipal Library 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Deer Run Branch of St. Charles City-County Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. April 7
Schlafly Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ferguson Municipal Library 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Deer Run Branch of St. Charles City-County Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. April 14 Schlafly Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m. Ferguson Municipal Library 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Deer Run Branch of St. Charles City-County Library 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.

Items to Bring

GECC prepares: form 1040; schedule B, C ($10,000 limit), EIC & R; form 1040-V; form 1040-ES; form 2441; form 8863; and form 8812.

Please bring the following documents with you to the preparation: 

  • All W-2’s and 1099’s
  • Social Security Card(s) or Individual Taxpayer Identification Number(s) - ITIN - for all family members
  • Valid picture ID for taxpayer and spouse (driver’s license or state ID or passport)
  • Copy of your 2010 tax return
  • 1098 or real estate tax receipt
  • Proof of unemployment compensation
  • Copy of a voided check or bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit
  • Proof of child care expenses
  • If married and filing jointly then both spouses must be present to sign paperwork

“Up to $34 million EITC refunds may go unclaimed in the St. Louis region this year,” said Russ Signorino, GECC executive director. “This figure represents a substantial loss of revenue for our community and lost income for low-wage workers.”

In 2011, EITC partners filed 13,267 tax returns totaling more than $16.9 million and EITC returns of $5.5 million.

GECC estimates that 58 percent of low-to-moderate income families or working poor in this community pay an average of $267 for tax preparation. This results in an additional combined financial drain of more than $11 million for these local families.


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