Free Tax Help in February

Free Tax Help in February

At least two local organizations now provide free income tax services, particularly targeted at folks eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). For many low- and moderate-income working families, the EITC refund represents a large percentage of their annual income. Instead of falling victim to the "Money Now" offers from Jackson Hewitt, H&R Block, etc. that are actually high-interest, short-term refund anticipation loans... you can get free help, still get your refund within a few weeks, and save hundreds of dollars in fees and interest.

The St. Louis Tax Assistance Program started in 1998 by some volunteer accountants and other professionals, and the Gateway EITC Community Coalition started in 2003 by the United Way, assist folks with household incomes under $37,000 and $38,300, respectively, as long as they don't itemize or have business or rental income.

The program actually started last Saturday, but of course many folks don't necessarily get all their W-2's until the first week in February, especially if they had four or five jobs in 2006.

Anyway, here's the upcoming schedules for both programs:

Saturday, February 3, 2007

GECC:

9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
MET Center
6437 Plymouth Ave.
Wellston
(just steps from the Wellston MetroLink station and #94 Page bus.)


9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Youth and Family Center
2929 N. 20th St.
(near the #30 Soulard, #41 Lee and #74 Florissant bus lines.)

TAP:

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
St. Patrick Partnership Center
800 N. Tucker Blvd.
(on the #41 Lee, #74 Florissant and #94 Page bus lines; long walk to Convention Center MetroLink and numerous other bus lines.)

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Ranken Technical College
4431 Finney Ave.
(near the #18 Taylor, #32 Wellston-MLK and #94 Page bus lines.)

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
St. Mary's High School
4701 S. Grand Blvd.
(on the #70 Grand bus, to Grand & Iron. Several blocks from #08 Bates bus line.)

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Believers Temple Word Fellowship
2115 Chambers Rd.
(on the #61 Chambers Road, several blocks from the #27 North County Shuttle and #64 Lucas Hunt bus lines.)

8:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
St. Charles School District Admin Building - North (Adult Education)
1025 Country Club Rd., SW of the junction of I-70 and Zumbehl Rd.
(no transit service)

TAP repeats at all five locations on Feb. 10, 17, and 24.

GECC repeats at MET Center only on Feb. 10, 17, and 24.

Additional GECC locations and dates are:

Saturday, February 10, 2007

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
International Institute
3654 S. Grand Blvd.
(on the #70 Grand and #93 Midtown South County buses; near the #11 Chippewa bus.)

Saturday, February 17, 2007

9:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Vashon High School
3035 Cass Ave.
(on the #32 Wellston-MLK bus; several blocks from the #70 Grand and #04 Natural Bridge.)