Need help with your tax preparation? If you live in St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles or metro-east Illinois and your household income was less than $51,000 in 2012 you may qualify for free tax help – and you might get more money back. Starting Saturday, January 26, the Gateway EITC Community Coalition will offer free tax help to those who qualify. For information on if you qualify, locations, dates, and documents needed see below or contact United Way at 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626. Those who qualify may also go online to file their own taxes at GatewayEITC.org starting January 30.

The average EITC refund for St. Louisans was almost $1,400 last year, according to GECC. The GECC estimates that 58 percent of low-to-moderate income families in this community pay an unnecessary average of $266 for tax preparation, electronic filing fees and check cashing fees. This results in an additional combined financial drain of more than $11 million for these local families.

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.

Locations/dates/times for Saturday sites are listed below for the GECC Free Tax Preparation for those with a 2012 household income of less than $51,000. Weekday locations are also available and can be found online at GatewayEITC.org or by calling 2-1-1 or 800-427-4626.

Super Saturdays – no appointment necessary at these locations:

Downtown St. Louis (just north of downtown)

Youth and Family Center

818 Cass Ave., St. Louis, MO 63106

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9 and February 16

North City

Etzel Place Community Center  

5888 Plymouth, St. Louis, MO 63112

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, and March 30

South City

Five Star Senior Center 

2832 Arsenal St., St. Louis, MO 63118

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, and March 30

Central City

Schlafly Library – with UM-St. Louis        

225 North Euclid, St. Louis, MO 63108

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturdays: February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13

North County

Ferguson Municipal Library – with UM-St. Louis

35 North Florissant Rd., Ferguson, MO 63135

9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

Saturdays: February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13

Lincoln University

9041 Riverview Dr., St. Louis, MO 63137

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, and March 30

Central County

RTR/DCC (Deaf Community Center) – Sign language interpreters available

8764 Manchester Rd., Ste 201, St. Louis, MO 63144

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16, and February 23

South County

MEAAA-Lemay South County Senior Center

225 S. Lemay Ferry, St. Louis, MO 63125

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16, and February 23

St. Charles County

Middendorf-Kredell Branch Library – with UM-St. Louis

3750 Highway K, O’Fallon, MO 63366

9 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Saturdays: February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13

Spencer Road Library – with UM-St. Louis

427 Spencer Rd., St. Peters, MO 63376

9:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: February 2, February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13

Illinois

Family Development Center

1045 State Street, Fairmont City, IL 62201

10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9 February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13

New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church

5803 Belmont Ave., East St. Louis, IL 62203

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9 February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13

St. Vincent De Paul

3718 State Street, Centreville, IL 62205

9 a.m. – Noon

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9 February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13

Lewis and Clark Bethalto Community Education Center

1136 Airline Drive, East Alton, IL 62024

10 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9 February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, March 30, April 6 and April 13

Edwardsville Public Library

112 S. Kansas, Edwardsville, IL 62025

9 a.m. – 1 p.m.

Saturdays: January 26, February 2, February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23, and March 30

Collinsville Memorial Library

408 West Main St., Collinsville, IL 62234

9:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Saturdays: February 23, March 9, March 23, and March 30

GECC prepares: form 1040; schedule B, C ($5,000 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 2011 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
• Parcel number (Illinois homeowners only)