February 26, 2020
Offering help with taxes
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United Way of Greater St. Louis has been working with community partners to provide local families in need free tax preparation services
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By Charlotte Beard For over 16 years now, United Way of Greater St. Louis has been working with community partners to provide local families and individuals free tax preparation services. This year the United Way 2-1-1 program will help those who qualify and earned an annual income of less than $56,000 in 2019, which is an increased threshold from last year’s requirement of less than $55,000. Residents can dial 2-1-1 or visit 211helps. org for more information. United Way’s tax coalition partners include Metropolitan St. Louis Community Tax Coalition, Gateway EITC Community Coalition, National Association of Black Accountants, and St. Louis Tax Assistance
Program. In 2019, 798 volunteers worked through the coalitions to provide the free tax preparation services. “Last year, the partnership filed nearly 18,000 tax returns in the St. Louis region, helping local low- and middle-income families receive more than $17 million in tax refunds,” stated Debbie Irwin, Community Economic Development Director for United Way of Greater St. Louis. “Through free tax preparation services, we hope to again help many working families this year receive all of the tax credits they qualify for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit.” Sources state that United Way of Greater St. Louis began its tax preparation program
in 2003. They worked with volunteers to help create the Gateway EITC Community Coalition. Additionally, they began connecting with other coalitions that provide tax preparation services. Though grants help offset the free tax preparation costs, the services rely heavily on IRS-trained volunteers to help prepare taxes. Some of the tax preparation sites will provide these additional free services: 1) ability to open a checking and/or savings account, 2) ability to meet with a credit counselor and get a free credit report, and 3) opportunity to purchase savings bonds. See ‘TAXES’ page 2
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