St. Louis Free Tax Prep 2027: TAP, Gateway EITC, Senior Sites and What to Bring
If you live in the St. Louis area and earn under about $69,000 a year, you can usually get your federal and Missouri tax returns done for free by IRS-certified volunteers. The groups that run these sites are nonprofits, and the whole point is to keep working families from paying $200 or more to a storefront preparer, or from taking out a pricey refund loan.
This guide walks through who runs free tax prep in St. Louis, who qualifies, how appointments usually work, and what to bring so you don't get sent home. We also cover the Missouri Property Tax Credit (the "Circuit Breaker"), which many seniors and renters with disabilities leave on the table.
Last checked October 2026. The 2027 filing season hasn't opened yet, so the sites, dates and income limits below are from the 2026 season. Local groups typically post new schedules in January. We'll point out every spot where you should double-check before you go.
The Short Version
Who qualifies: most St. Louis-area free sites served households earning under $69,000 in the 2026 season.
Who runs it: the St. Louis Tax Assistance Program (TAP), the Gateway EITC Community Coalition, and other partners connected through United Way's 211 line.
Seniors: St. Louis County runs free sites for county residents 60 and older through its County Older Resident Program (CORP).
Appointments: nearly every site is appointment only.
Can't find a site? Dial 211 or visit 211helps.org, or use the IRS locator at 800-906-9887.
Prefer to do it yourself? MyFreeTaxes is free software for households under about $73,000.
Who Runs Free Tax Prep in St. Louis
St. Louis Tax Assistance Program (TAP)
TAP is an IRS-supported VITA program (VITA stands for Volunteer Income Tax Assistance). It says it serves families with incomes up to $69,000, and its volunteers are certified by the IRS.
TAP's site says its preparers help people claim the credits they qualify for, including the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), the Child Tax Credit, and the Missouri Property Tax Credit. It also says plainly that it helps taxpayers avoid pricey instant refund loans.
In the 2026 season, TAP ran sites by appointment at these locations:
Cardinal Ritter College Prep, 701 N Spring Avenue (Grand Center), Saturdays
St. Mary's Southside Catholic, 4701 S Grand Blvd (South City), Saturdays
Jamestown Bluffs Library Branch, 4153 N Highway 67 (North County), Saturdays
Charles M Roach Legacy Center, 11015 Old Halls Ferry Road (North County), Saturdays
Overland Community Center, 9225 Lackland Road, Tuesdays (morning and evening hours)
Weber Road Library Branch, 4444 Weber Road (South County), Wednesdays
Kisker Road Library Branch, 1000 Kisker Road, St. Charles, Mondays
Lewis & Clark Career Center, 2400 Zumbehl Road, St. Charles, Saturdays
Festus Public Library, 400 W Main Street, Festus, Saturdays
Most Saturday sites ran from late January into early March. A few weekday sites ran into mid-April. Expect a similar pattern for 2027, but check TAP's locations page before you book.
Contact: 314-325-9941 or info@stlouistap.org, or book through the Appointments page at stlouistap.org.
Gateway EITC Community Coalition
The Gateway EITC Community Coalition (GECC) is another VITA program. It prepares federal and state returns for free and serves low- and moderate-income families, seniors, people with disabilities, and people who speak limited English.
One thing to know up front: GECC's own pages don't agree on the income limit. Its home page says households earning under $69,000, while its FAQ says households who generally make $64,000 or less. If your income falls between those two numbers, call before you book.
In 2026, GECC's Missouri sites included the Divoll Library (4234 N Grand), the Five Star Center (2832 Arsenal Street), the International Institute (3401 Arsenal), the Natural Bridge Library in Normandy, UMSL's Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center next to the UMSL North MetroLink station, the University City Public Library, and Blessed Teresa of Calcutta in Ferguson. It also ran sites in St. Charles County, Jefferson County, Franklin County and the Metro East in Illinois.
According to its FAQ, GECC generally prepares Form 1040 with Schedules A, B, C (limited to $35,000 in expenses), EIC and R, plus child care credits, education credits, the additional child tax credit, and the MO-PTC (Circuit Breaker). Some forms are out of scope. GECC also says it can usually prepare returns for up to 3 prior years, though you may be asked to come back after April 15 for those.
Contact: 314-539-4062 or info@gatewayeitc.org. Appointments are scheduled through gatewayeitc.org.
United Way 211 and the wider coalition
United Way of Greater St. Louis coordinates free tax help through its 211 referral line. Its partners include the Metro St. Louis Community Tax Coalition, the Gateway EITC Community Coalition, the National Association of Black Accountants St. Louis Chapter, and TAP.
For the 2025 tax year, United Way said the program served households with income of $69,000 or less.
If you aren't sure which group is closest to you, dial 211 or go to 211helps.org. That is the simplest single starting point.
Free Help for Seniors in St. Louis County
St. Louis County's County Older Resident Program (CORP) runs free tax sites for St. Louis County residents age 60 and older. In the 2026 season, those sites included:
Daniel Boone Library, 300 Clarkson Road, Ellisville
Florissant Valley Library, 195 S New Florissant Road, Florissant
North County Government Center, 715 Northwest Plaza Drive, St. Ann
Grant's View Library, 9700 Musick Road, St. Louis
South County Government Center, 4548 Lemay Ferry Road, St. Louis
Lutheran Church of Webster Gardens, 8773 Watson Road, Webster Groves (Property Tax Credit claims only)
These sites are listed on GECC's site list, so you can book through gatewayeitc.org or by calling 211.
Seniors anywhere can also look for AARP Tax-Aide, which runs most of the IRS's Tax Counseling for the Elderly (TCE) sites. The IRS says TCE focuses on people 60 and older and on pension and retirement questions. Between January and April, use AARP's site locator or call 888-227-7669.
Don't Miss the Missouri Property Tax Credit
The Missouri Property Tax Credit Claim, often called the Circuit Breaker, gives money back to certain seniors and to people who are 100 percent disabled for part of the rent or real estate taxes they paid during the year.
According to the Missouri Department of Revenue, the credit is worth up to $750 for renters and $1,100 for homeowners who owned and lived in their home. The actual amount depends on how much rent or property tax you paid and your total household income, counting both taxable and nontaxable income. If you rent from a place that doesn't pay property taxes, you aren't eligible.
Both TAP and GECC prepare this claim. If you're filing it, bring proof of the real estate taxes or rent you paid, the dates, and your landlord's name, address and phone number. The Department of Revenue's qualification chart lists the exact income limits.
What to Bring
GECC publishes a detailed checklist. To prevent identity theft, the IRS requires volunteers to check a photo ID for you (and your spouse, if filing jointly) and to review Social Security cards for everyone on the return.
Everyone should bring:
A valid photo ID for you and your spouse (driver's license, state ID or passport)
Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return
All income statements: W-2s, 1099s, SSA-1099s, SSI statements, K-1s and 1099-G forms for unemployment
A copy of last year's tax return
Bank account and routing numbers for direct deposit (not a deposit slip). GECC notes that the IRS is phasing out paper refund checks.
The intake form, if you got one in the mail or downloaded it
Bring these if they apply:
Your last pay stub of the year, if you're claiming overtime pay (GECC flagged this as new last season)
Proof of child care costs
1098-E (student loan interest) and 1098-T (tuition)
1098 mortgage interest or real estate tax receipts
Form 1095-A if you had Marketplace health insurance
HSA forms 5498-SA and 1099-SA
Rent or property tax records for the Circuit Breaker
Anything else marked "Important Tax Document"
If you're married filing jointly, both spouses have to be there to sign.
No W-2? GECC won't file from a pay stub alone. Ask your employer for a copy first. If that fails, the IRS (800-829-1040) can contact your employer for you.
Common Questions
How fast will I get my refund?
GECC says that if your return is e-filed with direct deposit, expect your refund in about 7 to 14 days. With a mailed check, it's more like 3 to 4 weeks. The IRS can take up to 21 days. Paying a preparer won't get you a refund any faster. GECC notes that some paid preparers simply sell you a loan against your refund and charge you for it.
Can I file it myself for free?
Yes. TAP and GECC both point to MyFreeTaxes. GECC says it's for people earning less than $73,000 and covers a federal return and up to 3 state returns.
What if I have a problem with the IRS?
TAP's FAQ suggests two resources. The Taxpayer Advocate Service is an independent office inside the IRS. The Washington University School of Law Low-Income Taxpayer Clinic helps low-income residents with IRS disputes for free.
A Quick Checklist
Check your income: under $69,000 is the usual cutoff in St. Louis (GECC's FAQ says $64,000, so call if you're close).
Book early: watch stlouistap.org and gatewayeitc.org in January, or call 211.
60 or older in St. Louis County? Look for a CORP site.
Pay rent or property tax and get disability or senior benefits? Ask about the Circuit Breaker.
Gather documents: photo ID, Social Security cards, every W-2 and 1099, last year's return, and your bank numbers.
Skip refund loans. Free e-file with direct deposit is just as fast.
What we couldn't confirm: 2027-season sites, dates and income limits haven't been posted yet, so everything above reflects 2026. The St. Louis County Library tax-help page blocked us, so library-specific schedules aren't included. We didn't fetch the Metro St. Louis Community Tax Coalition's or NABA's own pages, and the Department of Revenue's Circuit Breaker income chart isn't reproduced here.
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