Free Tax Preparation in St. Louis: VITA, AARP Tax-Aide & the EITC
Revised July 16, 2026
Where can I get my taxes done for free in St. Louis?
If you earn a low-to-moderate income, you can get your taxes done for free in St. Louis. The IRS VITA program offers free in-person prep by certified volunteers — find a site by dialing 2-1-1 or using the IRS locator (800-906-9887). Seniors can use AARP Foundation Tax-Aide (free, no membership, 888-687-2277). To file yourself, MyFreeTaxes.com and IRS Free File are free online. And don’t skip the Earned Income Tax Credit — a refundable credit worth up to several thousand dollars that about one in five eligible people never claim.
Keep reading ↓Every winter, working families across St. Louis hand over a couple hundred dollars they can’t really spare just to get their taxes done — and some leave thousands more on the table without knowing it. It happens in a South City walk-up, a house in North County, a place out in Jefferson County, a rental across the river in the Metro East. People assume tax help costs money, and that a refund is whatever a paid preparer hands back after taking a cut.
Here’s what too few people know: if you earn a low-to-moderate income, you can get your taxes prepared and filed completely free by trained, IRS-certified volunteers — and there are credits, especially the Earned Income Tax Credit, that put real money back in your pocket. The IRS itself says roughly one in five people who qualify for the EITC never claim it. That’s money meant for you, going unclaimed.
This guide lays out where to get free tax help in St. Louis, how to file free online if you’d rather, and the credits worth thousands that you don’t want to miss. Whether it’s for you or someone you’re helping, it’s written for you.
If you earn a low-to-moderate income, you can get your taxes done for free in St. Louis. The IRS VITA program offers free, in-person tax prep by certified volunteers — find a site by dialing 2-1-1 or using the IRS locator (800-906-9887). Seniors can use AARP Foundation Tax-Aide (free, no membership, 888-687-2277). If you’d rather file yourself, MyFreeTaxes.com and IRS Free File are free online. And don’t skip the Earned Income Tax Credit — a refundable credit worth up to several thousand dollars that about one in five eligible people never claim.
📌 Know someone who pays to file? Keep this — and share it.
Bookmark this page and share it with anyone who could use it — a coworker, a parent, a neighbor on a fixed income, or a caseworker, teacher, or volunteer who helps people make ends meet. A single share could put a bigger refund in someone’s pocket.
Every share could save someone a fee — and win them a credit they’d have missed. That’s exactly why we made it.
Free, In-Person Tax Help: VITA
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program is the IRS’s free tax-prep service, staffed by trained, IRS-certified volunteers. It’s for people who generally earn a low-to-moderate income (recent limits have been in the range of about $60,000–$67,000 — check the current year’s figure), people with disabilities, and those who speak limited English. Volunteers prepare and e-file your federal and state returns and make sure you get every credit you qualify for — at no cost. To find a site, dial 2-1-1 (United Way keeps the regional list) or use the IRS VITA locator at 800-906-9887. St. Louis’s free-tax coalition includes the Gateway EITC Community Coalition (314-539-4062), the Metro St. Louis Community Tax Coalition, the St. Louis Tax Assistance Program (TAP), and other community partners.
For Older Adults: AARP Foundation Tax-Aide
If you’re 50 or older, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide offers free tax preparation with a focus on older adults and low-to-moderate income filers — and you do not need to be an AARP member. It’s the nation’s largest free, volunteer-run tax-prep service, operating at libraries, community centers, and senior centers roughly from February through mid-April. Find the nearest site with the Tax-Aide locator or call 888-687-2277. They offer in-person, drop-off, and online-help options.
Prefer to File Yourself? Free Online Options
If your taxes are simple and you’d rather do them at your own kitchen table, two trustworthy free options exist:
- MyFreeTaxes.com — free federal and state online filing, run by United Way, with a helpline of IRS-certified support. No income limit for the guided software in most cases.
- IRS Free File — free guided tax software through the IRS for filers under an annual income limit (recently around $84,000–$89,000 — check the current figure). Above that, Free File Fillable Forms are available to everyone.
Don’t Miss the Earned Income Tax Credit
The single most valuable thing free tax help can do is make sure you claim the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). It’s a refundable credit for low-to-moderate-income working people — refundable meaning you can get the money back even if you owe no tax. Depending on your income and how many children you have, it can be worth up to around $7,000–$8,000 for families with three or more kids, with smaller amounts for fewer or no children (yes, you can qualify with no children). You have to file a return to claim it, even if you wouldn’t otherwise have to — which is exactly why so many eligible people miss out. A VITA volunteer will check your eligibility automatically.
Missouri’s Working Family Tax Credit — the Honest Version
Missouri now has its own version of the EITC, the Working Family Tax Credit, worth 20% of your federal EITC. But here’s the honest catch worth knowing: unlike the federal credit, Missouri’s is non-refundable — it can only lower the Missouri income tax you actually owe, and it can’t be carried to the next year. So if you owe little or no Missouri income tax, it may give you little or nothing. It’s still worth claiming if you owe state tax: file Form MO-WFTC with your Missouri return, and you must qualify for the federal EITC first. A free tax preparer will handle both for you.
What to Bring to a Free Tax Site
- Photo ID for you (and your spouse, if filing jointly)
- Social Security cards or ITIN letters for everyone on the return — you, your spouse, and dependents
- Birth dates for everyone on the return
- All your income forms: W-2s and any 1099s (including SSA-1099 for Social Security)
- Form 1095-A if you had health insurance through the Marketplace
- Last year’s tax return, if you have it (helpful, not required)
- Your bank routing and account numbers for a direct-deposit refund
- Total childcare paid and the provider’s tax ID, if you’re claiming the childcare credit
One rule to remember: if you’re filing a joint return, both spouses must be present to sign.
Other Credits Worth Thousands
The EITC gets the headlines, but it’s not the only money on the table — and a free preparer checks for all of them:
- Child Tax Credit — worth up to a couple thousand dollars per qualifying child, partly refundable.
- Child and Dependent Care Credit — helps offset what you paid for child care so you could work (bring your provider’s tax ID).
- Education credits — the American Opportunity and Lifetime Learning credits for college or job-training costs.
- Missouri Property Tax Credit (the “Circuit Breaker”) — a state refund of up to $750 for renters and $1,100 for homeowners for certain seniors (65+) and people with disabilities, based on the property tax or rent they paid. Many older Missourians who rent don’t realize they can get money back — a VITA or Tax-Aide volunteer can file it for you.
Skip the Refund Loans and Junk Fees
One more reason free help beats a paid storefront: it protects your whole refund. Paid preparers often charge $150–$400, and some push “refund anticipation” loans or advances that carry fees and interest — you’re essentially borrowing your own money and paying for the privilege. With a free VITA or AARP Tax-Aide site, there are no prep fees and no loans, and if you file electronically with direct deposit, the IRS typically issues refunds in about three weeks anyway. Your refund is yours; free help keeps it that way.
Round Out the Rest of Your Budget
Tax time is a good moment to check the whole safety net. A bigger refund goes further alongside other help — if you have kids, see our guide to child care assistance in Missouri; if groceries are tight, SNAP food benefits can help; and our St. Louis help and assistance hub lists more.
When Free Tax Help Is Available — and If You’re Behind
Most free tax sites open in late January or early February and run through the April deadline, and the popular ones fill up — so call 2-1-1 or check the locators early in the season and book an appointment if you can. Bring everything on the checklist above; a missing Social Security card or income form is the most common reason a visit has to be rescheduled.
And if you’re reading this after the deadline, or you’re behind on past years, don’t panic — there’s still good reason to file. If you’re owed a refund, there’s no penalty for filing late, and you generally have up to three years to claim a refund (including the EITC) before that money is gone for good. Many free sites help with prior-year returns in the off-season, and MyFreeTaxes.com is available year-round. If you owe back taxes, filing is still the right move — a VITA volunteer or a low-income taxpayer clinic can help you sort out a payment plan. The worst thing you can do with taxes is nothing; the second-worst is to pay someone a fee you didn’t need to.
Ready to file for free? Dial 2-1-1 to find a VITA site near you, call AARP Tax-Aide at 888-687-2277, or file online at MyFreeTaxes.com. See all St. Louis help resources.
Run a nonprofit that offers free tax help or financial coaching? List it on St Louis Near Me Directory so the families who need you can find you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the best place to do your taxes for free?
For most low-to-moderate-income filers in St. Louis, the best free option is an IRS VITA site, where certified volunteers prepare and e-file your return and catch every credit — find one by dialing 2-1-1. If you’re 50 or older, AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is excellent and needs no membership. If you’re comfortable doing it yourself, MyFreeTaxes.com and IRS Free File let you file online for free. Which is “best” depends on your comfort level and income.
What income qualifies for free tax filing?
It depends on the option. VITA generally serves households earning up to roughly $60,000–$67,000, though the exact figure is set each year — check the current limit or just call 2-1-1. IRS Free File’s guided software has a higher income limit (recently around $84,000–$89,000). AARP Tax-Aide focuses on low-to-moderate income but has no strict cutoff. When in doubt, ask the site — many people who assume they earn too much still qualify.
Do I have to be an AARP member to use AARP Foundation Tax-Aide?
No. AARP Foundation Tax-Aide is free and open to everyone, with no AARP membership required. It focuses on taxpayers who are 50 and older or who have low-to-moderate income, but it doesn’t turn people away based on membership. Find a nearby site through the Tax-Aide locator or by calling 888-687-2277 during tax season (roughly February through April).
What is the Earned Income Tax Credit and how much is it worth?
The Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC) is a refundable federal credit for low-to-moderate-income working people — refundable means you can get money back even if you owe no tax. It can be worth up to around $7,000–$8,000 for families with three or more children, with smaller amounts for fewer or no children (the exact maximum changes yearly). You must file a return to claim it. The IRS estimates about one in five eligible people miss it, so it’s worth checking.
Does Missouri have its own Earned Income Tax Credit?
Yes — Missouri’s Working Family Tax Credit is worth 20% of your federal EITC. But it’s important to know it’s non-refundable, meaning it can only reduce Missouri income tax you actually owe and can’t be paid out as a refund like the federal credit. If you owe state tax, claim it by filing Form MO-WFTC with your Missouri return; you must qualify for the federal EITC first. A free tax preparer will handle both.
Written by a dedicated team of St. Louis locals who live, work, and play right here in the St. Louis metro. Founder Lane Forman and team are committed to building the region’s most trusted directory by verifying listings and connecting local businesses with loyal customers across Missouri and Illinois.