It’s Tax Time Again: But this year, you may be able to get your taxes done for free.

The IRS officially opened its doors this week and already the early-birds are filing their federal income tax returns.

If you’re expecting a refund, whether from overpayment or because you qualify for the earned income tax credit (EITC), there’s no point in waiting to file, tax experts say.

And don’t think you have to pay big bucks to hire someone to file for you. If you make $35,000 a year or less, you can get your taxes done for free through a variety of programs coordinated by the City of Chicago’s Tax Assistance Center and the Center for Economic Progress (www.centerforprogress.org).

If you make more than that, you probably still can file for free by taking advantage of the many more online tax preparation services that the IRS has partnered with to help taxpayers get online and get their form filed early.

Why file electronically? It’ll probably be free, it’s easier than driving to the post office, and you’ll get any refund you’re due faster than if you file by mail.

For more information on filing electronically, log onto the IRS’s website, www.irs.gov.

If you want to see if you qualify to file your taxes for free, call the City of Chicago’s non-emergency number 3-1-1 and ask the operator for the “File Your Taxes for Free†information. Or, walk into the City’s Tax Assistance Center on the first floor of City Hall.

To take advantage of the Filing for Free Program, check out these locations throughout the metro area. As more locations become available, we’ll add them to the list. So, keep checking back for more information.

Free Tax Filing Locations

Auburn Gresham
Employment Resource Center
7909 South Racine
Chicago, IL 60620
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Back of the Yards
Immaculate Heart of Mary
4521 S. Ashland
Chicago, IL 60609
Hours of operation:
Tuesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Bronzeville
Shore Bank Bronzeville
3401 S. King Drive
Chicago, IL 60616
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m.

Chinatown
Charter One Bank
Chinatown Square
Chicago, IL 60616
Hours of operation:
Saturday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Humboldt Park
Association House
1116 North Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60651
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30 -8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Lawndale
Homan Square Community Center
3517 West Arthington St.
Chicago, IL 60624
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Logan Square
Chicago Hope
2505 N. Kedzie
Chicago, IL 60647
Hours of operation:
Saturday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Loop
Employment and Employer Services
200 W Adams, Suite 1500
Chicago, IL 60606
Hours of operation:
Monday 10:00 a.m.-1:00p.m.
Tuesday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. and 5:30-8:00pm
Wednesday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. and 5:30-8:00pm
Saturday 10:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m.

Pilsen
Instituto del Progresso Latino
2570 S. Blue Island Avenue
Chicago, IL 60608
Hours of operation:
Wednesday 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Rogers Park
Trilogy
1400 W. Greenleaf Ave.
Chicago, IL 60626
Hours of operation:
Wednesday 5:30- 8:00p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

South Chicago
Southeast Chicago Development Commission
9204 S. Commercial Avenue
Chicago, IL 60617
Hours of operation:
Saturday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Uptown
Truman College
1145 W. Wilson
Chicago, IL 60640
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m- 1:00 p.m

Northside Federal Credit Union
1011 W Lawrence
Chicago, IL 60640 West Garfield Park (link to map)
Bethel Center
4000 W Lake
Chicago, IL 60624
Hours of operation:
Tuesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m- 1:00 p.m

West Haven
Suder Elementary
2022 W. Washington
Chicago, IL 60612
Hours of operation:
Saturday 10:00 a.m –1:00 p.m.

Woodlawn
Woodlawn Preservation and Investment Corporation
6101 S. Evans
Chicago, IL 60637
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Elgin
Gail Borden Public Library
270 North Grove Avenue
Elgin, IL 60120
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 12:00- 3:00 p.m.

Harvey
Harvey Public Library District
15441 Turlington Avenue
Harvey, IL 60426
Hours of operation:
Tuesday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Joliet
Joliet Public Library
150 N. Ottawa Street
Joliet, IL 60432
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Rockford
Northwest Community Center
1325 N. Johnston Avenue
Rockford, IL 61101
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5:30- 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Waukegan
Waukegan Public Library
128 N. County Street
Waukegan, IL 60085
Hours of operation:
Wednesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 am- 1:00 p.m.

Alton
Illinois Employment Training Center
90 North Port Drive
Alton, IL 62002
Hours of operation:
Tuesday 5:30-8:00p.m.
Thursday 5:30-8:00p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m. -1:00 p.m

Bloomington
Bloomington Housing Authority
104 E. Wood Street
Bloomington, IL 61701
Hours of operation:
Tuesday 5:30- 7:30 p.m.
Thursday 5:30-7:30 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m- 12:00 p.m.

Bloomington Public Library
205 E. Olive Street
Bloomington, IL 61702
Hours of operation:
Wednesday 6:00-8:00 p.m.
(Feb 2 –Apr 6 only)

Champaign
Urban League of Champaign County
314 S. Neil Street
Champaign, IL 61820
Hours of operation:
Tuesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30-8:00p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Decatur
Dove, Inc.
788 East Clay Street
Decatur, IL 62521
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

East St. Louis
New Bethel Missionary Baptist Church
5803 Belmont Ave
East St. Louis, IL 62203
Hours of operation:
Tuesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Thursday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 10:00a.m.-1:00p.m.

Marion
Man-Tra-Con Corp.
1301 Enterprise Way
Marion, IL 62959
Hours of operation:
Monday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday 5:30-8:00p.m.
Saturday 10:00a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Moline
Illinois Employment Training Center
4703 16th Street
Moline, IL 61265
Hours of operation:
Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.

Normal
Normal Senior Center
1 Normal Plaza
Normal, IL 61761
Hours of operation:
Tuesday 9:00a.m.-11:00 a.m.
Thursday 1:00- 3:00p.m.

Normal Public Library
206 West College Avenue
Normal, IL 61761
Hours of operation:
Monday 6:00-8:00 p.m.

Peoria
Carver Community Center
710 W. 3rd Ave.
Peoria, IL 61605
Hours of operation:
Wednesday 5:00-7:30 p.m.
Thursday 5:00 -7:30 p.m.
Saturday 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Springfield
Springfield Learning Center
700 S Livingston St.
Springfield, IL 62703
Hours of operation:
Wednesday 5:30-8:00 p.m.
Saturday 9:00a.m.-1:00 p.m.

Need personal finance advice or real estate advice? Send your questions to Ilyce Glink: www.ThinkGlink.com

Jan.25, 2005.