Tax season is upon us, which means hours and hours of paperwork, but if you prepare accordingly, it should be a breeze. Starting on Monday, January 26th, tax season officially opened for New York state. This means you can officially file your returns to the Internal Revenue Service and New York State Department of Taxation and Finance. Empire State Child Credit ChangesAlongside the tax season opening, the Empire State Child Credit received a much needed revamp. This is a tax credit designed to help families with children under 17 in New York state through cash back or a refund.