The 2026 Tax Season Is Finally Open In New York!

Has 2026 already stressed you out to the point of no return? Well don't worry, it's about to get even worse.

Tax season is upon us, which means hours and hours of paperwork, but if you prepare accordingly, it should be a breeze.

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Tax Season is Open!

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. You'll have until April 15th to complete your filing.

Ensure you give yourself plenty of time to complete your returns, and, like Santa Claus, make that list and check it twice. Errors could delay your refunds, and can cause issues with your tax documents moving forward. You can file for free directly through the IRS Website.

Empire State Child Credit Changes

Alongside 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.

The changes coming are as follows:

• This year, eligible families can now receive up to $1,000 per child under age four and $330 per qualifying child age 4 through 16 years old.
• Next year, the credit for children ages four through 16 will also increase to up to $500 per child and households with eligible children under age four will still be able to claim up to $1,000 per child.

Other changes are coming as the program continues to improve, but this is a game changer for thousands of families across the state.