INDIANAPOLIS - The Indiana Department of Revenue says it has opened this year's income tax return filing season and has begun processing individual returns.

It took the steps Wednesday on the same day the Internal Revenue Service opened the federal season.

The agency says the General Assembly passed legislation providing for an Automatic Taxpayer Refund credit for the 2012 tax year.

Taxpayers are eligible for the credit if they filed a full-year Indiana resident income tax return for tax year 2011 in a timely manner, including extensions, and if they do so for the 2012 tax year. They also must owe some tax to the state for 2012. The refundable credit is $111 per taxpayer or $222 for a married couple filing a joint return.