How to file a 3-NDFL tax return?

For individuals receiving income from employment, education, or other sources, filing a 3-NDFL tax return annually is mandatory. This document is submitted to the Federal Tax Service and contains information on income received for the year, tax deductions, and other benefits.
Article Contents:
- How to file a 3-NDFL tax return correctly?
- Step 1: Prepare the necessary documents
- Step 2: Fill in the tax return columns
- Step 3: Indicate the income received
- Step 4: Calculate the amount of tax and withholdings
- Step 5: Determine the right to deductions and discounts
- Step 6: Indicate additional information
- Step 7: Check the accuracy of the form
- Step 8: Submit your tax return to the tax office
however, preparing this return can be a challenging time for taxpayers due to the many nuances and difficulties that arise during its completion. To simplify this task and avoid errors in the return, it is important to consider a number of rules and recommendations.
In this article, we will review the important aspects of preparing the 3-NDFL tax return and prepare you for its completion. We will cover collecting the necessary documents, determining taxable contributions, tax deductions, and the correct form for completing the return How to correctly prepare the 3-NDFL tax return? step 1. Gather the necessary documents
How to file a 3-NDFL tax return correctly?
Step 1. Gather the necessary documents
TIN;
- Passport or other identification document;
- Bank statement (if you plan to claim a mortgage tax deduction or tuition benefits);
- Child’s birth certificate (if you plan to write off the tax deduction for the child).
- Be sure to ensure that all documents are current and contain accurate information.
- Step 2. Fill out the declaration
The declaration is filled out electronically on the website of the Federal Tax Service of Russia. Access to filling out the declaration is provided after authorization on the Taxes portal.
Step 2. Complete the tax return

Step 3. Check the declaration and submit it to the Federal Tax Service
After filling out the declaration, be sure to check it for errors and inaccuracies. If errors are found, make the necessary changes and recheck the declaration. Sign the finished declaration with an electronic signature and send it to the Federal Tax Service. If the answer is positive, the tax return will be accepted.
Step 3. Review the tax return and submit it to the Federal Tax Service
Step 1: Prepare the necessary documents
List of required documents:
Step 1: Prepare the necessary documents
List of required documents:
- Work book (or income certificate) for 2020;
- Children’s birth certificate;
- Documents confirming expenses (if any).
- Important to know: If you worked for several employers during 2020, you need to receive Form 2-NDFL from each of them.
- Deadlines for preparing documents:
Documents must be prepared in advance so as not to violate the deadlines for filing the declaration.
Document preparation deadlines:
Document preparation period
| Until April 30, 2021 | Until April 10, 2021 |
|---|---|
| Until July 1, 2021 | Until June 20, 2021 |
| Until December 1, 2021 | Until November 20, 2021 |
| Important to know: If you did not have time to prepare all the documents by the deadline for filing the declaration, you can submit it until December 31, 2021 with payment of a fine. | Step 2: Fill out the declaration fields |
Once you have received the personal income tax declaration form 3, the next step is to fill out the form. Incorrect information can result in erroneous tax payments or even penalties, so it is important to fill out all fields carefully.
Step 2: Fill in the tax return columns
Start by filling out personal information, such as full name, address, Taxpayer Identification Number and other information that is required in the first few columns. Make sure that you have entered all information correctly and without errors.
Personal information
As part of filling out the declaration, it is necessary to indicate in detail all income from the main place of work, such as wages, benefits, etc. It is also required to indicate all sources and amounts of income in columns 1-3.
Income from primary employment
It is also necessary to fill in the columns related to additional work and other income. If you have an additional source of income, for example, you received dividends or sold property, this must be reflected in the declaration. Such information is entered in columns 4-6.
Income from additional employment and other income

Attach documents related to income from additional work or other sources of income if required.
- After filling in all the income columns, you can calculate the tax amount properly and fill in the “Amount of tax to be paid” column. Set the date and sign the return, then send it to the tax office.
- Step 3: Enter your income
Tax return 3-NDFL is intended to register income received by an individual. When filling out the declaration, it is important to indicate all income received during the reporting period, including income from the sale of real estate and real estate, rental income, profit from the sale of securities and other types of income.
Step 3: Indicate the income received
If an individual sold real estate or property, he must indicate this income in the declaration. The amount of income is determined by the difference between the purchase price of the property and the sale price.
Indicating income from the sale of property
Indication of rental income and other sources of income
The declaration must indicate rental income received during the reporting period. Income can also be received from various sources, such as the sale of securities, dividends, etc. All this must be indicated in the declaration.
Indicating income from rental and other sources of income
Step 4: Calculate your taxes and withholdings
1. Determine the amount of income
Step 4: Calculate the amount of tax and withholdings
1. Determine the amount of income
2. Subtract all possible deductions
To reduce your tax burden, you can include various tax deductions in your tax return.
2. Subtract all possible deductions
Standard tax deductions are available to all taxpayers and may include a child deduction, education deduction, medical deduction, and others.
Individual tax deductions are provided based on the individual characteristics of taxpayers and include deductions for donations, for a down payment on a mortgage, etc.
3. Determine your tax base
After the deduction, the taxpayer will receive a tax base on the basis of which the tax will be calculated.
3. Determine the taxable base

4. Calculate the amount of tax and withholdings
After determining the taxable base, it is necessary to calculate the tax.
4. Calculate the amount of tax and withholdings
Additional payments, such as insurance premiums and compulsory health insurance contributions, may also be withheld.
After subtracting all required withholdings, you get the final tax amount that must be reported on your tax return.
Step 5: Determine Eligibility for Deductions and Discounts
Right to deductions:
Step 5: Determine the right to deductions and discounts
Right to deductions:
Eligibility for discounts:
Tax credits are an amount that reduces your overall tax expense. In most cases, discounts apply to taxpayers whose income is below a certain level. For example, you may be eligible for a discount if you are a non-working pensioner or disabled person.
Right to discounts:
Deductions and discounts help reduce your tax burden.
Deductions require appropriate documents confirming the right to them.
- Discounts usually apply to those with income below a certain level.
- Step 6: Provide additional information
- Enter information in the required fields
Step 6: Indicate additional information
Enter the information in the appropriate fields Fields
Information about receiving achievements, benefits and other types of incentives;
- Information about the tax deductions you want to use;
- Additional expenses associated with generating income (for example, professional training, expenses for participation in conferences or seminars);
- Don’t forget to attach documents
- If you need to confirm any information, be sure to include relevant documents as proof. These can be receipts, contracts, certificates and other paper documents or electronic copies.
Don’t forget to attach documents
Step 7: Check that it is filled in correctly
Check your income and taxes
Step 7: Check the accuracy of the form
Check your income and tax amounts
Make sure all costs and tax deductions are included
Before filing your return, be sure to check that all of your income-related expenses are reported on the correct items on your tax return.
Make sure all expenses and tax deductions are included
Check signatures and other data
After you have checked all the data for accuracy, make sure that all the information in the declaration is completed correctly: all signatures match the passport data, the correct dates and document numbers are indicated, and all necessary fields are filled out.
Check signatures and other information
Step 8: Submit your tax return to the tax office
After you have filled out all the required fields of the 3rd personal income tax return, you need to submit it to the tax office. The declaration can be sent either in person or using electronic services.
Step 8: Submit your tax return to the tax office

In order to submit a tax return using electronic services, you need to register on the website of the Federal Tax Service (FTS). After registration, you will be able to download the completed declaration and all necessary documents electronically. After submitting your declaration, you will receive a notification that it has been accepted.
When filing your tax return, it is important to pay attention to the filing deadlines. For violation of the deadline for filing a declaration, a penalty in the amount of 1, 000 rubles may be charged for each day of delay. However, if you have reasons for the delay, for example, a valid reason for illness, then you can contact the tax office and apply for an extension of the deadline for filing your return.
It is important to ensure that the declaration is filled out correctly and that all necessary documents are available.
The deadlines for filing the declaration must be observed.
- Filing your return electronically can speed up the process of acceptance by the tax office.
- How to prepare a tax return in form 3-NDFL?
- How to prepare a tax return in form 3-NDFL?






