Filing tax reports is no longer a tedious process with queues at the inspectorate and filling out paper forms by hand. The modern digital platform of the Federal Tax Service allows you to issue and send declaration 3-NDFL literally in one evening, without leaving home. This is especially true for those who plan to return part of the funds paid in the form of property or social deductions.
Many citizens are still afraid to contact electronic services, considering them too complex or unsafe. However, it is Taxpayer personal account (LC) is the most secure and convenient tool, as it automatically pulls up data on your income, which employers transmit to the tax office. Errors in calculations are minimized here thanks to built-in calculators and system prompts.
In this article we will analyze in detail the entire path from logging into the system to receiving the “Accepted” status for your declaration. You will learn how to fill out the fields correctly, what documents need to be scanned, and how to avoid common mistakes that may cause the inspector to send the report for revision.
Preparing to work with electronic service
Before you start filling out the form, you need to make sure that you have access to the service. A unified identification system is used for authorization Public services. If you do not yet have a confirmed account, you must create one and confirm your identity through the MFC or online bank, since without this it is impossible to log into your account.
It is also important to prepare digital copies of all supporting documents in advance. You will need scans or high-quality photographs of contracts, payment orders, checks and certificates. Files must be readable, preferably in PDF or JPG format, no larger than 10 MB each.
☑️ Preparation for filing a declaration
Pay special attention to the income certificate 2-NDFL. Its data must completely coincide with those already in the tax database. If you notice discrepancies, first contact your employer to resolve them, otherwise the declaration may not be accepted.
⚠️ Warning: Do not attempt to upload document photos taken in poor lighting or with glare. The inspector has every right to refuse to accept reports if the information on the scans cannot be read.
Login to your Personal Account and navigation
Go to the official website nalog.ru. In the upper right corner there is a “Personal Account” button. Click on it and select login through “Government services (ESIA)”. The system will redirect you to the government service portal to enter your login and password.
After successful authorization, you will be taken to the main page of your profile. General information is displayed here: the amount of overpayment, arrears, as well as the status of recent requests. To start working with reporting, you need to find the “Income and Deductions” section in the top menu or on the main panel.
The interface may seem overloaded, but all the necessary functions are grouped logically. We are interested in the “Declarations” subsection. This is where the history of your past submissions is stored and the button for creating a new document is located. The system works stably, but during periods of peak load (late April) delays are possible.
What to do if the site does not open?
If you see a connection error or a white screen, it is likely that maintenance is ongoing or the server is overloaded. Try logging in through the Taxes FL mobile application or wait a few hours. Also check if your browser is blocking pop-ups.
Selecting the type of declaration and reporting year
In the declarations section, the system will prompt you to select the year for which you want to report. Be careful: in the current year, reports are submitted for the previous calendar period. For example, in 2026 we will commission 3-NDFL for 2023.
Next, you need to select the purpose of the submission. Several options are available: receiving tax deductions, paying tax on additional income, or correcting previously submitted data. For most users, the first option is relevant - refund.
- 📄 Property deduction: when buying an apartment, house or land.
- 🏥 Social deduction: for treatment, education, life insurance or voluntary pension contributions.
- 💰 Investment deduction: for broker clients and individual investment account holders.
- 📉 Other income: if you sold property or received winnings and must pay tax.
After selecting the type, the system will generate a draft declaration. From now on, all your actions will be automatically saved. You can interrupt filling at any time and return to it later - the data will not be lost.
Filling out income data
The most important stage is entering information about income received. Fortunately, in 90% of cases you don't need to enter anything manually. Click the “Fill in from the certificate” or “Get data from the 2-NDFL certificate” button. The system itself will find the reports that your employer submitted to the Federal Tax Service.
If your employer has not yet submitted reports or you work for several organizations, you can enter the data manually. To do this, you will need a paper or electronic version of the certificate. 2-NDFLissued by the accounting department. Please transfer income and amount codes carefully to avoid discrepancies.
In case of sale of property (car, apartment, garage), information about income is entered in the appropriate section. Here it is important to correctly indicate the sales amount and, if necessary, the deduction amount (for example, a deduction in the amount of a fixed amount or in the amount of purchase expenses).
| Income type | Data source | Is a document needed? | Tax rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salary | Automatically from the Federal Tax Service database | No (certificate 2-NDFL) | 13% or 15% |
| Car sales | Sales and purchase agreement | Yes (DCP, payment) | 13% |
| Property rental | Lease agreement | Yes (contract) | 13% |
| Dividends | Help from a broker | Yes (broker's report) | 13% |
Check your total income. If it differs from what you expected, double-check the entered numbers. An error in one figure can lead to incorrect calculation of tax for a refund or additional payment.
Registration of tax deductions
After indicating your income, we move on to claiming deductions. This is the same amount with which the state will return 13% to you. The logic of the service is based on dialogue: the system asks questions, and you choose the appropriate options.
When choosing a property deduction, you will need to enter the cadastral number of the property, the date of registration of the right and the amount of expenses. If the object is in shared ownership, the system itself will calculate your share. For social deductions (treatment, training), you need to enter the details of the agreement and license of the institution.
Keep the originals of all receipts and certificates for at least 3 years. Even after a successful audit, the tax office has the right to conduct a desk audit and request original documents for reconciliation.
An important point: the refund amount cannot exceed the amount of income tax you paid for the year. If the deduction is greater than the tax, the balance is carried over to subsequent years (this is true for property deductions).
⚠️ Attention: When applying for a deduction for treatment, make sure that the certificate of payment for medical services contains code “1” (ordinary treatment) or “2” (expensive). The limited refund amount depends on this.
Uploading documents and checking
The final stage before sending is uploading scanned copies. The service clearly indicates which files are required for the selected type of deduction. Do not upload unnecessary files, this may confuse the inspector. Name the files clearly, for example: “Apartment_Agreement.pdf”, “Receipts_treatment.pdf”.
After downloading, the system will offer to view the generated declaration file (PDF). Be sure to open it and run your eyes over the main numbers. Make sure that your full name and INN are correct in the header, and that the amounts match your calculations.
To sign the declaration, use the password that you created when logging into your account, or the code from the SMS/push notification from the bank (if an enhanced non-qualified electronic signature is enabled). This action is equivalent to a handwritten signature on paper.
An electronic signature in the tax account is generated automatically and free of charge. You do not need to buy special tokens or certificates from third parties to submit 3-NDFL.
Submission deadlines and status control
After clicking the “Send” button, the document is sent to the inspectorate. The status will change to “Registered”. From this moment, a desk audit begins, which by law lasts up to three months. During this period, the inspector checks the accuracy of the data.
You can monitor the progress of the verification in the “Messages” section or in the history of declarations. The statuses change sequentially: “Registered”, “Under review”, “Verification completed”. If documents need to be supplemented, you will receive a notification.
If the verification was successful, the status will change to “Accepted”. After this, within a month (from 2021 the period has been reduced) the money should arrive in the account you specified. In case of delay, you can submit an application for payment of interest for the use of other people's funds.
What to do if the declaration is returned for revision?
If the inspector finds an error or missing document, the status will change to “Requires clarification.” The message will indicate the reason. You need to correct the error (for example, resubmit a scan of the check or correct the number) and resubmit the declaration. In this case, the verification period may be interrupted and begin again.
Is it possible to submit a declaration through a mobile application?
Yes, the Federal Tax Service has developed the “Physical Taxes” application for Android and iOS. The functionality of the application allows you to fill out 3-NDFL, take photos of documents and send them. This is often more convenient than using a browser on a phone, since the interface is adapted for a small screen.
Do I need to bring paper originals to the tax office?
No, when submitting through your Personal Account, you do not need to carry the originals. You keep them for yourself. The inspector can request originals only in rare cases when doubts arise, which he will report separately through the message system.
How can I get a login password if I don’t remember the data from the State Services?
Restoring access is possible only through the State Services portal. If your phone or mail is lost, you will have to personally contact any MFC or customer service center to confirm your identity and reset your data.