Electronic submission of the 3-NDFL declaration through the personal account of the Federal Tax Service is the only guaranteed way to return part of the costs of treatment, education or purchase of housing without a visit to the inspection. The process of filing a tax deduction through the Tax ru service requires accurate filling of fields and correct uploading of scanned documents, since any error in the numbers will lead to automatic refusal or delay in the desk audit. The user must have a valid account with confirmed access rights in order for the system to generate a final declaration file for sending to the tax service.
The modern portal interface allows you to fill out tax return automatically, pulling up income data directly from the Federal Tax Service database. However, responsibility for the accuracy of the entered information about expenses, especially when claiming deductions for treatment or education, lies entirely with the taxpayer. Incorrect indication of income codes or absence of required fields in 2-NDFL certificates may cause the suspension of the refund.
To successfully complete the procedure, it is necessary to prepare high-quality scans of all checks, contracts and payment documents in advance. System Tax ru has built-in verification algorithms, but they do not replace the user’s attentive attitude to the filling details. In this instruction, we will analyze each stage of submitting an application in order to minimize the risk of technical errors and speed up the receipt of funds in your current account.
Preparing to fill out a declaration in your personal account
Before you start working in this section Taxes and fees You must collect a complete package of documentation confirming your right to a refund. The basis for the calculation is a 2-NDFL certificate provided by the employer or another source of income. If you work in several places, you will need to collect certificates from each tax agent to correctly reflect the total amount of tax paid.
It is important to make sure that the 2-NDFL certificates contain the correct income and deduction codes, since this is the data that will be transferred to the declaration. Errors in numbers can lead to discrepancies between the employer's data and yours. Declaration 3-NDFL. You should also prepare scans of contracts for medical services, training, or a real estate purchase and sale agreement if a deduction is claimed on these grounds.
⚠️ Attention: Scans of documents must be clear, readable and oriented horizontally. The Federal Tax Service may refuse to accept blurry or inverted images.
To work, you will need a valid electronic signature certificate, which is generated directly in your personal account for free. Without an active signature, you will not be able to send the completed declaration to the tax office. The key generation process takes several minutes and requires entering a password, which you must remember or save securely.
Step-by-step instructions for filling out 3-NDFL
After logging in to the portal, go to the section Income and deductions and select the “Get deduction” option. The system will prompt you to select the type of deduction: property, social or investment. Each type has its own filling algorithm, but the basic structure of the declaration remains the same for all categories of payers.
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At the first stage of filling out information about income is entered. If the employer has already submitted data to the Federal Tax Service, they will automatically appear in the section Income. All you have to do is check the amounts and click the confirm button. If the data is not loaded, you will have to enter it manually, strictly following the numbers in the paper or electronic certificate.
The next step is choosing deductions. Here you must indicate the amount of expenses for which you are applying. The system will automatically calculate the amount of tax refund based on a rate of 13% or 15% depending on your income. It is important to carefully double-check the entered figures, as it will be more difficult to correct the declaration after filing.
The final stage is the generation of a declaration file for (signing). The program itself will create a PDF file, which will need to be signed with a previously generated electronic signature key. After signing, the document is sent to the inspectorate, and you receive a notification of successful submission.
Uploading documents and certificates 2-NDFL
The key to filing a declaration is to attach supporting documents. In your personal account Tax ru The ability to upload files directly in the body of the declaration or through a separate attachments menu has been implemented. It is recommended to upload documents immediately after filling out the appropriate fields to avoid losing files.
Each type of deduction has its own list of required documents. For example, for a social deduction for treatment, you will need a certificate of payment for medical services, a clinic license and checks. For property deduction - a purchase and sale agreement, an acceptance certificate and payment documents. All files must be in PDF, JPG or PNG format.
Tip: Combine multiple receipts into one PDF by expense category to avoid creating hundreds of separate attachments on your return.
The table below demonstrates the main types of documents and requirements for their execution for various types of deductions:
| Type of deduction | Main document | Additional Requirements | File Format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Treatment | Payment certificate | Medical facility license | JPG, PDF |
| Training | Agreement with the university | License, payment receipts | |
| Real estate | Sales and purchase agreement | Transfer and acceptance certificate, USRN extract | PDF, JPG |
| Mortgage | Loan agreement | Certificate of paid % |
When loading large amounts of data, the system may become slower. Do not interrupt the download process until a success message appears. If the file does not download, check its size and format, and then try again.
Working with electronic signature and sending
Without a valid non-qualified electronic signature (NES), sending a declaration is impossible. You can get it in the user profile section, tab Profile -> Get ES. The system will prompt you to choose where to store the key: in the protected system of the Federal Tax Service or on your computer.
Choosing to store the key in the Federal Tax Service system is more convenient, as it allows you to sign documents from any device. If you choose storage on a computer, access to the declaration will only be from the device where the key was generated. The key creation process takes from 2 to 15 minutes depending on the server load.
What to do if the key does not work
If the system writes an error when signing, try regenerating the electronic signature key. Old keys may conflict with new security updates for the Tax ru portal.
After the key has been created, we move on to the final stage. In the pre-filled declaration window, you need to click the “Sign and Submit” button. The system will ask for the password you created when creating the key. After entering the password, the process of encrypting and sending the data to the tax office will begin.
Checking the status of the declaration and desk audit
After successful submission, the declaration is submitted for a desk audit, which by law lasts up to three months. The status of the declaration can be tracked in your personal account in the section Messages or in the transaction history. The statuses change sequentially: “Registered”, “Under review”, “Verification completed”.
During the inspection process, the inspector may request additional documents or clarification. A notification about this will come to the section Messages personal account. Such requests cannot be ignored, as this may lead to denial of the deduction. Typically, 5 working days are given to provide clarifications.
If the check was successful, a notification about the results of the check with a positive decision will appear in messages. After this, the data is transferred to the treasury for transferring money. The transfer period is one month from the date of completion of the verification.
⚠️ Attention: If the status does not change within 3 months or a request for documents is received, you must respond promptly. A delay in response may extend the period for consideration of the case.
Common errors and ways to resolve them
One of the most common mistakes is incorrectly indicating the tax period code or incorrectly entering data from the 2-NDFL certificate. Even one digit can lead to the system being unable to verify the data with the Federal Tax Service database. In such cases, the declaration is returned for revision.
Another common problem is incorrect bank account details. The account number must consist of 20 characters, and the bank's BIC must correspond to the branch. An error in one number will result in the money not reaching the recipient, and the procedure will have to be started all over again or a request to clarify the details must be submitted.
Main conclusion: Carefully checking all numbers and scans before sending saves months of waiting and nerves during a desk audit.
Also, users often forget to attach the organization's license if it is not indicated in the payment certificate. For medical and educational institutions, having a license is a prerequisite for receiving a social deduction. Please check that this document is included in your package before sending.
Refund deadlines and receipt of money
The total period for consideration of an application for a deduction consists of the time of the desk audit (up to 3 months) and the time for transferring money (up to 1 month). Thus, the maximum waiting period is 4 months from the date of registration of the declaration in the system Tax ru.
Money is transferred only to the taxpayer’s personal bank account specified in the declaration. Transfer of the right to claim deductions to third parties through this mechanism is not provided. It is important that the account is opened in the name of the applicant.
How to speed up the process
The only way to speed up the process is to submit the declaration without errors the first time and promptly respond to the inspector’s requirements. There is no automatic acceleration.
It is worth noting that when submitting a declaration at the beginning of the year (January-March), the load on servers and inspectors is maximum. During this period, technical failures are possible more often, and the inspection period may take the entire time allotted by law. Plan your filing with these factors in mind.
Is it possible to submit a declaration through a mobile application?
Yes, you can submit a 3-NDFL declaration through the “Personal Taxes” mobile application. The functionality of the application is similar to the web version of your personal account and allows you to fill out, sign and send documents.
What to do if the 2-NDFL certificate is not loaded?
If the data is not loaded automatically, it must be entered manually, based on a paper certificate from the employer. You can also contact the accounting department with a request to check whether the data has been sent to the Federal Tax Service.
Do I need to bring original documents to the tax office?
When submitting a declaration through your personal account Tax ru There is no need to bring originals. You upload scanned copies. The originals must be kept with you in case the inspector requests them for verification during the inspection.
How can I correct an error in a declaration that has already been sent?
If the declaration has not yet been verified, you can submit an updated declaration (corrective). In your personal account, select the “Submit an updated declaration” option, where erroneous fields are corrected.