What is "tax return"

n. A report filed with a national or local tax authority for determining the amount of taxation, usually consisting of form completed by a taxpayer.

n. document giving the tax collector information about the taxpayer's tax liability; "his gross income was enough that he had to file a tax return" [syn: income tax return, return]

Tax returns in the United States are reports filed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) or with the state or local tax collection agency ( California Franchise Tax Board, for example) containing information used to calculate income tax or other taxes. Tax returns are generally prepared using forms prescribed by the IRS or other applicable taxing authority.

A Canadian tax return consists of the reporting the sum of the previous years (January to December) taxable income, tax credits, and other information relating to those two items. The result of filing a return with the federal government can result in either a refund (money owed to the person or corporation filing the return), or an amount due to be paid. There is a penalty for not filing a tax return.

Normally, Canadian individual tax returns for any specific year must be filed by April 30 of the following year. There is no provision for generally extending this deadline, but there are a few exceptions.

• Tax returns for self-employed individuals and their spouses must be filed by June 15 of the following year. However, any Goods and Services Tax/ Harmonized Sales Tax owing for the period is due April 30.
• Tax returns for deceased individuals must be filed by the normal filing deadline or 6 months after the date of death, whichever comes later. Example: Mary dies on January 30, 2004; her 2003 return is due on July 30, 2004 (six months later) and her 2004 return is due on April 30, 2005 (normal filing deadline). This provision is also extended to the surviving spouse.
• Tax returns for non-residents electing to file under section 217 are due June 30 of the following year.
• By virtue of the Interpretation Act the due date of all individual returns is moved to the next business day when the normal due date falls on a Sunday or Holiday. Although ministerial orders are also used to apply this to Saturday due dates, it is not a legal requirement.
• The Federal Finance Minister may extend the deadline in cases of emergency situations such as floods, etc.

Canadian federal tax returns are filed with the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

In addition, the return plays a role in voter registration by including a checkbox asking if the signee if they are willing to have their personal contact information included on a national voter registry which is accessible by Elections Canada and its provincial equivalents.

In the United Kingdom, a tax return is a document that must be filed with the HM Revenue & Customs declaring liability for taxation. Different bodies must file different returns with respect to various forms of taxation. The main returns currently in use are:

• SA100 for individuals paying Income Tax
• SA800 for partnerships
• SA900 for trusts and estates of deceased persons
• CT600 for companies paying Corporation Tax
• P35 for PAYE deductions by employers and National Insurance contributions
• VAT100 for value added tax

Australian tax returns for the tax year beginning 1 July and ending 30 June of the following year are generally due on 31 October after the end of the tax year.

Australian individual taxpayers can file their return online with the ATO's e-tax software, by ordering a printed copy of the tax return form, or with the assistance of a tax agent. Until 2011, the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) published TaxPack, a free document designed to help individuals complete their return. In 2012, TaxPack was replaced with a smaller instruction document, due to increased usage of the e-tax software.

Extensions of the deadline for lodging a tax return are automatically available to those individuals using a Registered Tax Agent operating on an extended lodgement system, and extensions can be made available under some circumstances.

In Australia, individuals and taxpaying entities with taxable income might need to lodge different returns with the ATO in respect of various forms of taxation.