tax return definition
Tax Return Law & Legal Definition. A tax return is the form to be filed with a taxing authority by a taxpayer which details his/her/their income, expenses, exemptions, deductions and calculation of taxes which are chargeable to the taxpayer. Tax returns may be filed on the local, state, and federal levels.ax returns are subject to the rules of the taxing authority with which they are filed. Penalties and fines exist for failure to timely file a tax return or for false statements made on a tax return. Your federal tax return and the information contained in your tax return is confidential.