Why are tax returns called tax returns, and is the term applicable outside the US? [closed]

I have a problem with the term tax returns regarding its genesis and use in international communication.

1) Genesis and logic

I do not understand the logic behind it. As far as I see, "tax returns" are actually tax declarations, i.e. a set of documents filed by e.g. an individual and sent to the government's financial authorities to declare his/her income, so that the government can decide on this individual's income tax. If this is correct, why is this called a "return"? Nothing gets returned here. A document gets handed out. There is even not money to be returned, rather there will be money to be paid. (Exception: German employees, on filing their tax declaration often get back parts of taxes paid on their behalf by the employer because employers are obliged to send part of the monthly salary directly to the financial authorities, and depending on circumstances, employees can get back overpaid taxes by the end of the year. This, I would say, is indeed literally a tax return.)

2) Usage

Clearly "tax return" is in use in the USA. Question: could or should I use it also in international contexts (everywhere outside the US)? Or should I better use a more generic term such as tax declaration?

Solution 1:

See this definition for return (noun):

An official report or statement submitted in response to a formal demand.
‘census returns’
SOURCE

The Oxford English Dictionary has examples going back to 1618

Solution 2:

It is used outside the US

here is a UK sub reddit using it:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CasualUK/comments/ac52ln/selfemployed_casualukers_lets_all_procrastinate/

It's probably more prevalent in the US because the US tax system requires more people to do one (most people in the UK will not have to submit a tax return at all)