The title compound, C(9)H(10)N(2)O(3), was synthesized by direct N-formyl-ation of 4-nitro-phenethyl-amine hydro-chloride with formic acid and sodium formate in the absence of catalyst and solvent. In the crystal structure, mol-ecules are linked by inter-molecular N-H⋯O hydrogen-bond inter-actions into chains parallel to the a axis.