The title compound, C(12)H(14)N(2)O(3), was synthesized as an inter-mediate for the synthesis of metamitron. The benzene ring forms dihedral angles of 86.3 (2) and 10.0 (3)° with the ethyl group and the acetyl-imino plane, respectively. The crystal structure involves inter-molecular C-H⋯O and N-H⋯O hydrogen bonds.