FLA Return Filing (Foreign Liabilities and Assets)
Mandatory annual return to the RBI for all Indian companies that have received FDI or made ODI. Due by July 15th every year.
Overview
The Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) return is a mandatory annual filing required by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI). Any Indian company or LLP that has received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) or has made Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) in any previous year, and has those investments outstanding as of March 31st, must file this return by July 15th. It is filed online on the RBI’s FLAIR portal. Non-filing constitutes a violation of FEMA, leading to heavy compounding penalties.
What is Included in Our Package
Detailed compliance and filing scope managed by JRC corporate experts.
Documents Required to Start
Upload digital files during onboarding. No physical submissions needed.
Financial Details
- Balance Sheet and P&L (Audited if available, otherwise provisional)
- Details of all foreign shareholders and the percentage of shares held
- Details of any foreign subsidiaries and their financial performance
Portal Credentials
- Login credentials for the RBI FLAIR portal (We create this if you are a first-time filer)
Step-by-Step Filing Timeline
Our step-by-step advisory workflow.
Step 1: Data Gathering
We collect the financial data of the Indian company and its foreign subsidiaries/investors as of the end of the financial year.
Step 2: FLAIR Portal Setup
If you are filing for the first time, we submit an authority letter to the RBI to generate the FLAIR portal credentials.
Step 3: Data Entry
We input the detailed financial metrics, shareholding patterns, and investment values into the online FLA form.
Step 4: Submission
The return is filed before July 15th, and a system-generated acknowledgement is provided to you for your records.
Key Advantages of Timely FLA Filing
FLA is a routine but critical compliance to avoid RBI scrutiny.
Avoid FEMA Compounding
Missing the July 15th deadline forces the company into the complex and expensive RBI compounding process.
Maintain Banking Relations
Authorized Dealer (AD) Banks frequently request the FLA acknowledgement before processing any new foreign remittances.
Clean Corporate Record
Timely filing ensures that your company is not red-flagged by the RBI, which is vital for future fundraising rounds.
Frequently Asked Questions
Helpful answers to common regulatory inquiries.
What if our accounts are not audited by July 15th?▼
You must file the FLA return based on unaudited/provisional accounts by July 15th. Once the accounts are audited, if there are significant changes, you can file a revised FLA return by the end of September.
Do we have to file if we received no new FDI this year?▼
Yes. If you have *outstanding* FDI or ODI from previous years on your balance sheet as of March 31st, you must file the FLA return every single year.
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Corporate filings managed directly by certified Chartered Accountants & Company Secretaries.
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