# FLA Return Filing (Foreign Liabilities & Assets)

> The FLA (Foreign Liabilities and Assets) return is an annual statement every Indian company, LLP and other specified entity with foreign direct investment or overseas direct investment outstanding must file with RBI on the FLAIR portal by 15 July. If accounts aren't audited by then, it can be filed on provisional figures and revised once audited. It's required even when no fresh foreign money came in that year.

Practice: FEMA & RBI Compliance — https://www.industax.com/services/fema-rbi/

The return captures foreign equity and debt in your entity and any investment you hold abroad, valued as at 31 March. Many small subsidiaries and startups miss it because nothing changed during the year — but holding FDI is enough to trigger it.

We register the entity on FLAIR, compile figures from the balance sheet, file before the deadline, and handle revisions after audit. For past years missed, we help regularise with RBI.

## Key facts

| Item | Detail |
| --- | --- |
| Who files | Entities with outstanding FDI and/or ODI as at 31 March |
| Due date | 15 July each year |
| Portal | RBI FLAIR |
| Unaudited accounts | File on provisional data; revise after audit |
| Non-filing | Contravention of FEMA, liable to penalty |

## Who needs this

- Indian subsidiaries of foreign companies
- Startups with foreign shareholders
- LLPs with foreign capital contribution
- Companies with overseas subsidiaries or JVs

## What's included

- FLAIR registration
- Return preparation from financials
- Filing and revision
- Regularisation of missed years

## Documents

- Audited or provisional financial statements
- Shareholding and foreign investment details
- Overseas investment details

## Process

1. **Register** — Entity registered on FLAIR.
2. **Compile** — Foreign liabilities and assets mapped from accounts.
3. **File** — Submitted by 15 July; revised after audit.

## FAQs

### Do we file FLA if no foreign investment came this year?

Yes, if foreign investment received in earlier years is still outstanding on 31 March.

### Our audit isn't complete. Can we still file?

Yes — file on unaudited figures by 15 July and submit a revised return once the audit is complete.

### Is there a fee for filing?

No government fee, but non-filing is a FEMA contravention, so missed years should be regularised.

## Official sources

- RBI — FLAIR portal (FLA return): https://flair.rbi.org.in/
- RBI — Master Directions (Foreign Investment, Overseas Investment, LRS): https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/BS_ViewMasterDirections.aspx

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Canonical page: https://www.industax.com/services/fema-rbi/fla-return
Publisher: Indus Tax — CA-led tax and compliance firm (https://www.industax.com). Contact: info@industax.com, 9059139258.
This is general information, not advice for your specific facts.