By CA Surekha Ahuja
Due Date Extended from 15 July 2026 to 31 July 2026
Important FEMA Compliance Update
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has provided relief to entities required to file the Annual Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) Return for FY 2025–26 by extending the filing deadline from:
Original Due Date: 15 July 2026
Revised Due Date: 31 July 2026
The FLA Return is required to report the foreign assets and liabilities position as on 31 March 2026 and is filed through the RBI’s FLAIR Portal.
Key Changes at a Glance
| Particulars | Updated Position |
|---|---|
| Compliance | Annual Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) Return |
| Applicable Year | FY 2025–26 |
| Reporting Date | 31 March 2026 |
| Earlier Due Date | 15 July 2026 |
| Extended Due Date | 31 July 2026 |
| Filing Platform | RBI FLAIR Portal |
| RBI Query Email | flareturn@rbi.org.in |
Who Should Take Note?
The extension is relevant for Indian entities having outstanding foreign exposure, including:
- Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) received
- Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) made
- Foreign assets or liabilities appearing in the balance sheet
The requirement may continue even where there is no fresh foreign investment transaction during FY 2025–26, if foreign assets or liabilities continue to remain outstanding.
Important Compliance Actions
✔ Do not treat the extension as a reason for delay.
✔ Complete foreign investment reconciliation before filing.
✔ Verify FDI, ODI, foreign loans, guarantees, receivables and payables.
✔ Ensure FLAIR portal access is active.
✔ Where audited financial statements are not available, entities should consider filing with provisional figures and revise after finalisation of accounts as permitted.
Professional Alert for CFOs and Compliance Teams
FLA Return is not merely a routine annual filing. Incorrect reporting of foreign assets, liabilities, ownership details or inter-company balances may lead to FEMA compliance issues in future.
Recommended Action:
Complete the FLA Return review well before 31 July 2026 to avoid last-minute technical issues, data reconciliation challenges and possible FEMA consequences.
Extension gives additional time — but accurate filing remains the responsibility of the reporting entity
