FLA Return Deadlines Extended: Key Updates for 2024-25 Compliance

RBI Pushes FLA Return Filing Deadline to July 31, 2025 — Here’s What Businesses Need to Know

In a welcome relief to entities struggling with technical glitches, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has extended the deadline for submitting the Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) return for FY 2024–25. Companies now have until July 31, 2025, instead of the earlier July 15 deadline, to complete their filings via the FLAIR portal.

Why the Extension?

The extension comes amid persistent technical issues and ongoing system upgrades on the FLAIR portal, which had impacted smooth access and timely compliance for many users. This two-week reprieve is aimed at easing the compliance burden during the transition period.

Who Needs to File the FLA Return?

The obligation to file the FLA return applies to all Indian entities, including:

Companies (listed or unlisted),
LLPs and partnership firms,
Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs),

If they meet any of the following conditions:

Have received Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) at any time in the past,
Have made Overseas Direct Investment (ODI),
Or held foreign assets or liabilities on their books as of March 31, 2025.

Even if no new foreign investments were made during the year, filing remains mandatory if any such positions continue to exist.

Revised Filing Deadlines at a Glance

Return Type	Financial Year	Original Due Date	Extended Due Date	Portal	Penalty for Delay
FLA Return (Annual)	FY 2024–25	15 July 2025	31 July 2025	FLAIR	Yes (FEMA)
FLA Return (If Pending)	FY 2023–24	15 July 2024	31 July 2025	FLAIR	Yes (FEMA)

Filing Process & What You’ll Need

Platform: RBI’s FLAIR Portal – https://flair.rbi.org.in
Information required:
- FDI/ODI data and investor details
- Balance sheet figures (preferably audited) as of March 31, 2025

No audited accounts yet? You can still file using provisional figures by July 31, and later update the data once the audit is completed.

Penalties for Late Filing

Missing the deadline can attract steep penalties:

Flat late fee: ₹7,500
FEMA penalties:
- Up to 3x the amount involved (if quantifiable)
- ₹2,00,000 for unquantifiable violations
- Additional ₹5,000 per day for continued non-compliance

Non-filing may also affect your ability to receive future FDI, make ODI, or process cross-border remittances.

Practical Filing Tips

Don’t delay: Portal congestion tends to spike as deadlines approach—submit early.
Register early: If you’re a new filer, ensure your FLAIR portal registration is complete well in advance.
Verify before you file: Keep all documentation (investment details, balance sheets, capital structure) organized.
Revise if needed: Provisional data can be revised later once audited numbers are final.
Keep records: Always save the FLAIR acknowledgment for your compliance files.

Summary at a Glance

New Due Date: July 31, 2025
Who Must File: Any Indian entity with FDI/ODI or foreign assets/liabilities as of March 31, 2025
Where to File: RBI’s FLAIR portal
Key Risk: ₹7,500 penalty + FEMA violations if missed
Next Step: File early with available data; update post-audit if required