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If your company in India has any foreign investment, here is some good news. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has given you more time. The due date for filing the annual Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) Return, which was earlier set for 15th July 2026, has now been extended to 31st July 2026.
This gives businesses about two extra weeks to prepare their data and file accurately on the FLAIR portal. Importantly, only the last date has changed. Who must file, what to report, and the filing process all remain the same.
What is the new FLA Return due date for 2026?
The FLA Return date for the financial year 2025-26 was originally July 15, 2026. The Reserve Bank of India has now extended it to July 31, 2026. So, the new last date to file your FLA Return on the FLAIR portal is July 31, 2026. You need to report your assets and liabilities as of March 31, 2026.
In short : you have some time now, but you still must file on time. This extension is for the filing deadline. The people who need to file and the details to be reported remain the same. You still must report your assets and liabilities. The clock is still ticking for your FLA Return.
What is the FLA Return?
The FLA Return is a yearly filing that Indian entities with foreign investment must submit to the RBI under FEMA, 1999. It reports your foreign position as of 31st March:
- Foreign liabilities — Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) your company has received.
- Foreign assets — Overseas Direct Investment (ODI) your company has made abroad.
The return is filed online through the RBI’s FLAIR portal (Foreign Liabilities and Assets Information Reporting system). There is no offline or email option.
Who must file the FLA Return?
You must file if, as on 31st March 2026, your entity has any outstanding FDI or ODI. This covers:
- Companies registered under the Companies Act
- Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
- Partnership firms
- SEBI-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs)
Here is a point many businesses miss. Even if you received foreign investment years ago and had no fresh transactions this year, you still must file if that investment is still on your balance sheet. It is an annual filing, not a one-time one.
And if your audited accounts are not ready by the deadline, you can still file using provisional or unaudited figures and submit a revised return by 30th September 2026 once the audit is done. Waiting for the audit is the most common reason companies miss the date.
What happens if you miss the FLA Return deadline?
An extension is not a reason to take it easy; it is a chance. Missing the FLA Return is not a mistake it is a serious violation under FEMA. The consequences can be bad. They include:
- A Late Submission Fee of ₹7,500
- Penalties of up to 300% of the amount involved
- ₹5,000 per day for continuing default
There is also a problem with waiting until the last minute. The FLAIR portal often says no to submissions because of errors, and balance sheet figures do not always fit perfectly into the FLA categories. In the few days before the deadline, the FLAIR portal gets very busy; forms get rejected, and small mistakes waste people’s time when they need it the most. A missed or wrong FLA Return filing can also cause trouble during things like due diligence, funding rounds or an M&A deal. Filing the FLA Return early is simply the thing to do with the FLA Return.
How can Mercurius help?
We can help you file your FLA Return correctly and on time.
Getting the FLA Return right needs the trained eye of a Chartered Accountant, someone who understands FEMA classifications, non-resident equity calculations, and how your FLA data must line up with your other filings like FC-GPR and FC-TRS. Not sure where to start? Our experienced team of CA and CS professionals can handle the entire process for you, from FLAIR portal registration and data preparation to accurate filing and post-filing support if the RBI raises a query. We make sure your return is filed correctly, without stress or errors.
The due date is now 31st July 2026. Do not leave it for the last day.
Get your FLA Return filed the right way, the first time, and stay fully compliant.
Contact us today to file your FLA Return under FEMA before the window closes.
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