R-Returns & FETERS: Revised Reporting from April 2012
Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/413 · issued 29 Feb 2012 · ~2 min read
Quick answerFrom April 1, 2012, AD Category-I banks must report all forex transactions under FETERS using revised purpose codes. The consolidated reporting and URS sample survey for non-export receipts below Rs. 5 lakhs are discontinued. Amount fields expand to 15 digits; 6-digit UNLOCODE port codes replace old 2-digit codes.
The rule, in the simplest words
From April 1, 2012, banks must report every foreign exchange (forex) transaction using a special code (purpose code) that explains why the money came in or went out.
Even small receipts (under Rs. 5 lakhs) that are not from exports must now be reported one by one with their own code, instead of being lumped together or surveyed.
The amount field in reports will be expanded to 15 digits (so you can write very large numbers), and port codes will change from 2 digits to 6 digits (like a postal code for ports).
Banks must stop using the old system of consolidated reporting and sample surveys for small non-export receipts after March 31, 2012.
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore, Priya, processes a small forex receipt of Rs. 2 lakhs from a customer's relative abroad. Under the new rule, she must assign a specific purpose code (like 'personal remittance') to this transaction and report it individually in the FETERS system, instead of grouping it with other small receipts. She also updates her software to handle the new 15-digit amount field and 6-digit port code for the transaction.
What changed
RBI revised FETERS reporting to align with IMF's BPM6 guidelines and core banking system adoption. From April 2012, all forex transactions, including non-export receipts below Rs. 5 lakhs, must be reported with individual purpose codes. The previous system of consolidated reporting and sample-based URS for small receipts is scrapped.
What it means for you
Banks must upgrade FETERS systems to handle 15-digit amount fields and 6-digit port codes. The move to full transaction-level reporting eliminates the unclassified receipts survey, increasing data granularity for BoP compilation. This reduces manual aggregation but requires banks to capture purpose codes for every small receipt.
What you must do
Update FETERS software to accept 15-digit amount fields and 6-digit UNLOCODE port codes by April 1, 2012.
Train staff to assign revised purpose codes to all forex transactions, including non-export receipts below Rs. 5 lakhs.
Discontinue consolidated reporting and URS sample submissions for small non-export receipts from April 2012.
Review and align internal reporting processes with the attached revised FETERS guidelines.
Who it affects
AD Category-I banks, Forex reporting and compliance teams, Core banking system (CBS) and IT departments handling FETERS
❓ Common questions
What happens to non-export receipts below Rs. 5 lakhs after March 31, 2012?
They must be reported individually with purpose codes in FETERS. The earlier consolidated reporting in the BoP file and the URS sample survey are discontinued.
Why are purpose codes being revised?
To align India's Balance of Payments compilation with IMF's BPM6 manual and international best practices, as recommended by the Deepak Mohanty Working Group.
What is the new port code format?
A 6-digit port code as per the UNLOCODE scheme, replacing the earlier 2-digit code issued by RBI. This is now issued by the Directorate General of Systems (Customs).
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2011-12/413
A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No. 84
February 29, 2012
To
All Authorised Dealers in Foreign Exchange
Madam / Sir,
Compilation of R-Returns: Reporting under FETERS
Attention of Authorised Dealer (Category I) banks is invited to A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No.77 dated March 13, 2004 giving guidelines for compilation of R-Returns and reporting under the Foreign Exchange Transactions – Electronic Reporting System (FETERS), and also the A.P.(DIR Series) Circular No. 30 dated February 25, 2008 on the move from the system of ‘branch-wise’ reporting to ‘bank-wise’ reporting under the FETERS.
2. Several subsequent developments have necessitated further modifications in FETERS. These include:
The Working Group on Balance of Payments (BoP) Manual for India (Chairman: Shri Deepak Mohanty) constituted by the Reserve Bank reviewed, inter alia, the existing methodology for compilation of India’s BoP with a view to making it consistent with the guidelines contained in the Sixth edition of Balance of Payments and International Investment Position Manual (BPM6) of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). The Working Group made several recommendations for improving the present compilation procedure as well as presentation of India’s BoP statistics conforming to international best practices.
With the transition to core banking system (CBS), move to complete transaction reporting is warranted instead of relying on the unclassified receipts survey (URS) for purpose-wise distribution of the consolidated amount under non-export receipts below a threshold.
Directorate General of Systems (Customs and Central Excise), Govt.of India now issues 6-digit port-code as per UNLOCODE scheme in place of 2-digit port-code earlier issued by RBI.
3. In view of the above, the following changes shall be effected in reporting of R-Returns from the next financial year ( i.e., transactions taking place from April 1, 2012):
The purpose codes for classification and reporting of foreign exchange transactions in FETERS should be as per the revised classification. Accordingly, all AD category-I banks are advised to report all foreign exchange transactions as per the revised purpose code list with effect from first fortnight of April 2012 as per the attached guidelines .
AD banks may indicate purpose codes for all foreign exchange transactions (including receipts under non-export transactions below Rs. 5 lakhs) under FETERS. The present system of reporting of non-export transactions below Rs. 5 lakhs (a) on a consolidated basis in BoP file and (b) submission of purpose-wise distribution of a sample of such small receipt transactions (as part of R-return in the URS file under FETERS), will be discontinued for transactions beyond March 31, 2012.
The amount field in all FETERS files will be increased to 15-digit format.
6-digit port code will be used uniformly for reporting under FETERS.
4. The revised Guidelines for Submission of Data under the FETERS are attached herewith.
5. The directions contained in this circular have been issued under Sections 10(4) and 11(1) of the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (42 of 1999) and are without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(Rashmi Fauzdar)
Chief General Manager
Related Press Release
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2011-12/413 · issued 29 Feb 2012. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Update FETERS software to accept 15-digit amount fields and 6-digit UNLOCODE port codes by April 1, 2012.
📜 Compliance
Train staff to assign revised purpose codes to all forex transactions, including non-export receipts below Rs. 5 lakhs.
Discontinue consolidated reporting and URS sample submissions for small non-export receipts from April 2012.
Review and align internal reporting processes with the attached revised FETERS guidelines.
Grouped from the action items above — a single circular may involve more than one team.
Worked example & action-note template
Example: if you are an IT/Systems lead at a bank this circular applies to (AD Category-I banks, Forex reporting and compliance teams, Core banking system (CBS) and IT departments handling FETERS), your first concrete step on “R-Returns & FETERS: Revised Reporting from April 2012” is: “Update FETERS software to accept 15-digit amount fields and 6-digit UNLOCODE port codes by April 1, 2012.” (RBI issued this 29 Feb 2012).
Circular: RBI/2011-12/413 -- R-Returns & FETERS: Revised Reporting from April 2012
Issued: 29 Feb 2012
Action required: Update FETERS software to accept 15-digit amount fields and 6-digit UNLOCODE port codes by April 1, 2012.
Action required: Train staff to assign revised purpose codes to all forex transactions, including non-export receipts below Rs. 5 lakhs.
Action required: Discontinue consolidated reporting and URS sample submissions for small non-export receipts from April 2012.
Action required: Review and align internal reporting processes with the attached revised FETERS guidelines.
Owner: ____________ Target date: ____________
Board/committee approval needed? Y / N
Evidence filed in compliance register on: ____________
Built only from this circular’s own published fields — not legal advice; always confirm against the official RBI source.
💬 Banker Discussion
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BankPulse Compliance Evidence Pack — generated 03 Aug 2026 · status cross-checked against RBI’s official withdrawal register (refreshed weekly). Official RBI source: https://www.rbi.org.in/Scripts/NotificationUser.aspx?Id=7026&Mode=0 — Plain-English summary by BankPulse (bankpulse.ai), reviewed by our expert reviewer, CA Amit Jain. Independent platform, not affiliated with the Reserve Bank of India; is our own plain-English paraphrase, not RBI’s original wording.
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