Current · Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/646 · issued 18 Jun 2014 · ~1 min read
Quick answerRBI has revised the annual Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) return format to include Outward Foreign Affiliated Trade Statistics (FATS). All Indian companies with FDI or outward FDI must file the updated soft form by July 15 each year.
The rule, in the simplest words
Every Indian company that has foreign money coming in (FDI) or going out (outward FDI) must fill a special yearly form called FLA (Foreign Liabilities and Assets return).
The form has a new part that asks about your company's foreign branches or affiliates (Outward FATS) to match global trade rules.
You must use the updated form from RBI's website and send it by July 15 every year.
If you don't file on time or use the old form, you could get into trouble under FEMA (India's foreign exchange law).
How it plays out — a real example
A forex & trade-finance officer in Indore is helping a local jewelry company that has a small branch in Dubai. The officer reminds the company's finance manager that the annual FLA return now needs details about the Dubai branch's sales and staff (Outward FATS data). He shows them the new form on RBI's website and says, 'Please file this by July 15, or we'll both face questions from the regulator.'
What changed
The FLA return format has been marginally revised to collect Outward Foreign Affiliated Trade Statistics (FATS) data, aligning with global trade in services standards. The updated form and FAQs are available on the RBI website. The corresponding FEMA regulations were amended via Notification No. FEMA.307/2014-RB dated May 26, 2014.
What it means for you
Banks must ensure their corporate clients use the revised FLA return format for annual reporting. The change adds a new data requirement for outward foreign affiliate trade, which may require clients to gather additional information. Non-compliance could lead to regulatory scrutiny under FEMA.
What you must do
Inform all corporate clients with FDI or outward FDI about the revised FLA return format available on RBI's website.
Guide clients to file the updated soft form by July 15 each year, ensuring inclusion of FATS data.
Update internal compliance checklists to verify that FLA returns use the new format.
Refer clients to the FAQs on RBI's site for clarification on the revised return.
Who it affects
All Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks, Indian companies with FDI or outward FDI
❓ Common questions
What is the new requirement in the FLA return?
The return now includes Outward Foreign Affiliated Trade Statistics (FATS) data, as per global standards on trade in services statistics.
When is the deadline for filing the revised FLA return?
The annual return must be filed by July 15 every year, as previously stipulated.
Where can we find the revised form and FAQs?
The form is under 'Forms category → FEMA Forms' and FAQs under 'FAQs category → Foreign Exchange' on the RBI website (www.rbi.org.in).
📜 Read the original circular — full text as issued by RBI
RBI/2013-14/646
A .P.(DIR Series) Circular No. 145
June 18, 2014
To
All Category - I Authorised Dealer Banks
Madam / Sir,
Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets
Reporting by Indian Companies – Revised format
Attention of the Authorised Dealer Category – I banks is invited to A.P. (DIR Series) Circular No.133 dated June 20, 2012 which stipulated that all Indian companies which have received FDI and/or made FDI abroad in the previous year(s) including the current year, should file the annual return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) in the soft form to the Reserve Bank by July 15 every year.
2. In order to collect information on Indian companies’ Outward Foreign Affiliated Trade Statistics (FATS) as per the multi-agency global ‘Manual on Statistics of International Trade in Services’, the FLA return has been modified marginally and is made available on the RBI website ( www.rbi.org.in → Forms category → FEMA Forms) along with the related FAQs ( www.rbi.org.in → FAQs category → Foreign Exchange).
3. Reserve Bank has since amended the subject Regulations accordingly through the Foreign Exchange Management (Transfer or Issue of Security by a Person Resident outside India) (Eighth Amendment) Regulations, 2014 which have been notified vide Notification No. FEMA.307/2014-RB dated May 26, 2014 , vide G.S.R. No. 400(E) dated June 12, 2014.
4. 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 is without prejudice to permissions / approvals, if any, required under any other law.
Yours faithfully,
(J. K. Pandey)
General Manager - Officer-in-Charge
Reproduced for reference with acknowledgment — Source: Reserve Bank of India · RBI/2013-14/646 · issued 18 Jun 2014. The plain-English explanation above is BankPulse’s own independent summary.
Example: if you are a Compliance officer at a bank this circular applies to (All Category-I Authorised Dealer Banks, Indian companies with FDI or outward FDI), your first concrete step on “Revised FLA Return Format for Indian Companies” is: “Inform all corporate clients with FDI or outward FDI about the revised FLA return format available on RBI's website.” (RBI issued this 18 Jun 2014).
Circular: RBI/2013-14/646 -- Revised FLA Return Format for Indian Companies
Issued: 18 Jun 2014
Action required: Inform all corporate clients with FDI or outward FDI about the revised FLA return format available on RBI's website.
Action required: Guide clients to file the updated soft form by July 15 each year, ensuring inclusion of FATS data.
Action required: Update internal compliance checklists to verify that FLA returns use the new format.
Action required: Refer clients to the FAQs on RBI's site for clarification on the revised return.
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=8945&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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