FEMA Compliance - Foreign Exchange Management Act,1999

Cross-border transactions call for stringent measures to be taken. Corporates have to go through a process that is cumbersome when it comes to cross-border transactions. An increase in the inbound and outbound process calls for an increase in the level of compliances. Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999 (FEMA) was introduced to ensure smooth external transactions, maintaining a healthy foreign exchange market, and encourage the importance of the balance of payments.

What is FEMA Compliance?

FEMA Compliance refers to adhering to the regulations outlined in the Foreign Exchange Management Act, 1999, which governs foreign exchange transactions in India. Enacted to replace the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act (FERA), FEMA aims to facilitate external trade, maintain a stable foreign exchange market, and ensure a healthy balance of payments. 

It regulates cross-border transactions, including foreign investments, external commercial borrowings, and overseas direct investments, ensuring smooth and legal financial operations for individuals and businesses in India.

Mandatory compliances under FEMA

The mandatory compliances under the provisions of FEMA are as follows:

Annual Return on Foreign Liabilities and Assets

Every Indian Resident company that has made a Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in the preceding year, including the current year, must submit the Foreign Liabilities and Assets (FLA) Return. If no such investment is made, then the company is not under any obligation to submit the FLA. Such a return must be submitted every year.

Annual Performance Report

This report is to be submitted by a Resident individual who has made an Overseas Direct Investment (ODI). It is to be provided in Form ODI Part II to the AD (Authorised Dealer)  bank regarding Joint Venture or Wholly Owned Subsidiaries outside India on or before 31st December every year.

External Commercial Borrowings (ECB)

All borrowers must report all ECB transactions to the RBI through an AD Category – I Bank every month in the Form ‘ECB 2 Return’.

Single Master Form (w.e.f.30.06.2018)

Under the Single Master Form, the following forms are to be filled and submitted.

• FC- GPR (Foreign Currency-Gross Provisional Return)
• FC-TRS (Foreign Currency Transfer of Shares)
• LLP-I (Limited Liability Partnership)
• CN (Convertible Notes)
• ESOP (Employee Stock Options Plan)
• DI (Downstream Investment)
• DRR (Depository Receipts)
• InVi (Investment Vehicle that has issued its units to a person resident outside India)

The RBI has made efforts to integrate the existing reporting norms and set out a procedure for filing a single master form.

Advance Remittance Form

An Indian company that receives investment outside India for the issue of shares or other eligible securities under the FDI scheme must report all the details of the amount of consideration to the concerned Regional Office of the Reserve Bank of India through its AD category I bank within 30 days from the date of issue of shares.

Form FC- GPR

The Indian company that receives foreign investment and allots shares against such investment should file such allotment with the RBI. The company must provide details of allotment in the Form FC - GPR (Foreign Currency – Gross Provisional Return) within 30 days of allotment to the RBI.

Form FC- TRS

This form must be filed by the shareholder resident outside India or resident Indian when they transfer the shares of the Indian company from a resident to non-resident Indian or vice versa. The form FC - TRS (Foreign Currency Transfer) is submitted along with the Form FC- GPR to the authorised dealer bank, who in turn submits to the RBI.

Form ODI

A resident Indian individual who makes an overseas investment is required to submit Form ODI. Share certificates or any other documentary evidence received for investment in a foreign Joint Venture or Wholly owned subsidiary must be submitted to the designated AD within 30 days.

Important FEMA Guidelines and Features

Under FEMA, all forex-related offences are civil offences instead of FERA (Foreign Exchange Regulation Act), where all of the offences were considered criminal offences. The other features are as follows:

• FEMA applies only to Indian residents in India. It does not apply to Indian citizens residing outside India. The application criteria are that the person or entity must be resident in India during the previous financial year for 182 days or more.
• FEMA authorised the Central Government to impose restrictions and supervise three things related to foreign exchange- payments or receipts made to any person outside India.
• FEMA also specifies the areas that require specific permissions of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) or the government, like dealing in foreign exchange.
• FEMA has classified the foreign exchange transactions into two categories – Capital Account and Current Account.

Capital Account and Current Account – The purpose of the capital account is to adjust the assets and liabilities of individuals outside India to persons residing in India. Thus any transaction that results in a change of the overseas assets and liabilities in India of an Indian residing outside India or transactions overseas of a person residing in India will be considered under the capital account. All other transactions fall under the category of the current account.

The penalty for non-compliances to be charged is up to thrice the sum involved in such contravention or up to Rs 2 lakh. The penalty may extend up to Rs 5,000 for each day post the first day during which the contravention proceeds. Hence, all companies and Indian residents who transact overseas must ensure adherence to the laws under FEMA.

Disclaimer: The materials provided herein are solely for information purposes. No attorney-client relationship is created when you access or use the site or the materials. The information presented on this site does not constitute legal or professional advice. It should not be relied upon for such purposes or used as a substitute for legal advice from an attorney licensed in your state.