subject: Importer Exporter Code [print this page] Importer Exporter Code (IEC) is a unique 10 digit code issued by DGFT Director General of Foreign Trade, Ministry of Commerce, Government of India, registering an individual, firm, organization, entity etc. as an importer or exporter. To import or export in India, IEC Code is mandatory. No person or entity shall make any Import or Export without IEC Code Number.
Procedure for obtaining IEC
Exporters / Importers shall file an application in ANF 2A format for grant of IEC. Only one IEC would be issued against a single PAN.
The application in ANF 2A shall indicate the name and designation of the person whose photograph has been affixed on the Bank Certificate. Bank Certificate should be submitted in Appendix 18A.
The importers and exporters should submit their profile in ANF 1.
A photograph of the person along with his name and designation shall also be affixed on the IEC No. to be issued in Appendix 18B.
The application should be submitted to jurisdictional RA. List of RAs, along with their jurisdiction is given in Appendix 1.
An incomplete or unauthorized application is liable to be rejected giving specific reason for rejection. Such incomplete application may be re-opened on rectifying the deficiencies.
The scale of fee, mode of payment, procedure for refund of fee and categories of persons exempted from payment of fee are contained in Appendix-21B.
Mode of Payment
a)Payment through Demand Draft from any designated bank of Zonal Joint Director General of Foreign Trade, or
b)Payment through EFT by any nominated bank by DGFT.
c)Payment through TR6 challan with duplicate copy in any branch of Central Bank of India.
Validity
An IEC number allotted to an applicant shall be valid for all its branches/divisions/units/factories.
Duplicate Copy of IEC Number
If original copy of IEC is lost or misplaced then an application can be filed for grant of a duplicate copy of IEC number based on an affidavit cum indemnity bond on Rs. 150/- stamp paper duly notarized (to indemnify revenue which may be caused on account of issue of such duplicate) and a copy of FIR reporting loss.
Surrender of IEC No.
If an IEC holder does not wish to operate the allotted IEC number, he may surrender the same by informing the issuing authority.
Modification of IEC
(a) An application for modification shall be filed with the RA from where IEC was originally issued.
(b) ANF2A shall be used for modification of IEC details like name, address, constitution etc. Application for modification should be filed within 90 days of the modification, after which a penalty as per Para 9.1 of HBP v1 shall be charged as additional application fees.
Countries of Imports/Exports
Unless specifically provided, import/export will be valid from/to any country. These provisions shall however be subject to all conditionality or requirement of authorization as required under Schedule I and/or Schedule II of ITC(HS).
Suspension and Cancellation of IEC
The DGFT can suspend or cancel the IEC under following conditions:-
a)Any person has contravened any law relating to Central Excise or Customs or Foreign Exchange or committed any other economic offence as specified by the Central Govt., or
b)Any person has made an export or import prejudicial to trade relations of India with any foreign country or has brought disrepute to the credit or the goods of the country.
Where any IEC suspended or cancelled, that person shall not be entitled to import or export any goods except under a special license granted, in such manner and subject to such conditions as may be prescribed, by the Director General to that person.
Declaration
The declaration as to value and quantity of imported/exported goods and IEC number should be given on every bill of entry/shipping bill.
Categories Exempted from obtaining IEC
(i)Importers covered by clause 3(1) [except sub-clauses (e) and (l)] and exporters covered by clause 3(2) [except sub-clauses (i) and (k)] of Foreign Trade (Exemption from application of Rules in certain cases) Order, 1993.
(ii)Ministries / Departments of Central or State Government.
(iii)Persons importing or exporting goods for personal use not connected with trade or manufacture or agriculture.
(iv)Persons importing / exporting goods from / to Nepal, Myanmar through Indo-Myanmar border areas and China (through Gunji, Namgaya Shipkila and Nathula ports), provided CIF value of a single consignment does not exceed Indian Rs.25, 000. In case of Nathula port, the applicable value ceiling will be Rs. 100,000/-.
Further, exemption from obtaining IEC shall not be applicable for export of Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipments and Technologies (SCOMET) as listed in Appendix - 3, Schedule 2 of ITC (HS) except in case of exports by category (ii) above.
Some permanent IEC numbers mentioned in Para 2.8(b) of HBP vol.1, shall be used by non-commercial PSUs and categories of importers/exporters mentioned against them for import/export purposes.
