❖ IEC Export Code
Definition: A 10 digit code, which is issued to the companies by the Director General of Foreign Trade, Government of India, Ministry of Commerce. It is mandatory for any entity or person to carry with the export and import business.
Full Form: – It stands for "Importer Exporter Code".
IEC Code Number Notification: – The Importer Exporter Code Number is issued by the policy circular no.15 which in turn is issued by the DGFT.
Eligibility: – The entire list of eligibility criteria, conditions and legal provisions to avail the IEC code is found in Foreign Trade (Regulation) Rules, Notification No. GSR 791 (E), dated 30-12-1993 issued by the Ministry of Commerce in 1993.
How to Apply: The grant of the IEC number has to be sought by an application by the applicant's head/registered office. The application should be addressed to the DGFT, Regd. /Head office if the concerned entity wanting the code is a person and to the registered office if the concerned entity is a company. The "Await Niryaat" form has to be accompanied by prescribed documents. For BTP,STPI and EHTP units, IEC is issued by the DGFT regional offices with judiciary powers in the district of the location of the STPI unit. One IEC can be availed against a single PAN number. If a proprietor has more than one IEC allotted to him, he should submit it to the regional office where it will be cancelled.
Online Application: The application form called the "ANF2A" is available in PDF and Word format. The submission of the Appendix-18B is mandatory with the online application form. The applicant should keep it in mind that the applicant's banker has signed it in his letter head. Additionally, two passport size photographs are attached to the application. Appendix-18D is the sure shot way to look for the regional authorities of DGFT and the corresponding RBI office.
Validity of the code: Appendix 18B declares the validity of the IEC number allocated to an applicant.
1. Duplicate Copy: In case of misplacement, request for the duplicate copy of the IEC number has to be made to the issuing authority accompanied with an affidavit.
2. Surrender: In case of non-operation, the owner can surrender his IEC number to the issuing authority which will be immediately cancelled by it. At the same time, the issuing authority will transmit it electronically to DGFT so that it can be further transmitted to customs and regional authorities.