IEC (Import-Export Code) Certificate provides proof for IEC registration. This certificate has a 10 digit unique identification number. It is issued by the DGFT (Director General of Foreign Trade), MoC&I (Ministry of Commerce & Industries), GOI (Government of India). It is considered a mandatory prerequisite for every Commercial Exporter and Importer operating in India.

Further, an IEC code comes with lifetime validity. In other words, there will be no need for the registration holder to get it renewed after expiry.

This article will provide an insight into the concept of the IEC Certificate and the procedure to apply and then download it online.

Recent Updates on IEC Certificate

The Ministry of Commerce and Industry, along with DGFT decided to launch a digital platform for issuing the IEC  Certificate. This online platform is made in phases, and the first phase went live on 13.07.2020.

Moreover, this digital platform is made in conformity to the “Digital India Programmer” and aims to promote the Ease of Doing Business.

Further, the other remaining phases of this platform are as following:

  1. Advance Authorization;
  2. Export Obligation Discharge;
  3. EPCG (Export Promotion of Capital Goods)

Through this platform, the process of IEC Applications and Modification had been suspended with effect from 13.07.2020.

Advantages of IEC Registration

The benefits of  import-export code (IEC) Registration are as follows:

  1. Assists in the Expansion and Growth of Business – IEC supports you to grow your businesses and also helps you in taking your services or product to the global market.
  2. Provides Benefit offered by EPC, DGFT, and Customs – The company can take advantage of several benefits related to their exports or imports from the DGFT, customs, export promotion council, etc. on the basis of their IEC registration.
  3. No need for renewal – No renewal is required as IEC certificate is effective for the lifetime of a company. After a company is approved of getting IEC certificate, it can use it against all it’s exports and imports.
  4. No need to File Annual Returns – No filing of returns is required with IEC certificate. Once a company is allotted IEC certificate, there is no need for it to follow processes to sustain it’s validity.

Pre-Requisites For Applying For IEC

IEC can be applied on behalf of a firm which may be a sole Proprietorship, Partnership, LLP, HUF, Society. The firm should have a PAN, a bank account in the name of the firm, and also a valid address before they apply for an IEC. The address may be physically verified by the DGFT on the issuance of the IEC. Make sure that you keep your PAN, bank details, and firm details ready before you proceed to apply for IEC.

Requirements for IEC Certificate

The basic requirements for obtaining IEC Code in India are as follows:

  1. Current Bank Account
  2. Valid Email-ID and Mobile Number
  3. Valid PAN (Permanent Account Number)
  4. Scanned copies of all the documents needed

Documents Required for IEC Registration

The documents required for IEC certificate registration are listed below:

Documents required in case of Sole Proprietorship Firm

  1. Details of PAN Card. Self-attested PAN copies.
  2. (3*3) Digital Photograph of the Sole Proprietor
  3. In the case of a Self-owned business, a Sale Deed copy
  4. In the case of Rented Business, a Rent or Lease Deed copy
  5. A copy of Sole Proprietor’s Voter ID, Passport, Driving License, and UID
  6. Bank certificate in the prescribed format (Appendix 18A).
  7. Bank/receipt/ demand draft of Rs.500 in favor of zonal DGFT, in case of offline form submission. It is the application fee.
  8. Canceled cheque of the company account.
  9. Self-addressed envelope duly stamped. (Rs.15 local and Rs.20 for outstation) for offline submission.
  10. IEC application form, duly filled and signed by all applicants.

In the case of Public and Private limited companies:

  1. Extract of Board resolution favoring applicants.
  2. Form 32 (in case of change of directors) and Form 18 (in case of address change).
  3. Copy of Memorandum of Association.

Documents required in case of Partnership Firm:

  1. NOC (No Objection Certificate) from other partners to authorize one of them.
  2. Copy of the Aadhaar card of all partners.
  3. Copy of partnership deed.

Procedure For Applying For IEC Certificate

Both offline and online procedures are available for obtaining the IEC certificate. For the offline process, an application for ANF 2A along with attested documents are required to be submitted at the nearest DGFT offices. DGFT has regional offices around the country. ANF 2A forms are available at all DGFT regional offices or it can be downloaded from the DGFT website as well.

Procedure For Applying Offline

  1. Get the ANF 2A form and fill it carefully with all the required details.
  2. Once you are done filling the form submit the form along with the required documents, bank payment receipt/ demand draft of Rs.500 at DGFT zonal office or it can be sent post also. In the case of IEC modification, the application fee is Rs.200.
  3. You will be given a file number. Using this file number, you can keep checking the status of your application on the DGFT website.
  4. IEC certificates are generally delivered by post in one or two weeks.

Print IEC Online

People wish for growth in their business and better results, but it is not easy, there are several steps and procedure which must be followed while initiating a business in foreign countries.

The first and the most crucial step to run your business in another country is to get an IEC code from DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade). DGFT has given IEC (Import-Export code) to a number of import-export businesses throughout India due to which India is a 17th leading country for exports and 11th leading country for import purpose. Import Export Code (IEC) was a 10-digit numerical code that is issued by DGFT and having a separate database.

Since the implementation of GST, the PAN of an entity will become the Import Export Code (IEC) of the entity upon registration. The existing holders of IEC that are holding 10 digit IEC numbers have been migrated to PAN-based IEC. It is not an autonomous process, in case one wants to initiate import-export business then they should file an application on DGFT (Directorate General of Foreign Trade) and the PAN card number will be recorded as the entity’s IEC code. After completing the IEC registration process you have to download and print the details. This article will provide an understanding of the procedure to download and print the IEC certificate online.

Downloading and Printing IEC Certificate

  • Go and visit the Online IEC code registration website.
  • Enter your details like PAN card number; name as mentioned in the PAN card; date of incorporation (as given in the PAN); latest file number without slash; recent file date.
  • You will receive an OTP on your Email Id and Contact Number. Enter this OTP and clear the CAPTCHA. Next, click “Submit” after verification.
  • A new window will appear where you have to enter your PAN card number, as per the PAN card number your Email ID and your contact number will be auto-populated. (Registered Email IC and mobile number).
  • Enter the OTP received on the registered Email ID and contact number and press “submit”.
  • On the right-hand side an option of “Print” will appear, click on it and take a printout of your IEC certificate.

After downloading the certificate you will be able to easily avail of the benefits under IEC registration from the government bodies and run your business globally.

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