All you need to know about Surrender of IEC License



Many times it happens when one starts a business, fulfills all the necessary compliances, takes all the necessary registration required to start a business. But during the course of business, it happens that one needs to close a business or wind up the company or one is forced to close a particular division of the business due to various factors. Amongst the various registration that one requires to take while starting a business, IEC Registration is one of them if one intends to import or export goods or services. If one does not further intend to use the IEC License then the same can be surrendered with the issuing authority. In this article, we will discuss all about IEC surrender.

What is an IEC License?

  • Import Export Code (in short IEC Code) is a ten-digit number granted by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade under Ministry of Commerce and Industry, to any bonafide person/ company for carrying out import/export.
  • Importers are not allowed to proceed without this code and exporters can't take benefit of exports from DGFT, Customs, Export Promotion Council, if they don't have this code.
All you need to know about Surrender of IEC License

What is an IEC Surrender?

  • When the IEC holder voluntarily revokes his rights to use the IEC for whatsoever reason, it is said to be the IEC Surrender.
  • If the IEC License is no longer in use or the IEC holder does not intend to use the IEC license, it is advisable to surrender the same rather than renewing the same every year.

Why does one require to surrender IEC License?

  • When one closes down his / her Business.
  • When the IEC holder winds up his / her Company.
  • When the IEC Holder sells his / her business of Import and Export Code.
  • When one closes the division of the Import export in the business.
  • However, As The IEC is a ten-digit code granted on the individual PAN or company PAN, One should not surrender an existing IEC number that is not linked with the PAN and apply a new one.
  • As the Importer / Exporter shall not be able to apply again for IEC with the same PAN even if he gets numeric IEC surrendered/canceled.
 

How to surrender IEC License online?

When an IEC Holder wishes to surrender his IEC License online, he can do so by filing an online request of IEC Surrender on the DGFT website. Submit the documents and the application for the IEC Registration. Once the application is submitted, your IEC License shall be considered to be surrendered and the same will be revoked for all the future transactions.

Documents and Details required for IEC Surrender

  • Registered Email Address and Password
  • Firm Name
  • Location and Address of the Business
  • PAN Card of the IEC Holder
  • IEC License Number
  • The enclosure of original IEC certificate
  • Covering letter addressed to the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade
 

Important Note

Once the IEC is surrendered, the issuing authority will inform all the concerned departments such as the RBI/Customs/Licensing authorities that the said IEC number has become inoperative.




About the Author

Director - Operations

She is a young woman entrepreneur and currently the Operations Director at ebizfiling India Private Limited. In her entire career so far, she has led a team of 50+ professionals like CA, CS, MBAs, and retired bankers. Apart from her individual experience on almost every facet of Indian Statutory Compliance, she has bee ... Read more


Comments


Related Articles


Loading


Popular Articles





CCI Pro

CCI Articles

submit article


Company
04 June 2026
Semi Qualified CA

Goyal Puneet & Associates

New Delhi

CA Final

View Details
Company
09 June 2026
Accounts Associate

S Madan and CO

New Delhi

Graduate (Any)

View Details
Company
25 June 2026
AUDIT MANAGER

JDAS & ASSOCIATES

New Delhi

CA

View Details
Company
25 June 2026
Accounts & Taxation Executive

Dindukurthy & Associates

Hyderabad

MBA

View Details
Company
12 June 2026
Accounts & Taxation Executive

Winshine Financial Services

Mumbai

CA Inter

View Details
Company
24 June 2026
Chartered Accountant

CA Darshita Shah & Co

Nadiad

CA

View Details
Company
Featured 28 May 2026
SEMI QUALIFIED/ CA DROPOUTS/ ARTICLES

T R SOOD & CO

New Delhi

CA Inter

View Details
Company
19 June 2026
Accounts Executive

Getfive Advisors Pvt. Ltd.

Ahmedabad

CA Inter

View Details