All you need to know about Surrender of IEC License



Quick Summary
If you've decided to close your business, wind up your company, or no longer need your Import Export Code (IEC) for international trade, you can surrender it. Surrendering your IEC license means voluntarily revoking your right to use it. This process is advisable rather than letting it lapse or renewing it unnecessarily.

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.
Surrender Your IEC License: A Complete Guide

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.

FAQ :

An IEC License, or Import Export Code, is a ten-digit number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) that is essential for anyone involved in importing or exporting goods or services.

Surrendering an IEC License means voluntarily giving up your right to use the Import Export Code, typically because you no longer intend to import or export.

You might need to surrender your IEC License if you are closing your business, winding up your company, selling your import/export business, or discontinuing that specific division of your business.

No, you should not surrender an existing IEC linked to your PAN and then apply for a new one. If an IEC is surrendered or cancelled, you won't be able to apply for a new IEC with the same PAN.

You can surrender your IEC License online by filing a request on the DGFT website, submitting the required documents and application for IEC registration.

You will need your registered email address and password, firm name, business address, PAN card, IEC license number, a copy of the original IEC certificate, and a covering letter addressed to the Additional Director General of Foreign Trade.




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

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