Section 7 of Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 / Foreign Trade Policy (FTP 2023) / Customs Act, 1962

Import Export Code (IEC) Registration & DGFT Advisory

10-digit Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) registration, DGFT portal onboarding, ICEGATE customs profile integration, and Authorised Dealer (AD) Code bank registration for international merchandise and service exporters.

CA Due Diligence

Official Portal Filing

State Stamp Advisory

Import Export Code (IEC) Registration & DGFT Advisory Statutory Advisory

Statutory Filing

MCA & Tax Practice

Relevant RegulatorDirectorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry & CBIC (ICEGATE)

dgft.gov.in

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STATUTORY OVERVIEW

DGFT Importer-Exporter Code (IEC), ICEGATE Customs Port Linking & Foreign Trade Compliance

In India, no commercial business or individual can legally import goods into Indian customs territory or export merchandise and qualifying commercial services across sovereign borders without obtaining a 10-digit Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) from the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) on dgft.gov.in. Governed by Section 7 of the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 and the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP 2023), the modern IEC is electronically integrated with the entity's Permanent Account Number (PAN). Furthermore, cross-border shipments require synchronized port registration on the Indian Customs Electronic Gateway (ICEGATE on icegate.gov.in), Authorised Dealer (AD) Code registration with your commercial bank, and GST Export LUT filings. Our foreign trade practice delivers rapid, end-to-end import-export operational enablement.

Statutory & Practice Summary • At-A-Glance

ICAI UDIN Authentication Mandate

Governing Framework

Section 7 of Foreign Trade (Development and Regulation) Act, 1992 / Foreign Trade Policy (FTP 2023) / Customs Act, 1962

Regulatory Authority

Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), Ministry of Commerce and Industry & CBIC (ICEGATE)

Professional Assurance

Chartered Accountants Attestation under ICAI Standards & Code of Ethics

DOCUMENTATION MATRIX

Mandatory Documents Checklist

Self-attested scanned copies required

1. Promoters / Partners / Directors KYC

✓Permanent Account Number (PAN) Card of the Business Entity / Proprietor
✓Certificate of Incorporation (COI), Partnership Deed, or Business Registration Proof
✓Proof of Business Premises Address (Electricity Bill, Sale Deed, or Rent Agreement with NOC)
✓Cancelled Bank Cheque or Bank Certificate with Printed Entity Name, Account Number & IFSC

2. Registered Office & Premises Proof

✓Class 3 Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or Aadhaar Linked with Mobile for E-Signing
✓List of Partners, Directors, or Proprietor with Residential Proof & Contact Details
✓Authorised Dealer (AD) Code Bank Authorization Letter in the Prescribed Customs Format
✓Active GSTIN Registration Certificate (Mandatory for All Commercial Traders)

PROCEDURAL ROADMAP

Step-by-Step Filing & Approval Process

Structured execution roadmap managed by our Chartered Accountants from pre-filing due diligence to certificate allotment.

01Standard

Profile Setup & Document Validation

Creating master profile on dgft.gov.in, verifying corporate PAN, GSTIN, and validating bank account details.

02Standard

Electronic IEC Application Submission

Drafting ANF-2A application on the DGFT portal, uploading bank proofs, paying statutory fee, and digital signing.

03Standard

e-IEC Generation & ICEGATE Port Linking

Downloading official e-IEC certificate from DGFT and registering on icegate.gov.in for customs single-window clearance.

04Standard

AD Code Registration & GST Export LUT

Registering the bank AD Code with customs authorities and filing GST Letter of Undertaking for zero-rated exports.

DGFT Online Portal Registration & PAN-Based Issuance

Practice Scope & Statutory Guidance

We manage the complete digital application process on the official DGFT portal (dgft.gov.in). We authenticate business identity via Digital Signature Certificate (DSC) or Aadhaar e-sign, configure business constitution details (Proprietorship, Partnership, LLP, or Private Limited), map primary bank accounts, and secure the e-IEC certificate within 24 to 48 hours.

ICEGATE Registration & Customs Port AD Code Mapping

Practice Scope & Statutory Guidance

Obtaining an IEC is only step one; customs clearance requires linking your IEC with specific seaport, airport, and Inland Container Depot (ICD) customs locations. We handle ICEGATE simplified portal registration, register your 14-digit Bank Authorised Dealer (AD) Code, and set up the electronic duty drawback / export incentive ledger with Indian Customs.

Export Incentives, EPCG Scheme & GST LUT Enablement

Practice Scope & Statutory Guidance

To maximize export profitability, we assist exporters in filing the annual Letter of Undertaking (LUT) under Section 16 of the IGST Act, 2017 on gst.gov.in, enabling zero-rated exports without payment of IGST. Furthermore, we advise on Export Promotion Capital Goods (EPCG) duty-free machinery imports, Advance Authorisation schemes, and RoDTEP export benefits.

STATUTORY MATRIX

Statutory Provisions & Regulatory Comparative Matrix

Comparative analysis of governing sections under the new framework alongside legacy statutory references.

Statutory Milestone	Statutory Authority / Portal	Legal Requirement & Purpose	Validity & Renewal Mandate
Importer-Exporter Code (IEC)	DGFT / https://www.dgft.gov.in/	Section 7 of FTDR Act; mandatory 10-digit code for cross-border trade	Lifetime validity; mandatory annual update (April–June)
Customs ICEGATE Port Registration	Indian Customs / https://www.icegate.gov.in/	Electronic clearance of Bills of Entry (Import) & Shipping Bills (Export)	Permanent per port of export/import
Bank AD Code Registration	Customs House Agents (CHA) / ICEGATE	14-digit bank branch code required for processing export duty drawbacks	Valid until bank account changes
GST Export Letter of Undertaking (LUT)	GST Network / https://www.gst.gov.in/	Section 16 of IGST Act; permits zero-rated exports without paying upfront IGST	Valid for exactly one financial year
FEMA Export Realization (EDPMS)	Reserve Bank of India / https://www.rbi.org.in/	Mandatory repatriation of export proceeds within 9 months under FEMA 1999	Continuous per shipping bill reconciliation

ONGOING GOVERNANCE

Mandatory Post-Registration Compliances

Failing to complete statutory post-incorporation actions carries steep daily penalties. Our CA firm manages continuous compliance:

CompliancePeriodic

Mandatory Annual IEC Revalidation

Annual electronic confirmation of IEC details on dgft.gov.in between April and June to prevent automated deactivation.

CompliancePeriodic

Annual GST Export LUT Renewal

Submitting the online Form GST RFD-11 Letter of Undertaking on gst.gov.in prior to the start of each new financial year.

CompliancePeriodic

Export Realization Monitoring (EDPMS / IDPMS)

Tracking foreign exchange inward remittances via RBI EDPMS to ensure realization within 9 months as required by FEMA.

CompliancePeriodic

RoDTEP & Duty Drawback Claims

Monitoring shipping bills on ICEGATE to ensure automatic credit of export duty remissions directly to your bank account.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Statutory FAQs & Practical Guidance

Frequently asked questions and procedural guidance regarding Import Export Code (IEC) Registration & DGFT Advisory.

What is an Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) and who needs it?

The Importer-Exporter Code (IEC) is a 10-digit identification number issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT, https://www.dgft.gov.in/), Ministry of Commerce and Industry. It is legally mandatory for any commercial enterprise, partnership, or individual importer or exporter in India to clear goods through Indian Customs, receive foreign inward payments, or dispatch shipments overseas.

What is the annual IEC renewal / update requirement under FTP 2023?

Under Para 2.05 of the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP 2023), every IEC holder is statutorily mandated to electronically update their IEC details on the DGFT portal between April and June every year, even if there are no changes in corporate information. An IEC that is not updated during this window is automatically deactivated by the DGFT system, halting all customs export/import operations until regularized.

What is an AD Code and why is it needed after getting an IEC?

An Authorised Dealer (AD) Code is a 14-digit numerical code issued by a commercial bank where the exporter holds a current account. To clear export shipments and receive duty drawback or RoDTEP incentives directly into their bank account, the exporter must register this AD Code with Indian Customs at each specific port of export via the ICEGATE portal (https://www.icegate.gov.in/).

Can services (software, consulting) be exported without an IEC?

While an IEC is not mandatory for service exporters where benefits under the Foreign Trade Policy are not claimed, obtaining an IEC is highly recommended for all IT/ITES, SaaS, and management consulting firms exporting cross-border services, as it facilitates GST export refunds, bank foreign remittance processing, and compliance under Section 16 of the IGST Act, 2017.

STATUTORY ADVISORY DESK • PRACTICE INQUIRIES

Statutory Inquiries & Practice Advisory

Information on Import Export Code (IEC) Registration & DGFT Advisory is provided for general reference. Office addresses and contact details are listed on the Contact page.

Contact Practice Office +91 99140-14949