An Import Export Code is a ten-character code issued by the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT). Anyone importing or exporting goods, and most service exporters claiming benefits, need one. It is based on the PAN of the business.
The application is made online on the DGFT portal with PAN, address and bank details, and the IEC is generally issued quickly. The IEC must be updated on the DGFT portal every year between April and June, even if nothing has changed, or it is deactivated.
Key points
- One IEC per PAN
- Needed for customs clearance and bank remittances for trade
- Annual update between April and June
- Exempt for certain personal and government imports
- Link the IEC with ICEGATE for customs filings
General information only, not professional advice. Section references are to the Income-tax Act, 1961; corresponding provisions of the Income-tax Act, 2025 apply from 1 April 2026. Thresholds and dates may change by notification.
CA Rahul Rajendra MohiteACA, M.Com · ICAI Membership No. 622387 · Founder, Rahul R. Mohite & Co., PuneFirm profile and key facts