It has been brought to the notice of this office that Income Tax Department is not able to issue PAN to the Importers/Exporters due to problems in the server of their main Computer.

Since incorporating of PAN is a prerequisite for issuance of Importer Exporter Code Numbers (IECs), this office is not able to process the application filed by the importers and exporters in the absence of the PAN. This has led to demurrage charges in respect of the consignments imported by them, loss of export orders due to holding of their export consignments, etc.

The matter has been examined in consultation with DGFT and it has been decided that till such time the problem in issuance of PAN numbers persists, this office will issue IECs to the applicants with dummy PAN incorporated into it. As soon as PAN is made available to the Importer/Exporter by the Income Tax Authorities, he will submit IEC to this office for incorporating it in IEC database. In all cases where IECs are being issued without PAN, the concerned Commissioner of Customs will be requested to allow manual clearance against the IEC issued. After incorporation of the exact PAN on receipt from the IEC holders, this office will transmit the IEC data to DGFT/Customs for generation of BIN number (BIN).

While applying for IEC to this office, the members of Trade should enclose documentary evidence of having applied for PAN to the concerned Income Tax authorities.
 

(S. S. SANDHU)
Zonal Jt. Director General of Foreign Trade.

(Please refer Trade Notice No. 11/2003, Dt. 26/02/2004 - Issuing IECs with dummy PAN)