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Import export business in Howrah

Start an import export business in Howrah, West Bengal: IEC code from DGFT, AD code, RCMC, GST LUT, plus the Howrah Municipal Corporation trade licence and West Bengal.

Official sources checked: 2 Oct 2026

An import export business in Howrah needs two layers of registration. The first layer is national and the same in every city: an IEC from DGFT, an AD code on ICEGATE, an RCMC for your product and a GST LUT. The second layer is local: the trade licence from the Howrah Municipal Corporation and the registrations of West Bengal.

City body
Howrah Municipal Corporation
State
West Bengal
IEC fee (all cities)
₹500
DGFT, official

Local licences for a trading or export office in Howrah

Fees from our licence data for a small business. The first column is an office or agency, the second a retail or trading shop with stock.

LicenceIssued byOffice or agencyRetail or trading shop
Certificate of Enlistment (trade licence, HMC)Howrah Municipal CorporationVariesVaries
Shops and Establishments registrationLabour Commissionerate, West Bengal₹30₹30
Professional Tax (PTEC and PTRC)Directorate of Commercial Taxes, West Bengal₹2,500 a year (flat rate for this trade from 1 Oct 2026)From 1 Apr 2027, by yearly turnover: nil up to ₹10 lakh, ₹1,000 up to ₹20 lakh, ₹1,500 up to ₹40 lakh, ₹2,500 above. Until then the older schedule applies; check the portal

Fees and rules change and can differ between offices. Confirm the fee on the official portal before you pay. Open the trade licence page for Howrah for fees by business type.

What is different in Howrah

  • Issued under s.102 of the Howrah Municipal Corporation Act, 1980.
  • All shops and establishments.
  • West Bengal levies professional tax. Pay every year by 31 July. Enrol within 90 days of starting.
  • To file an LUT you must hold a GST registration. The turnover limit for registering as a supplier of goods in West Bengal is ₹40 lakh in our data, but exporters who want to ship without paying IGST register earlier so that they can file the LUT.

National steps, same in every city

  1. IEC code from DGFT. Fee ₹500.
  2. AD code on ICEGATE with your bank.
  3. RCMC from your product's council.
  4. GST LUT each financial year.
  5. Certificate of origin when the buyer needs one.

Go deeper

Start an export business Import goods into India Full licence list: import export business in Howrah Licence checklist for an import export business Retail shop licences in Howrah Office licences in Howrah Trade licence in Howrah Shops and Establishments in West Bengal Chapter-by-chapter guide Export to UAE Import from China

Common questions

Do I need a licence from the Howrah Municipal Corporation to run an import export business in Howrah?
Yes, a trade licence applies in most cases. For an office or agency the fee in our data is Varies.
Do I need an IEC if my office is in Howrah?
Yes. The IEC is issued by DGFT for all of India and costs ₹500. You apply online, so your city does not change the process.
Where is the DGFT office for West Bengal?
You apply online on the DGFT portal. DGFT's regional authority for your state handles matters that need an officer, such as cancellation of a numeric IEC.
Does West Bengal charge professional tax?
West Bengal levies professional tax. Pay every year by 31 July. Enrol within 90 days of starting.
Is Govt License a government website?
No. Govt License is an independent guide. We link to the official government portals where you apply and pay. Always confirm the fee on the portal before paying.

Official sources for this page

City fees come from the Govt License licence data for Howrah, checked 27 Sep 2026.