Editorial · August 4, 2018
HTS Code Lookup: How to Classify Goods for Import
HTS code lookup is the first step for any business that brings goods into the United States. The code is a number that tells Customs what your product is and what duty rate applies. Find the right one before the shipment sails, and you avoid most of the delays that catch new importers.
This guide shows where to look, what to ask, and how to get a written answer you can rely on.
What an HTS code is
The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States, or HTS, is the official list of goods and their tariff numbers. It is published by the U.S. International Trade Commission. You will also see it written as HTSUS.
Every product that crosses the border falls under one entry in the schedule. That entry holds the tariff number and the general rate of duty. The schedule also holds the classification guidelines that explain how to place a product in the right spot.
Customs and Border Protection, known as CBP, uses these numbers to decide the duty you owe. CBP also reads the number to see whether other agencies need to look at your goods.
How to do an HTS code lookup
Start with the USITC. It posts the schedule online, with a search box and a chapter-by-chapter view. It also keeps an archive of earlier editions, which helps when you need to check an older shipment.
Begin with a plain word for your product, such as a type of chair or a kind of cloth. Then read the headings the search brings up. Do not stop at the first match. Read the text around it, because the chapter notes often rule things in or out.
Write down the full description of the product before you search. Note what it is made of and what it is used for. Those two facts decide where many goods land in the schedule.
Check your pick against a second source. The CBP rulings database, covered below, lets you see how Customs treated goods like yours.
Facts Customs will ask you for
CBP tells new importers to be ready to describe their goods exactly. It lists four things to have on hand when you call a port of entry. They are the country of origin and the maker, what the product is made of, how it will be used, and the price and payment terms.
Gather these before you search. They shape the answer. Two products that look alike can have different numbers if one is knitted and one is woven, or if one is for a child and one is not.
CBP also says an import specialist at the port can offer classification advice and answer questions about duty rates. Calling early costs you a phone call. A wrong guess can cost you a held shipment.
Get it in writing with a binding ruling
If the number matters to your business, ask CBP for a written ruling. CBP issues binding advance rulings that say how it will treat a planned import. A ruling letter can cover the tariff classification of the goods or their value.
CBP says importers can request a written ruling on the proper HTSUS classification and the rate of duty. The request follows the rules in Part 177 of the Customs Regulations. Because a ruling is advance guidance, you get your answer before you buy and ship.
You can also read rulings that others have already received. The Customs Rulings Online Search System, called CROSS, holds published rulings. You can search it by keyword. CBP notes that it may already have ruled on goods like yours.
Learn from CBP guides for your product type
CBP also publishes Informed Compliance Publications. They are part of a series titled What Every Member of the Trade Community Should Know About. Each one explains one kind of product.
The list is long. It includes guides on the classification of apparel terms, hats, children's apparel, tires, flat panel displays, and cooking ranges. If your goods fit one of those groups, read that guide before you finish your lookup.
CBP's rulings page lists recent classification questions too. In the summer of 2018 it showed items on tires, iPad smart covers, and leather boots with rubber soles. These show how detailed the sorting can be.
Why a wrong code costs you
The tariff number sets the duty rate, so a wrong number can mean you pay too much or too little. Either mistake is a problem. Customs may question an entry, hold the goods, or ask for more papers. Each step adds days and fees for storage.
CBP says it does not require an importer to hold a license or permit. Other agencies may require one, depending on what you bring in. Your tariff number is often the clue that points to those rules.
A good habit is simple. Search the schedule, check CROSS, write down your reasons, and ask CBP when you are unsure. Keep your notes with each shipment file.