ImportChecker

Import planning guide

How to find an HS or tariff code

The product code is the most important rate input. A plausible description is not enough if two headings split by material, function or how the product is presented.

Official source links checked 5 August 2026.

Short answer

Start with the six-digit international HS code, then use the importing country’s tariff to reach its longer national code. Confirm the legal notes, product composition and intended use before accepting the match.

What the digits mean

The Harmonized System is maintained by the World Customs Organization. More than 200 countries and economies use it as the basis of their tariffs. The first six digits are internationally structured, but countries add more digits for their own duty and statistical subdivisions.

This is why a six-digit search can support an early estimate but may not settle the final rate. The UK, European Union, United States, Canada and Australia each publish country-specific subdivisions and measures.

Describe the product before searching

Write down what the item is, what it is made from, what it does and who normally uses it. Include the form in which it crosses the border. A complete machine, an unfinished part and a retail set can classify differently even when the seller uses the same product name.

  • Material or composition, including percentages where they matter.
  • Primary function and any secondary function.
  • Whether it is a complete item, component, accessory, mixture or set.
  • Power, capacity, dimensions, gender, age group or manufacturing method when relevant.
  • Technical sheets, photographs and invoices that support the description.

Work from headings to the national line

Search likely wording in the destination tariff, then read the section notes, chapter notes and exclusions. Compare nearby headings instead of stopping at the first text match. Once the six-digit subheading is credible, continue to the national tariff line and inspect its conditions and linked measures.

Do not copy a supplier’s code without checking it. The supplier may use the export-country code, an older tariff edition or a generic marketplace code. The importing authority decides the classification used on entry.

When to seek a binding decision

A binding or advance ruling is worth considering when classification changes the commercial decision, the product is unusual, or the rate difference is material. Ruling procedures vary by customs authority and usually require a full technical description. A broker can help prepare the submission, but the authority issues the decision.

Official sources

Next step

Use the import duty calculator for an early estimate, then open the destination’s authority in the source register. Read the estimator limitations before making a buying decision.