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What Is an HS Code?
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Every other number in your import calculation depends on this one.
| Digits | What they mean |
|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Chapter, the broad category |
| 3 to 4 | Heading, the product group |
| 5 to 6 | Subheading, internationally standard |
| 7 and beyond | Country-specific detail |
How is an HS code structured?
Read it left to right, from general to specific. The first two digits give the chapter, a broad family of goods. The next two narrow it to a heading, and the next two to a subheading. Those six digits are internationally harmonized, so a product classified 8481.80 in one country is 8481.80 in another.
Beyond six digits, countries diverge. The United States uses a ten-digit code in its tariff schedule, the HTSUS, where the extra digits determine the exact US duty rate and statistical reporting. Other countries use eight, ten or more. So when a Japanese supplier gives you their code, the first six digits should carry over but the rest will not.
How do I find the right code for my product?
Work from what the product actually is, not what it is used for or what you call it commercially.
Start by identifying the material and function, because classification usually turns on those. Then find the chapter that covers it and work down through the headings, reading the notes: the section and chapter notes are binding rules, not commentary, and they frequently exclude things you would expect to be included. Where two headings could apply, the General Rules of Interpretation decide which wins.
Then check your answer. Look at how customs has classified similar goods in published rulings, and if the value or volume is meaningful, have a licensed customs broker confirm it. For anything genuinely ambiguous, the United States and most major markets offer a binding ruling process, where customs tells you in advance how a product will be classified and you can rely on that answer.
What happens if I get it wrong?
Two ways to lose. Classify into a code with too low a duty and you have underpaid, which can mean back duty, interest and penalties when it is found, and customs can look back years. Classify into one with too high a duty and you have quietly overpaid, which you may never recover.
There is a third cost people forget: the wrong code can put your goods under a measure that was never meant to apply to them, or fail to flag a permit you actually needed, which means a held shipment.
Because the importer of record is responsible for the declaration, "my supplier gave me the code" is not a defence. Use the supplier's code as a starting point and verify it against your own country's schedule.
Does the supplier's code apply to my import?
Only partly, and this trips up a lot of first-time importers. Your Japanese supplier classifies for Japanese export purposes under Japan's schedule. The first six digits should match, since that part is harmonized, but the country-specific digits will not, and occasionally even the six-digit view differs if the two customs authorities read the product differently.
Treat the supplier's code as useful evidence about what the product is, then classify it yourself for your own market, ideally with a broker. Our guide on import duty from Japan to the USA shows how the code feeds into the duty calculation.
Frequently asked questions
What does HS code stand for?
Harmonized System, formally the Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, maintained by the World Customs Organization and used by the large majority of trading countries as the common basis for classifying goods.
Are HS codes the same in every country?
The first six digits are internationally standard. Beyond that, countries add their own digits, so the US ten-digit HTSUS code and a Japanese code will share the first six but differ after that.
Where do I look up my HS code?
In the official tariff schedule of the importing country. For US imports that is the HTSUS published by the US International Trade Commission. Published customs rulings on similar products are a good sanity check, and a licensed broker is the practical answer for anything of value.
Can I just use the code my supplier gives me?
Use it as a starting point, not as your answer. The supplier classifies for their export market, and the importer of record, normally you, is legally responsible for the declaration in your market.
What is a binding ruling?
A formal determination from customs, requested in advance, that tells you how a specific product will be classified. It is worth doing when classification is genuinely ambiguous and the duty difference or volume is significant.
Related terms
See the full trade terms glossary, or read about the certificate of origin, which works alongside your HS code to determine the duty you actually pay.
This guide is general information for overseas buyers, not customs or legal advice. Classification is product-specific; confirm with a licensed customs broker or your customs authority.
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