{
  "summary": "Books imported into the European Union are usually classified under HS code 4901.99 when it is a printed book or similar printed matter that is not a dictionary, an encyclopaedia or a single sheet. It sits in heading 49.01, “Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets”. Books can also fall under 4901.91 or 4901.10, depending on the type of book. The tariff of the European Union has 3 national lines under these codes. The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 4901.99 is 0%.",
  "updatedAt": "2026-10-11",
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Most likely code",
      "value": "4901.99",
      "source": null,
      "url": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/490199"
    },
    {
      "label": "Chapter",
      "value": "49: Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans",
      "source": null,
      "url": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/49"
    },
    {
      "label": "Candidate codes",
      "value": "3",
      "source": null
    },
    {
      "label": "HS edition",
      "value": "HS2022",
      "source": null
    },
    {
      "label": "National lines",
      "value": "3",
      "source": "https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/9e277705-ac42-441d-8580-90cd730d9bc6/Geographical%20areas%20composition.xlsx"
    },
    {
      "label": "General duty (MFN)",
      "value": "0%",
      "source": "https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/9e277705-ac42-441d-8580-90cd730d9bc6/Geographical%20areas%20composition.xlsx"
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "What is the HS code for books?",
      "answer": "Books imported into the European Union are usually classified under HS code 4901.99 when it is a printed book or similar printed matter that is not a dictionary, an encyclopaedia or a single sheet. It sits in heading 49.01, “Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets”."
    },
    {
      "question": "Does the type of book change the HS code for books?",
      "answer": "Yes. Use 4901.99 when it is a printed book or similar printed matter that is not a dictionary, an encyclopaedia or a single sheet. Use 4901.91 when it is a dictionary or an encyclopaedia, or a serial instalment of one. Use 4903.00 when it is a children’s picture, drawing or colouring book."
    },
    {
      "question": "What is the duty on books imported into the European Union?",
      "answer": "The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 4901.99 is 0%. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment."
    }
  ],
  "sections": [
    {
      "id": "choose",
      "title": "How to choose the right code",
      "text": [
        "Is it an ordinary printed book, a dictionary or encyclopaedia, or a children’s picture or colouring book? Use 4901.99 when it is a printed book or similar printed matter that is not a dictionary, an encyclopaedia or a single sheet. Use 4901.91 when it is a dictionary or an encyclopaedia, or a serial instalment of one. Use 4903.00 when it is a children’s picture, drawing or colouring book.",
        "Some similar goods are classified elsewhere: 4903.00 applies when it is a children’s picture, drawing or colouring book."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "codes",
      "title": "Codes for books",
      "text": [
        "Each code is listed with its legal text from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, quoted as published, and the condition under which it applies to books."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "lines",
      "title": "National lines in the European Union",
      "text": [
        "The tariff of the European Union splits these codes into 3 national lines, listed with their published text and general duty.",
        "The general (MFN) duty in the European Union on the national lines under 4901.99 is 0%. Import VAT or sales tax is charged on top, and de minimis rules can change what is due; the landed cost calculator works it out for a shipment."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "similar",
      "title": "Similar products",
      "text": [
        "Products in the same category as books, or classified under the same headings."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "countries",
      "title": "Other countries",
      "text": [
        "National tariff lines for books are live for the United States. Each page lists the lines under the codes above, with their duty rates where they are live."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "check",
      "title": "Check your exact product",
      "text": [
        "Describe your product, or paste its page, and the classifier suggests the code in the tariff of the European Union with its reasons."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "note",
      "title": "Classification depends on the exact product",
      "text": [
        "The right code depends on what the product is made of, how it is made and what it is for, so two products sold as books can fall under different codes.",
        "Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "sources",
      "title": "Sources and updates",
      "text": [
        "The legal texts are from the HS2022 Harmonized System release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.",
        "The national lines are from the tariff release of EU (areas=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/9e277705-ac42-441d-8580-90cd730d9bc6/Geographical%20areas%20composition.xlsx#?; duties=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/bfb94607-8b4c-40c3-ad33-1efef11bb80a/Duties%20Import%2001-99.xlsx#?; exclusions=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/4b3c682c-947c-4f34-932d-0b8d192537bd/Measure%20exclusions.xlsx#?; nomenclature=https://circabc.europa.eu/sd/a/13694f84-6980-4966-8c91-22459447b52b/Nomenclature%20EN.xlsx#?), live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.",
        "The duty rates are from the live rates release, live on border.bot since 11 October 2026.",
        "The conditions and questions on this page were written for books by border.bot and checked against those legal texts; the page changes when a new release goes live or the topic is reviewed again."
      ]
    }
  ],
  "data": {
    "type": "country-product-topic",
    "topic": {
      "slug": "books",
      "name": "Books",
      "singular": "book",
      "plural": "books",
      "synonyms": [
        "paperback",
        "hardcover",
        "hardback",
        "novel",
        "printed book",
        "textbook"
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      "category": {
        "id": "books-media",
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    "edition": "HS2022",
    "country": {
      "code": "EU",
      "name": "European Union",
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    "ratesLive": true,
    "codes": [
      {
        "code": "490199",
        "role": "likely",
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        },
        "chapter": {
          "code": "49",
          "description": "Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans"
        }
      },
      {
        "code": "490191",
        "role": "possible",
        "when": "it is a dictionary or an encyclopaedia, or a serial instalment of one",
        "legalText": "Other: Dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial instalments thereof",
        "levels": [
          "Other",
          "Dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial instalments thereof"
        ],
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        }
      },
      {
        "code": "490110",
        "role": "possible",
        "when": "it is printed in single sheets, folded or not",
        "legalText": "In single sheets, whether or not folded",
        "levels": [
          "In single sheets, whether or not folded"
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        },
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          "code": "49",
          "description": "Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans"
        }
      },
      {
        "code": "490300",
        "role": "elsewhere",
        "when": "it is a children’s picture, drawing or colouring book",
        "legalText": "Children's picture, drawing or colouring books",
        "levels": [
          "Children's picture, drawing or colouring books"
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        "heading": {
          "code": "4903",
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        }
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    "questions": [
      {
        "about": "type of book",
        "codes": [
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          "490191",
          "490300"
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        "question": "Is it an ordinary printed book, a dictionary or encyclopaedia, or a children’s picture or colouring book?"
      }
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    "lines": [
      {
        "code": "490199",
        "lines": [
          {
            "code": "4901990000",
            "description": "Other",
            "levels": [
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            "general": {
              "code": "4900000000",
              "dutyText": "0.000 %",
              "startDate": "2005-01-01",
              "endDate": null,
              "unit": null
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            "measures": []
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      {
        "code": "490191",
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          {
            "code": "4901910000",
            "description": "Dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial instalments thereof",
            "levels": [
              "Other",
              "Dictionaries and encyclopaedias, and serial instalments thereof"
            ],
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              "code": "4900000000",
              "dutyText": "0.000 %",
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        "lines": [
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            "code": "4901100000",
            "description": "In single sheets, whether or not folded",
            "levels": [
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            ],
            "general": {
              "code": "4900000000",
              "dutyText": "0.000 %",
              "startDate": "2005-01-01",
              "endDate": null,
              "unit": null
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            "measures": []
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    "similar": [
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        "slug": "childrens-picture-books",
        "name": "Children’s picture books",
        "category": {
          "id": "books-media",
          "name": "Books and media"
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        "slug": "posters",
        "name": "Posters",
        "category": {
          "id": "books-media",
          "name": "Books and media"
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        "codes": [
          "491191"
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      {
        "slug": "vinyl-records",
        "name": "Vinyl records",
        "category": {
          "id": "books-media",
          "name": "Books and media"
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        "codes": [
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        "code": "US",
        "name": "United States",
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        "ratesLive": true
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  "terms": "https://border.bot/legal/terms",
  "notice": "Guidance from published tariff data, not a binding ruling. For a decision customs must follow, apply to the destination’s customs authority for a binding tariff ruling.",
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