{
  "summary": "Headphones imported into the United States are usually classified under HS code 8518.30 when they are headphones or earphones, wired or wireless, with or without a microphone. It sits in heading 85.18, “Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures; headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers; audio- frequency electric amplifiers; electric sound amplifier sets”. The tariff of the United States has 2 national lines under this code. The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 8518.30 is free.",
  "updatedAt": "2026-10-11",
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Most likely code",
      "value": "8518.30",
      "source": null,
      "url": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/851830"
    },
    {
      "label": "Chapter",
      "value": "85: Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles",
      "source": null,
      "url": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/85"
    },
    {
      "label": "Candidate codes",
      "value": "1",
      "source": null
    },
    {
      "label": "HS edition",
      "value": "HS2022",
      "source": null
    },
    {
      "label": "National lines",
      "value": "2",
      "source": "https://hts.usitc.gov/reststop/exportList?from=0000000000&to=9999999999&format=CSV&styles=false"
    },
    {
      "label": "General duty (MFN)",
      "value": "free",
      "source": "https://hts.usitc.gov/reststop/exportList?from=0000000000&to=9999999999&format=CSV&styles=false"
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "What is the HS code for headphones?",
      "answer": "Headphones imported into the United States are usually classified under HS code 8518.30 when they are headphones or earphones, wired or wireless, with or without a microphone. It sits in heading 85.18, “Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures; headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers; audio- frequency electric amplifiers; electric sound amplifier sets”."
    },
    {
      "question": "What is the duty on headphones imported into the United States?",
      "answer": "The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 8518.30 is free. 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": [
        "Use 8518.30 when they are headphones or earphones, wired or wireless, with or without a microphone.",
        "Some similar goods are classified elsewhere: 8518.22 applies when it is a speaker with several loudspeakers in one enclosure rather than headphones."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "codes",
      "title": "Codes for headphones",
      "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 headphones."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "lines",
      "title": "National lines in the United States",
      "text": [
        "The tariff of the United States splits this code into 2 national lines, listed with their published text and general duty.",
        "The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 8518.30 is free. 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 headphones, or classified under the same headings."
      ]
    },
    {
      "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 United States 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 headphones 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 the United States (2026HTSRev21), live on border.bot since 9 October 2026.",
        "The duty rates are from the live rates release, live on border.bot since 9 October 2026.",
        "The conditions and questions on this page were written for headphones 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": {
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    "topic": {
      "slug": "headphones",
      "name": "Headphones",
      "singular": "pair of headphones",
      "plural": "headphones",
      "synonyms": [
        "earphones",
        "earbuds",
        "wireless earbuds",
        "headset",
        "bluetooth headphones",
        "in-ear headphones"
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      "category": {
        "id": "electronics",
        "name": "Electronics"
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    "edition": "HS2022",
    "country": {
      "code": "US",
      "name": "United States",
      "slug": "united-states"
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    "ratesLive": true,
    "codes": [
      {
        "code": "851830",
        "role": "likely",
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        "legalText": "Headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers",
        "levels": [
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        "heading": {
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          "description": "Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures; headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers; audio- frequency electric amplifiers; electric sound amplifier sets"
        },
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          "description": "Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles"
        }
      },
      {
        "code": "851822",
        "role": "elsewhere",
        "when": "it is a speaker with several loudspeakers in one enclosure rather than headphones",
        "legalText": "Loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures: Multiple loudspeakers, mounted in the same enclosure",
        "levels": [
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          "Multiple loudspeakers, mounted in the same enclosure"
        ],
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          "description": "Microphones and stands therefor; loudspeakers, whether or not mounted in their enclosures; headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers; audio- frequency electric amplifiers; electric sound amplifier sets"
        },
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          "code": "85",
          "description": "Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles"
        }
      }
    ],
    "questions": [],
    "lines": [
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        "code": "851830",
        "lines": [
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            "code": "8518301000",
            "description": "Line telephone handsets",
            "levels": [
              "Headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers",
              "Line telephone handsets"
            ],
            "general": {
              "code": "8518301000",
              "dutyText": "Free",
              "startDate": null,
              "endDate": null,
              "unit": null
            },
            "measures": []
          },
          {
            "code": "8518302000",
            "description": "Other",
            "levels": [
              "Headphones and earphones, whether or not combined with a microphone, and sets consisting of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers",
              "Other"
            ],
            "general": {
              "code": "8518302000",
              "dutyText": "Free",
              "startDate": null,
              "endDate": null,
              "unit": null
            },
            "measures": []
          }
        ]
      }
    ],
    "similar": [
      {
        "slug": "computer-keyboards",
        "name": "Computer keyboards",
        "category": {
          "id": "electronics",
          "name": "Electronics"
        },
        "codes": [
          "847160"
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      {
        "slug": "computer-mice",
        "name": "Computer mice",
        "category": {
          "id": "electronics",
          "name": "Electronics"
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        "codes": [
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      {
        "slug": "computer-monitors",
        "name": "Computer monitors",
        "category": {
          "id": "electronics",
          "name": "Electronics"
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        "codes": [
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      {
        "slug": "digital-cameras",
        "name": "Digital cameras",
        "category": {
          "id": "electronics",
          "name": "Electronics"
        },
        "codes": [
          "852589"
        ]
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      {
        "slug": "laptops",
        "name": "Laptops",
        "category": {
          "id": "electronics",
          "name": "Electronics"
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        "codes": [
          "847130"
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      {
        "slug": "memory-cards",
        "name": "Memory cards",
        "category": {
          "id": "electronics",
          "name": "Electronics"
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        "codes": [
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      {
        "slug": "phone-chargers",
        "name": "Phone chargers",
        "category": {
          "id": "electronics",
          "name": "Electronics"
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        "codes": [
          "850440"
        ]
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        "slug": "smartphones",
        "name": "Smartphones",
        "category": {
          "id": "electronics",
          "name": "Electronics"
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        "codes": [
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        "slug": "tablets",
        "name": "Tablet computers",
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          "id": "electronics",
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        "category": {
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        "slug": "usb-cables",
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        "category": {
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          "name": "Electronics"
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        "name": "USB flash drives",
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          "name": "Electronics"
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        "codes": [
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    "otherCountries": [],
    "provenance": [
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        "country": "GLOBAL",
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        "liveAt": "2026-10-09T21:15:50.043Z",
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    "dateModified": "2026-10-11T08:23:53.439Z",
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  "attribution": "border.bot tariff reference (border.bot), compiled from the official publishers named on each page.",
  "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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}