{
  "summary": "USB flash drives imported into the United States are usually classified under HS code 8523.51 when it is a solid-state non-volatile storage device. It sits in heading 85.23, “Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, 'smart cards' and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, but excluding products of Chapter 37”. The tariff of the United States has 1 national line under this code. The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 8523.51 is free.",
  "updatedAt": "2026-10-11",
  "facts": [
    {
      "label": "Most likely code",
      "value": "8523.51",
      "source": null,
      "url": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/852351"
    },
    {
      "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": "1",
      "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 USB flash drives?",
      "answer": "USB flash drives imported into the United States are usually classified under HS code 8523.51 when it is a solid-state non-volatile storage device. It sits in heading 85.23, “Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, 'smart cards' and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, but excluding products of Chapter 37”."
    },
    {
      "question": "What is the duty on USB flash drives imported into the United States?",
      "answer": "The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 8523.51 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 8523.51 when it is a solid-state non-volatile storage device.",
        "Some similar goods are classified elsewhere: 8471.70 applies when it is a storage unit of a computer, such as an internal solid-state or hard disk drive."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "codes",
      "title": "Codes for USB flash drives",
      "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 USB flash drives."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "lines",
      "title": "National lines in the United States",
      "text": [
        "The tariff of the United States splits this code into 1 national line, listed with their published text and general duty.",
        "The general (MFN) duty in the United States on the national lines under 8523.51 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 USB flash drives, 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 USB flash drives 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 USB flash drives by border.bot and checked against those legal texts; the page changes when a new release goes live or the topic is reviewed again."
      ]
    }
  ],
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        "levels": [
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          "description": "Automatic data processing machines and units thereof; magnetic or optical readers, machines for transcribing data onto data media in coded form and machines for processing such data, not elsewhere specified or included"
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