What is an HTS code?
An HTS code is the 10-digit number the United States uses to classify an imported product in its Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTSUS). The first 6 digits are the international HS code, the first 8 set the duty rate, and the last 2 are statistical suffixes. Every US import entry declares one for each product.
Updated
Search the live US tariff by product name or code. Choose “Every country” for the 6-digit HS code instead.
How the 10 digits work
Take 6109.10.00.12, men’s cotton T-shirts. 61 is the chapter (knitted apparel), 6109 the heading (T-shirts and vests), 6109.10 the HS subheading (of cotton). Those six digits are the same in every country that uses the Harmonized System.
The United States adds 2 digits to make an 8-digit rate line (6109.10.00), which carries the general duty rate and any special rates for trade agreements. The last 2 digits (12) are a statistical suffix: they split the line for trade statistics and don’t change the rate.
Who publishes it, and how often it changes
The US International Trade Commission publishes the HTSUS, and US Customs and Border Protection applies it at the border. It is revised several times a year, so a code can be split, merged or moved: check the code against the current edition before you file.
Chapter 99 of the HTSUS holds the additional duties, such as the Section 232 and Section 301 tariffs. They have their own 8-digit headings (9903.88.03, for example), declared next to the product’s own code when they apply.
How to find the HTS code for a product
Start from what the product is and what it is made of, find its 6-digit HS subheading, then pick the US line under it that matches. The General Rules of Interpretation decide between headings when more than one could fit. For a code customs must accept, ask CBP for a binding ruling.
Frequently asked questions
Is an HTS code the same as an HS code?
No. The HS code is the 6-digit international code. The HTS code is the US 10-digit code built on it: the first 6 digits are the HS code and the United States adds 4.
Where do I put the HTS code on a shipment?
On the commercial invoice and the customs entry. For parcels, carriers ask for it in the shipping label or electronic customs data, one code per product line.
What happens if the HTS code is wrong?
The wrong duty can be charged, the shipment can be held, and CBP can assess the difference with penalties later. Classifying from the product’s material and use, not its marketing name, avoids most errors.