{
  "summary": "Books 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.",
  "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
    }
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "question": "What is the HS code for books?",
      "answer": "Books 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."
    }
  ],
  "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": "similar",
      "title": "Similar products",
      "text": [
        "Products in the same category as books, or classified under the same headings."
      ]
    },
    {
      "id": "countries",
      "title": "Duty rates by country",
      "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 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 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": "product-topic",
    "topic": {
      "slug": "books",
      "name": "Books",
      "singular": "book",
      "plural": "books",
      "synonyms": [
        "paperback",
        "hardcover",
        "hardback",
        "novel",
        "printed book",
        "textbook"
      ],
      "category": {
        "id": "books-media",
        "name": "Books and media"
      }
    },
    "edition": "HS2022",
    "codes": [
      {
        "code": "490199",
        "role": "likely",
        "when": "it is a printed book or similar printed matter that is not a dictionary, an encyclopaedia or a single sheet",
        "legalText": "Other: Other",
        "levels": [
          "Other",
          "Other"
        ],
        "heading": {
          "code": "4901",
          "description": "Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets"
        },
        "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"
        ],
        "heading": {
          "code": "4901",
          "description": "Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets"
        },
        "chapter": {
          "code": "49",
          "description": "Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans"
        }
      },
      {
        "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"
        ],
        "heading": {
          "code": "4901",
          "description": "Printed books, brochures, leaflets and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets"
        },
        "chapter": {
          "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"
        ],
        "heading": {
          "code": "4903",
          "description": "Children's picture, drawing or colouring books"
        },
        "chapter": {
          "code": "49",
          "description": "Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts and plans"
        }
      }
    ],
    "questions": [
      {
        "about": "type of book",
        "codes": [
          "490199",
          "490191",
          "490300"
        ],
        "question": "Is it an ordinary printed book, a dictionary or encyclopaedia, or a children’s picture or colouring book?"
      }
    ],
    "similar": [
      {
        "slug": "childrens-picture-books",
        "name": "Children’s picture books",
        "category": {
          "id": "books-media",
          "name": "Books and media"
        },
        "codes": [
          "490300"
        ]
      },
      {
        "slug": "posters",
        "name": "Posters",
        "category": {
          "id": "books-media",
          "name": "Books and media"
        },
        "codes": [
          "491191"
        ]
      },
      {
        "slug": "vinyl-records",
        "name": "Vinyl records",
        "category": {
          "id": "books-media",
          "name": "Books and media"
        },
        "codes": [
          "852380"
        ]
      }
    ],
    "countries": [
      {
        "code": "US",
        "name": "United States",
        "slug": "united-states",
        "lines": 12,
        "ratesLive": true
      }
    ],
    "provenance": [
      {
        "dataset": "GLOBAL:hs",
        "country": "GLOBAL",
        "kind": "hs",
        "seq": 2,
        "version": "mytraddal hs2022.csv (HS 2022)",
        "liveAt": "2026-10-11T06:04:17.693Z",
        "origin": "upload",
        "sourceUrls": []
      }
    ],
    "dateModified": "2026-10-11T08:23:53.439Z",
    "seo": {
      "canonicalPath": "/hs-codes/for/books",
      "robots": "index",
      "sitemap": true,
      "reasons": [
        "published topic, every candidate in the live HS release"
      ]
    }
  },
  "links": {
    "self": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/books.json",
    "html": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/books",
    "canonical": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/books",
    "markdown": "https://border.bot/hs-codes/for/books.md",
    "tools": {
      "classifier": "https://border.bot/tools/hs-code-classifier?product=book",
      "calculator": "https://border.bot/tools/landed-cost-calculator",
      "api": "https://api.border.bot/v1"
    }
  },
  "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.",
  "catalogVersion": "08bc53aa"
}