HTS code lookup: HS vs HTS vs Schedule B

An HTS code lookup means finding the 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule number that classifies your product for U.S. imports, using the official search at hts.usitc.gov. HS is the shared 6-digit international base, HTS adds four U.S. digits that set the duty rate, and Schedule B is the 10-digit export version. ExperShip explains each below.

Key takeaways

• HS (6 digits) is the global standard. HTS (10 digits) is what U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) uses to set import duty. Schedule B (10 digits) is what the U.S. Census Bureau uses for exports.
• All three share the same first six digits. Only digits 7 to 10 differ, and they differ by country and by direction of trade.
• Look up imports on the official USITC tool at hts.usitc.gov, then check Chapter 99 for additional tariffs tied to country of origin.
• The importer of record is legally responsible for the code, even if a seller, forwarder or carrier typed it in.

What is the difference between HS, HTS and Schedule B?

They are one family of codes at three levels of detail. The Harmonized System (HS) is maintained by the World Customs Organization and used by more than 200 countries and economies. Each country then adds its own extra digits for its own duty and statistics purposes. In the United States that gives you two different 10-digit lists: the HTS for imports and Schedule B for exports.

Related glossary entries: HS code, HTS code and Schedule B.

How is a 10-digit HTS code built?

Take a knitted cotton T-shirt, which classifies under 6109.10.00 plus a two-digit statistical suffix. Reading left to right:

The WCO revises the HS about every five years, so older codes can be split, merged or renumbered. The USITC also issues several HTS revisions a year. A code you saved two years ago deserves a recheck.

How do I do an HTS code lookup? (step by step)

1. Write a precise product description. Note the material and percentage composition, what it does, who uses it, and how it is made. "Women's short-sleeve T-shirt, knitted, 100% cotton" classifies. "Apparel" does not.
2. Open the official tool. Go to hts.usitc.gov and search by keyword, or by a partial code if you already have a candidate. Search results show the full tariff hierarchy.
3. Read the heading and chapter notes, not just the line. Section and chapter notes can exclude your product from a heading that looks like a perfect match. Classification follows the General Rules of Interpretation (GRI), applied in order, and GRI 1 says the heading wording and the notes come first.
4. Walk down to the exact line. Pay attention to the indents. A line that says "Other" only applies if none of the more specific lines above it fits.
5. Check for rulings. Search the CBP Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) for your product type. A ruling on a near-identical item is strong evidence for your code.
6. Check Chapter 99 and country of origin. Additional tariffs, such as Section 301, Section 232 or other measures, are listed in Chapter 99 and depend on where the goods were made, not where they ship from. These change often, so confirm the current status on the day you ship.
7. Record the code and your reasoning. Keep the product description, the code, the date, and the source. If CBP asks questions later, this note is your defense.
8. Put the code on the commercial invoice. A copy-paste line that works for most brokers:
   Women's T-shirt, knitted, 100% cotton, short sleeve | HTS 6109.10.00xx | Qty 120 | Unit value USD 6.50 | Country of origin: PT

Which duty rate applies after you find the code?

The HTS shows a General rate (Column 1), a Special column for free trade agreements and preference programs, and Column 2 for a short list of countries. Most imports from trading partners use the General rate unless a program applies and you can prove eligibility. Duty is then charged on the customs value of the goods, plus anything added in Chapter 99. Rates can be a percentage of value (ad valorem), a fixed amount per unit, or both.

One change matters here more than any code. U.S. de minimis duty-free entry for low-value parcels has been suspended since August 29, 2025, and CBP made the suspension indefinite in June 2026. Every parcel is now classified and dutiable, so a correct HTS code is no longer optional for small DTC orders. Our de minimis suspension explainer covers what changed, and U.S. customs entry types covers how those parcels are actually entered.

Once you have a code, you can estimate duty with the U.S. import duty calculator. Treat the result as an estimate and confirm with your customs broker before you quote a price.

Who is responsible for the code: the seller, the carrier or the importer?

The importer of record (IOR), the party that legally declares the goods to CBP, carries the responsibility. CBP expects "reasonable care" in classification. A forwarder or broker can file the entry, but if the description was vague or the code was guessed, the penalty exposure still follows the IOR. Read importer of record and customs bond: who needs what for how that role works in practice.

Who pays the duty is a separate question. Under delivered duty paid (DDP) terms, the shipper covers duties and taxes up front. On ExperShip, DDP is live on the Custom plan only, and the amount is taken from the prepaid balance. Starter and Growth sellers ship on terms where the receiver is billed. The DDP vs DDU guide explains the trade-offs.

What is Schedule B and when do exporters need it?

Schedule B is the 10-digit classification for goods leaving the U.S. You use it on Electronic Export Information (EEI), the export declaration filed in the Automated Export System (AES). EEI is generally required when the value of goods under one Schedule B number is over $2,500, or when an export license is needed, regardless of value. The Census Bureau hosts the Schedule B search and documentation.

Do not use an HTS number on an export declaration. Take the first six digits from your HTS code if you need a starting point, then search Schedule B for the matching 10-digit line. The six-digit part is the bridge, and the last four are not guaranteed to match. For related terms, see EEI and AESDirect, and for the seller side of the process see shipping out of the U.S.

What are the most common classification mistakes?

• Vague descriptions. "Accessories," "gift" or "parts" will not classify and often trigger holds.
• Stopping at the heading. Four digits is not enough. A heading can hold dozens of lines with very different rates.
• Choosing "Other" too early. It is the last resort within a group, not a safe default.
• Ignoring composition. A sweater that is 60% wool and one that is 60% acrylic land on different lines.
• Sets and kits. A mixed set is classified as one item under the GRI, usually by the component that gives it its essential character.
• Copying a competitor's code. Their product, their materials, their risk. Classify your own goods.
• Confusing origin with ship-from. Additional duties follow where the goods were made, not the country of the warehouse.

How do HTS codes connect to shipping labels and customs documents?

Every international parcel needs a customs declaration with a description, a quantity, a value, a country of origin and, in practice, a tariff code per line item. ExperShip is multi-carrier shipping software and an API, and international labels come with customs documents, so the code you store against each product is what flows into the paperwork. Save the HTS code in your product catalog once, and reuse it on every label and commercial invoice.

For bulk inventory moving by sea, the same code drives the entry and the Importer Security Filing, covered in our ISF filing guide. For the wider picture of how classification, duties and carriers fit together, start at the cross-border ecommerce shipping guide.

When should I ask for a binding ruling or a broker?

Ask a licensed customs broker when the product is technical, high duty, a set, or sits on the border between two headings. If a mistake would be costly across many shipments, CBP will issue a binding ruling on request under 19 CFR Part 177. It takes weeks, but the answer protects you for that product afterward. Cheap, simple, repeat products usually do not need one.

Frequently asked questions

Is an HS code the same as an HTS code?

No. The HS code is the 6-digit international standard. An HTS code starts with those same six digits and adds four more that are specific to U.S. imports.

Where is the official HTS code lookup?

The U.S. International Trade Commission publishes it free at hts.usitc.gov. You can search by keyword or by code, and it shows duty rates and Chapter 99 additional-duty lines.

Can I use the same code for exporting from the U.S.?

Not on the export declaration. Exports use Schedule B, which is a different 10-digit list from the Census Bureau, though the first six digits match the HS.

How often do HTS codes change?

The HS changes about every five years, and the USITC publishes HTS revisions several times a year. Recheck stored codes periodically and any time rates or tariffs make news.

Do low-value parcels still need an HTS code?

Yes. With the U.S. de minimis exemption suspended, low-value parcels are no longer entered duty-free, so classification and an accurate declared value matter on every shipment.

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