GlossaryCustoms and trade
HS code
A six-digit product classification from the Harmonized System, used by customs authorities worldwide to identify goods and apply duties.
The Harmonized Commodity Description and Coding System, or HS, is a product classification maintained by the World Customs Organization. The first six digits of an HS code are shared by the countries that use the system, so the same product carries the same six-digit code around the world.
Countries add their own digits after the first six for more detail. In the United States, the import version is the 10-digit HTS code and the export version is the 10-digit Schedule B number.
Customs authorities use the HS code to decide which duty rate applies, whether the product is restricted, and which trade statistics it counts toward. A wrong or vague code is one of the most common reasons cross-border parcels are delayed or charged the wrong duty.
Learn more in our Cross-border shipping articles.
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