Harmonized System
Among industry classification systems, Harmonized System (HS) Codes are commonly used throughout the export process for goods. The Harmonized System is a standardized numerical method of classifying traded products. It is used by customs authorities around the world to identify products when assessing duties and taxes and for gathering statistics.
The United States uses a 10-digit code to classify products for export, known as a Schedule B number, with the first six digits being the HS number. There is a Schedule B number for every physical product, from paper clips to airplanes.
- Sections
- Chapters (2 digits)
- Headings (4 digits)
- Sub-headings (6 digits)
How is the HS nomenclature structured?
- 21 major sections
- ↪ 97 chapters (2 digits)
- ↪ headings (4-digit code)
- ↪ sub-headings (6-digit code)
- ↪ 5,000 commodity groups
Example of product classification
- section II vegetable products
- ↪ chapter 07 edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers
- ↪ heading: 0705 lettuce (lactucasativa) and chicory (cichorium spp.), fresh or chilled
- ↪ lettuce
- ↪ sub-heading 070511: cabbage lettuce (head lettuce)
- ↪ sub-heading 070511: cabbage lettuce (head lettuce)
- ↪ chicory
- ↪ sub-heading 070521: witloof chicory (chicorium intybus var. foliosum)
- ↪ sub-heading 070529: other
About Harmonized Tariff Schedule
- The Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTS) was enacted by Congress and made effective on January 1, 1989, replacing the former Tariff Schedules of the United States.
- The USITC maintains and publishes the HTS (in print and on-line) pursuant to the Omnibus Trade and Competitiveness Act of 1988,
- However, Customs and Border Protection of the Department of Homeland Security is responsible for interpreting and enforcing the HTS.This page provides access to the most recent online version of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) as well as access to the individual chapters, notes, appendices which comprise the current version of the HTS in downloadable PDF format.
