HS Code Assistant

An HS (Harmonized System) code is the classification number customs authorities use to identify what a shipment contains, for the purpose of assessing duty and compiling trade statistics. It's maintained by the World Customs Organization and used, in some form, by nearly every country a shipment might cross.

Yes — the first 6 digits are the internationally harmonized chapter, heading, and subheading defined by the WCO, and they mean the same thing in every participating country. Digits beyond the sixth are national extensions that individual countries add to their own tariff schedules for finer classification and duty-rate purposes, so two countries can agree on the first 6 digits of a code and still differ from the 7th digit onward.

A customs authority that finds an incorrect classification will typically reassess the duty owed based on the correct code, and may apply penalties or interest depending on whether the error looks like an honest mistake or a deliberate misdeclaration. Either way, the importer generally remains liable for the correct duty amount, and resolving a discrepancy can delay release of the shipment while it's worked out.

National customs authorities generally offer an advance or binding ruling program: you submit a formal request describing the product, and they issue a ruling that's binding on future entries of that same product. This is the correct route when duty exposure or compliance risk is high enough to warrant certainty — a customs broker can usually help prepare and file the request.

No. This is a keyword-based suggestion tool, not legal or tariff classification advice, and it stops at chapter/heading level rather than the full code your shipment will actually be entered under. Treat any result here as a starting point for discussion with your forwarder or a licensed customs broker, and verify the final code against the official tariff schedule before you rely on it.