Navigating the world of international trade requires an understanding of various customs regulations and procedures, and one of the most crucial aspects is correctly classifying your goods. The Harmonized System (HS) of tariff codes plays a pivotal role in this process. In this blog post, we will unravel the mystery of tariff codes and guide you on how to determine the correct classification for your goods.
What Are Tariff Codes?
Tariff codes, also known as Harmonized System (HS) codes, are numeric codes assigned to specific products to facilitate international trade. These codes are used to identify and categorize goods for customs purposes, allowing governments to apply the appropriate tariffs, taxes, and regulations.
Step 1: Understand the Harmonized System
The Harmonized System is a standardized classification system used globally to classify goods. It’s organized into chapters, sections, and headings, with each level providing more detail about the product. To accurately classify your goods, you must familiarize yourself with the HS and its structure. Access resources like the World Customs Organization‘s (WCO) website or your country’s customs agency for detailed information on the HS such as the Trade Tariff Website for the UK.
Step 2: Determine the Appropriate Chapter
Start by identifying the most relevant chapter within the Harmonized System that corresponds to your product. Each chapter represents a broad category of goods. Reading the chapter notes and descriptions can help you narrow down your classification.
Step 3: Drill Down to the Heading Level
Once you’ve identified the correct chapter, proceed to the heading level. Headings provide more specific details about the goods. Read the notes and descriptions carefully to find the heading that best matches your product.
Step 4: Consult Explanatory Notes
Explanatory notes are invaluable resources when determining the correct tariff code. They provide additional information and examples to clarify the classification criteria. These notes can help you make a more precise classification.
Step 5: Seek Professional Guidance
For complex or unique products, seeking professional assistance from a customs broker, trade consultant, or customs authority can be beneficial. They can offer expert guidance and ensure your classification is accurate, preventing costly mistakes.
Step 6: Cross-Check with Local Customs Authorities
Always cross-check your chosen tariff code with your country’s customs authority. They may have specific rules or guidelines that apply to your goods. This step is crucial to avoid discrepancies and potential legal issues.
Step 7: Record and Maintain Documentation
Once you’ve determined the correct tariff code, keep detailed records of your classification process. This documentation is essential for audits and customs compliance. Maintain records of product descriptions, HS codes, and any correspondence with customs authorities.
By investing time and effort into classifying your goods correctly, you can avoid costly delays, disputes, and penalties. Remember that customs regulations may change over time, so stay informed and periodically review your classifications to ensure ongoing compliance with the latest rules and requirements.
Determining the correct classification for your goods is a critical step in international shipping, as it affects the customs duties and import regulations applicable to your shipment. Using a tool like Flytta can significantly simplify and streamline this process. Here’s how you can utilize Flytta to accurately classify your goods:
1. Access to Classification Tools
Harmonized System (HS) Code Lookup: Flytta offers access to a comprehensive tool for HS / Commodity code identification, which are internationally standardized codes used to classify traded products. You can use Flytta’s search and lookup tools to find the correct HS code for your goods based on their description, an image or as a bulk upload.
2. Automated Classification Assistance
Automated Suggestions: By inputting detailed descriptions of your goods into Flytta, the platform can automatically suggest the most appropriate classification codes. This feature is particularly useful if you are unsure about how to classify your products.
3. Detailed Product Information Input
Providing Detailed Descriptions: To ensure accuracy, provide as much detail as possible about your products on the Flytta platform. Include information about the material, purpose, and any other relevant characteristics of the goods.
4. Ensuring Compliance with International Standards
Up-to-Date Information: Flytta can provide information on the latest international standards and regulations regarding product classification. This is crucial as classification rules can change, and staying updated is necessary for compliance.
5. Integration with Customs Information & Trade Platforms
Customs Database Integration: Flytta integrates with customs databases, ensuring that the classification aligns with the current requirements and regulations of the importing and exporting countries. Flytta also integrates with your other trade software such as Descartes or Sedna. You can also integrate our commodity code identification system with our customs declaration automation system for automated end to end customs.
6. Record Keeping
Access to Expert Advice: If you face complexities in classifying your goods, Flytta offers access to expert advice. These experts can provide clarity and guidance on tricky classifications.
Correctly classifying your goods for customs is essential for smooth international trade operations. Tools like Flytta can provide significant assistance in this process, offering automated suggestions, expert advice, and up-to-date information on classification standards. To see Flytta for your self book a demo with our team: