How to find your commodity code (and check it is right)
The code decides your duty rate, your VAT treatment and whether extra charges apply. How the digits work, how to look one up, and the traps that cost money.
Why the code matters more than people expect
Your commodity code is the single input that decides how much duty you pay, whether any licence or control applies, and whether your goods attract extra charges such as anti-dumping duty. Two similar-looking products can carry very different rates because they sit under different codes.
It is also your legal responsibility. Your customs agent files the declaration, but the classification is yours: if the code is wrong, the liability for underpaid duty comes back to you, not to them.
What the digits actually mean
Codes are hierarchical. The first two digits are the chapter — the broad family of goods. The first four are the heading, the first six are the subheading, and those six digits are internationally harmonised, which is why a Chinese supplier can often tell you the first six.
The UK then extends the code to ten digits for imports. Those last digits are where the duty rate is actually set, and they are national — which is precisely why a supplier's six-digit HS code is a starting point, not an answer.
Looking one up
Use the UK Integrated Online Tariff on gov.uk. Search by what the product is, then read down the tree: chapter, heading, subheading, and finally the declarable ten-digit line. Read the descriptions at each level rather than jumping to whatever the search box surfaces first.
Our free import duty calculator does the first pass for you: type what you are importing, pick the matching description, and it fills in the duty rate and links straight to the official entry so you can check the wording yourself.
The traps that cost money
The commonest mistake is stopping at a code that has children. A code ending in zeros is often a parent heading, not a declarable line — it will not have a usable duty rate. You need the leaf that can actually be declared.
The second is classifying by what a product is called rather than what it is made of and what it does. Material, function and how the product is presented all drive classification: a 'bicycle bag' may sit with luggage rather than with bicycles, and a nylon spatula classifies as a plastic article, not as kitchen equipment.
Extra charges hide behind the code
Some codes carry anti-dumping or countervailing duty against goods of Chinese origin, on top of the normal rate. That is not visible from the duty percentage alone, and it can be far larger than the duty itself.
Check the measures listed against the code for your country of origin, not just the headline rate. Our calculator flags the categories where a China-specific anti-dumping measure exists, but the official entry is the authority.
When to get a binding decision
If the classification is genuinely arguable and the volumes are meaningful, you can apply for a legally binding decision on the code from HMRC. It takes time, but it removes the risk of a retrospective assessment on every shipment you have already made.
For most SME orders that is overkill. Documenting how you reached the code — the tariff pages you read and why you chose that line — is usually the proportionate step, and it is what you will want if you are ever asked.
Frequently asked questions
Can I just use the code my Chinese supplier gives me?
Treat it as a starting point. The first six digits are internationally harmonised, so a supplier's HS code is usually right at that level, but the UK extends the code to ten digits and the duty rate is set there. The classification is your legal responsibility, not the supplier's.
Why does my code have no duty rate?
You are probably on a parent heading rather than a declarable line. Codes with children — often ending in zeros — cannot be declared. Keep reading down the tree until you reach a leaf that can be declared.
What happens if I use the wrong code?
You can be assessed for underpaid duty and VAT, with interest and possibly a penalty, and goods can be delayed. Because classification is the importer's responsibility, using your agent's or supplier's code does not transfer the liability.
How do I know if anti-dumping duty applies?
Check the measures listed against your specific code for goods of Chinese origin on the official tariff, not just the headline duty percentage. Anti-dumping duty is charged on top and can be much larger than the standard rate.