Sourcing computer keyboard keycaps from China

Zero duty on the relevant computer parts line

Heading 8473 covers parts and accessories for the machines specified in the heading. For separate, non-electronic computer keyboard keycaps, 8473 30 80 00 is the candidate line to confirm. The table shows keycap variants sharing that line, rather than separate tariff categories. See the wider computer parts guide.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 1 October 2026, all supplied lines carried 0% duty for goods from China. The candidate keycap line records no anti-dumping or countervailing duty, suspension or attached import control. Other office-machine parts lines carry waste controls. For waste subject to notification controls, the exporter must apply for consent to the competent authority in the country of dispatch; confirm the shipment requirements with your customs broker.

Confirm the commodity code using photographs, material details and the intended keyboard application. Describe separate keycaps clearly on the invoice. The worked order is illustrative; check the import duty and VAT guide when preparing the landed-cost calculation.

Layout, stem fit and legend construction

Specify the target keyboard and switch family, stem drawing, keycap profile, row positions and stabiliser mounting points. For a British layout, approve the Enter key shape, modifier widths and pound-sign legend against a complete layout drawing. Laptop keycaps need the exact keyboard model and retaining mechanism.

Name the resin in full, state whether legends are printed, dye-sublimated or moulded, and approve colour, surface texture and backlight transmission against physical samples. Agree the complete contents of each set and prohibit material or tooling substitutions without approval.

UK businesses importing or selling consumer products are responsible for their safety. Assess sharp moulding edges, broken stems and detachable decorative pieces. REACH restrictions can limit or ban substances in articles; ask for material and coating information and select relevant chemical checks with the testing and certification service.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: 5,000 replacement keycaps (illustrative order) under 8473 30 80 00, invoiced at £6,300 free on board, with £1,500 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £7,800. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £7,800, so it is £1,560. With no duty, the only import tax is the VAT, which a VAT-registered importer can usually reclaim. The import duty and VAT guide explains each step.

Inspection checklist

Fit: install sampled keycaps on the agreed switches and stabilisers; check seating, retention, removal and free travel without rubbing neighbouring keys.

Layout: compare every supplied key with the approved layout drawing; check British legends, modifier shapes, row profiles and missing or duplicate keys.

Finish: check legend alignment, colour consistency, coating adhesion, moulding flash and cracks; check long keys for bowing and sticking.

Packing: check set contents, tray positions and protection against abrasion; retain supplier and batch records and compare production with the approved sample at inspection.

What goes wrong

A set can fit the main letter keys but miss the correct Enter key, modifier widths or stabiliser spacing. Stem sockets can grip too tightly or become loose after removal. Warped space bars stick, row profiles get mixed, and printed legends wear or differ from the approved artwork.

Approve a complete sample set on the target keyboard before ordering. Give the inspector the layout drawing and reference board, agree checks for legend wear and repeated fitting, and specify how incomplete sets and incompatible keys will be replaced.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For machinery and equipment, see machinery imports.