Sourcing hand tally counters from China

UK duty on mechanical hand tally counters

Heading 9029 covers counters and related instruments, including speed indicators and stroboscopes. Mechanical hand tally counters sit within the counter family. The table distinguishes housing and grip variants sharing 9029 10 00 90; these are product variants within the same tariff line. Parts and accessories have a separate line.

Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 30 September 2026, the supplied counter and parts lines carry 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing measures, suspensions or attached import controls for these lines. Import VAT is separate from customs duty; see UK import duty and VAT.

Confirm the commodity code using the mechanism, function and whether the shipment contains complete counters or parts. Give your customs broker a specification and product photographs. For the wider counter family, see electromechanical production counters.

Specify the button, reset and grip

Specify a purely mechanical mechanism, housing material, display capacity, numeral visibility, button travel and reset direction. Agree the finger-ring attachment, finish, packaging and any branding. Approve a physical sample that shows the required button feel and how the counter sits in the hand.

Agree a counting and repeated-operation test before production, including digit changes, reset operation and behaviour at the display limit. Record acceptable button resistance and whether reset must work from any displayed reading. Ask the factory to identify the mechanism and spring materials rather than relying on housing photographs.

For counters intended for or likely to be used by consumers, the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 apply in Great Britain and require safety in normal or reasonably foreseeable use. Include sharp housing edges, finger-ring pinch points and loose components in your safety review.

Worked duty example

Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative order: 1,000 mechanical hand tally counters under 9029 10 00 90, invoiced at £2,000 free on board, with £900 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £2,900. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £2,900, so it is £580. 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

Counting: compare displayed totals with a recorded sequence of button presses at varied speeds. Check for missed counts, double counts and sticking during digit changes.

Reset: reset from different readings, then count again. Check that every digit returns to its starting position and that the knob does not slip or bind.

Housing and grip: inspect seams, burrs, plating, cracks and finger-ring attachment. Compare button resistance and grip with the approved sample.

Arrival condition: check for crushed packaging, moisture, corrosion and loose mechanisms. Match product markings and carton contents to the order. Use the agreed quality inspection plan before shipment and on arrival.

What goes wrong

Mechanical tally counters can skip or double count as the spring wears. A sample may work during gentle pressing but fail with faster use or during digit changes. Reset knobs can leave digits misaligned, while loose finger rings and rough seams make otherwise functioning counters awkward to handle.

A matching shell does not establish a matching mechanism. Keep the approved sample and written test method available for batch inspection. Separate damaged or miscounting stock on arrival and send the supplier photographs and a recorded counting test when discussing replacements.

Cambridge China Bridge sources these products for UK businesses, checking the factory and the documents before shipment. See factory verification. For components and parts, see sourcing for manufacturers.