Sourcing tablet computers from China
Tablet computers within heading 8471 carry 0% UK duty from China, with import VAT still due. Confirm with the relevant authority how product security rules apply to non-cellular tablets, cellular models and models designed exclusively for children under 14. Cambridge China Bridge sources tablet computers.
UK duty on tablet computers
Read from the UK Trade Tariff on 8 October 2026, all supplied lines under heading 8471 carried 0% duty for goods from China. The supplied facts list no anti-dumping or countervailing duties, suspensions or attached import controls.
Heading 8471 covers automatic data-processing machines and their units. Portable tablet computers are the focus here; the accessory rows concern separately supplied goods, rather than alternative codes for a finished tablet. See the wider computer guide for other equipment. For thin clients, see our thin client sourcing guide. For separately sourced pointing devices, see our computer trackball sourcing guide.
Confirm the finished tablet and each separately supplied accessory through finding your commodity code. Give the customs broker the model specification, connectivity and shipment contents. Zero duty does not remove import VAT, normally 20%. For separately supplied card-reading accessories, see our smart card reader sourcing guide. For separately supplied optical drives, see our guide to sourcing external optical disc drives.
| Goods | Commodity code | Duty | Anti-dumping or countervailing duty on China |
|---|---|---|---|
| Portable computers, including tablet computers | 8471 30 00 00 | 0% | None |
| Separate keyboards for tablet computers | 8471 60 60 00 | 0% | None |
| Other input or output units supplied separately | 8471 60 70 00 | 0% | None |
| Other storage units supplied separately | 8471 70 98 00 | 0% | None |
Specify the screen, software and connectivity
Agree the processor, memory, usable storage, display resolution, touch response, battery, charging connector and supplied charger. Record component identities and prohibit substitutions without approval. Specify wireless connectivity, whether cellular access is possible, operating system licensing, supported applications and who provides firmware updates.
For Great Britain, non-cellular tablets are excepted from the product security rules unless designed exclusively for children under 14. Cellular tablets and those children's models need the connectable product security requirements. The retained computer ecodesign regulation includes mains-powered tablets; request the energy test data for the ordered configuration.
For radio-equipped tablets sold in Great Britain, the importer must ensure the manufacturer has carried out the relevant conformity assessment before placing them on the market. Request model-matched radio evidence and battery transport test summaries. Under hazardous-substance rules, individual products must show the importer's name or trademark and a contactable address on the product or packaging.
Worked duty example
Illustrative example, not a quote: Illustrative batch of tablet computers for a business under 8471 30 00 00, invoiced at £10,000 free on board, with £1,000 of freight and insurance to the UK. The customs value is £11,000. Duty at 0% is £0. Import VAT at 20% is charged on the customs value plus duty, £11,000, so it is £2,200. 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
Components: compare processor identity, memory, usable storage and firmware with the approved sample during quality inspection.
Screen and enclosure: check touch response across the display, dead pixels, scratches, case gaps and charging-port alignment.
Battery and connectivity: test charging, sleep and wake behaviour, wireless reconnection and cellular operation where specified. Compare battery performance under the agreed workload.
Software and documents: check application installation, operating system activation, reset behaviour and update access. Match model identifiers across the goods, reports, labels and packing list.
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What goes wrong
A tablet can look like the approved sample while using a different screen panel, less storage or a changed battery. Check the production configuration rather than relying on the housing or the supplier's catalogue description.
Software faults often appear after a reset or an update: applications disappear, activation fails or drivers stop working. Agree the acceptance workload and update responsibilities before production, and repeat the checks on goods drawn from the shipment.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the UK import duty on tablet computers from China?
The supplied tariff lines under heading 8471 carry 0% duty from China, with no listed trade remedies. Import VAT is still due, normally at 20%.
Do tablets need to meet UK product security rules?
Confirm with the relevant authority how product security rules apply to non-cellular tablets, cellular tablets and models designed exclusively for children under 14 before ordering.
What should I put in a tablet purchase specification?
Specify the processor, memory, usable storage, screen, battery, charger, connectivity, operating system licensing and update support. Require approval before component substitutions.
How do I check tablets before shipment?
Compare the production configuration with the approved sample, then test touch response, charging, connectivity, application installation, reset behaviour and updates.