Find Correct and Active HS Code for Export and Import
Find Correct active ITC HS8 digit for your product
What is an HS code?
An HS code is the number customs authorities use to identify a traded product. It is issued under the Harmonized System, maintained by the World Customs Organization and used by more than 200 countries. The first two digits are the chapter, the first four the heading, and the first six the subheading. Those six digits are the same everywhere in the world, which is what lets an Indian exporter and an overseas buyer describe the same goods identically.
Countries then extend the code nationally. India adds two more digits to make the 8-digit ITC-HS line, and that is the number your shipping bill carries. The code decides the duty payable, whether a free-trade-agreement rate applies, which certifications and licences are required, and which export incentives can be claimed.
HS, HSN and ITC-HS: one system, three names
HSN is the term used on Indian GST invoices for domestic tax. ITC-HS is the 8-digit line used when goods cross a border. They are the same underlying nomenclature.
| Level | Digits | Example | What it means |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chapter | 2 | 61 | Broad product family. Set by the WCO. |
| Heading | 4 | 6109 | Product group within the chapter. |
| Subheading | 6 | 610910 | International. Identical in every country using the Harmonized System. |
| ITC-HS | 8 | 61091000 | India's national extension. This is what your shipping bill carries. |
Why the correct HS code matters
Classification is not paperwork. The line you file decides what your goods cost, where they can compete, and whether they clear.
For export
It sets the duty your buyer pays
The code decides the tariff applied at the destination port. That duty lands in your buyer's cost, so the wrong line can make a competitive quote look expensive for a reason neither side can see.
FTA benefit is issued against the exact line
Preferential rates under agreements like CEPA, CETA or ECTA, and the certificate of origin that unlocks them, are granted per tariff line. Classify wrong and the concession is refused at the border.
It appears on the shipping bill and Bill of Lading
Customs, your freight forwarder and your buyer's broker all read the same code. A mismatch between documents triggers examination, and examination means demurrage.
Incentives and licensing follow the code
RoDTEP and duty-drawback rates are notified per ITC-HS line, and whether an export licence, restricted-item permission or SCOMET clearance applies is decided by the code, not the product name.
For import
- Basic customs duty, IGST and any applicable cess are all charged against the code.
- Anti-dumping and safeguard duties are notified per tariff line, so the code decides whether they apply to your consignment at all.
- Licensing and clearance from BIS, FSSAI, WPC, CDSCO or the Plant Quarantine authority is keyed to the code, not the description on the invoice.
- Customs valuation disputes usually begin as classification disputes, because the assessed value depends on which line the goods sit in.
Misclassification is not a filing error, it is a cost. A wrong line can mean duty re-assessment and penalty, a refused FTA concession, a withheld incentive, or a container sitting in examination while demurrage accrues.
Get your active 8-digit ITC-HS line
The search above gives you the 6-digit international subheading, free. A diipl research analyst confirms the rest for your specific product, in a free Market Research Report:
- Your exact 8-digit ITC-HS classification, and whether that line is currently active
- The markets buying your product today
- Emerging markets where demand has grown fastest over the last two to three years
- Low-tariff and duty-free corridors, including the agreements that create them
Frequently asked
What is an HS code?
An HS code is the number customs authorities use to identify a traded product. It is issued under the Harmonized System, maintained by the World Customs Organization and used by more than 200 countries. The first two digits are the chapter, the first four the heading, and the first six the subheading. Those six digits are the same everywhere in the world, which is what lets an Indian exporter and an overseas buyer describe the same goods identically. Countries then extend the code nationally. India adds two more digits to make the 8-digit ITC-HS line, and that is the number that appears on the shipping bill. The code decides the duty payable, whether a free-trade-agreement rate applies, which certifications and licences are required, and which export incentives can be claimed.
What is the difference between an HS code, an HSN code and an ITC-HS code?
They are the same system used in three contexts. HS is the international Harmonized System. HSN, Harmonized System of Nomenclature, is the term used on Indian GST invoices for domestic tax purposes. ITC-HS is the Indian Trade Clarification code, the 8-digit line used for import and export, and it is the one that matters when goods cross a border.
Is the 6-digit HS code enough to export from India?
No. The 6-digit subheading is the international part, and it is enough to discuss a product with an overseas buyer. Indian customs requires the 8-digit ITC-HS line on the shipping bill, and duty, RoDTEP, drawback and licensing are all determined at that 8-digit level.
Why do two different HS codes seem to fit my product?
Because classification is genuinely ambiguous for many goods, and this is the most common cause of a customs re-assessment. Batteries split by chemistry, carpets by construction, LED products by whether they are lamps or luminaires. Choosing between them is a judgement made under the General Rules of Interpretation, based on material, function and specification, which is why classification is a service rather than a lookup.
Can an ITC-HS code stop being valid?
Yes. India re-notifies ITC-HS lines periodically, and codes are merged, split or withdrawn. A code that was correct on a previous shipment may no longer be the right line, which is why this tool flags whether a subheading carried trade in FY25-26 and why we confirm the current 8-digit line rather than repeating an old one.
How do I find the correct HS code for my product?
Start with the search above to narrow to the right 6-digit subheading, then confirm the 8-digit ITC-HS line against your actual specification. You can cross-check free against the DGFT ITC-HS schedule, the CBIC customs tariff and the ICEGATE duty enquiry. If more than one line looks plausible, describe your product and diipl's research team will classify it and confirm whether the line is currently active.