HS Code (Harmonized System Code)

The globally standardized product classification code used in customs declarations. Determines duty rates, RoDTEP eligibility, and export scheme benefits.

Definition

HS Code — Harmonized System Code — is a globally standardized numerical classification of goods maintained by the World Customs Organization (WCO). Every product traded internationally is assigned an HS code. The first 6 digits are internationally standardized; each country extends them for national purposes.

Indian HS code structure

India uses the ITC-HS (Indian Trade Classification based on Harmonized System) — an 8-digit extension of the international 6-digit code.

• Digits 1-2: Chapter (e.g. 61 = Articles of apparel, knitted)
• Digits 3-4: Heading (e.g. 6109 = T-shirts, singlets, tank tops)
• Digits 5-6: Subheading (e.g. 610910 = Cotton T-shirts)
• Digits 7-8: Indian national subdivision (e.g. 61091000 = final Indian code)

Why HS codes matter for exporters

• Customs duty rate — imports use HS to determine BCD, IGST, cess
• Export scheme eligibility — RoDTEP, ROSCTL, MEIS (historical) all had HS-code-linked rate schedules
• FTA (Free Trade Agreement) preferences — HS code determines qualifying tariff
• Origin certification — Certificate of Origin uses HS

For Indian FBA exporters

Your customs broker assigns the HS code on your shipping bill. Get it right the first time — HS-code amendments post-filing are possible but slow, and a wrong HS code means the wrong RoDTEP rate applied to your realization. Double-check for products at ambiguous boundaries (multi-material composites, kits, private-label reconfigurations).

Reference: dgft.gov.in/CP/?opt=itc-hs-code for the official Indian HS classification search.

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