QUICK ANSWER An HTS code is the 10-digit number that classifies a product for US import and sets its duty rate. The first 6 digits are the international HS code shared worldwide; the US adds 4 more for its own tariff and statistics. Get the code wrong and you overpay duty or trigger a customs problem, so classification is a decision worth checking, not guessing.
Your HTS code is the single input that decides how much duty a product owes, so an HS code that is off by a subheading can cost more than any freight negotiation saves. This guide explains what the codes are, how HS, HTS, and Schedule B differ, how the number is built, and how to find the right one.
Where HS and HTS codes come from
The Harmonized System (HS) is the global product-classification standard maintained by the World Customs Organization, used by more than 200 countries. The first six digits of any product's code are the same everywhere. The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is the US version, which takes those six digits and adds four more to set the specific US duty rate and collect trade statistics. Every formal US import is declared under an HTS code as part of customs clearance.
HS vs HTS vs Schedule B
Three names, one family, and importers mix them up constantly. The difference is direction and detail.
HS vs HTS vs Schedule B
| Code | Digits | Used for | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|---|
| HS | 6 | International classification, shared globally | Every country |
| HTS | 10 | US imports and their duty rates | US importers |
| Schedule B | 10 | US exports and trade statistics | US exporters |
So an importer bringing goods into the US uses an HTS code; the same goods leaving the US are reported under a Schedule B number. Both share the first six HS digits.
How an HTS code is structured
The ten digits are not random. Each pair narrows the product.
What the digits of an HTS code mean
| Digits | Level | What it identifies |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 2 | Chapter | The broad category (for example, 61 = knitted apparel) |
| 3 to 4 | Heading | The product group within the chapter |
| 5 to 6 | Subheading | The specific product (this completes the global HS code) |
| 7 to 8 | US tariff rate line | The exact US duty rate |
| 9 to 10 | Statistical suffix | US trade-statistics detail |
How to find your HTS code
Start from the official Harmonized Tariff Schedule published by the US International Trade Commission at hts.usitc.gov, which is searchable by keyword and by chapter. Work down from the chapter that fits your product to the heading, subheading, and tariff line, reading the section and chapter notes as you go, because those notes decide close calls. The goal is the one code that describes your product most specifically, not the first one that looks close.
Why your HTS code matters
The code is the input to the duty. The HTS rate applies to your customs value, and for Chinese-origin goods a Section 301 tariff of 7.5 to 25 percent stacks on top based on the same classification. Two plausible codes for the same product can carry duty rates several points apart, which flows straight into your landed cost.
TAKEAWAY Classification is a lever, not a formality. The difference between two defensible HTS codes can be several margin points per unit, and it also decides whether Section 301 applies. That is why the code is worth reviewing before the entry files, not accepting whatever a supplier wrote on the invoice.
Who is responsible for classification
The importer of record is. Under US customs law, the importer must use reasonable care to classify goods correctly and declare the right code, and the duty owed follows from that declaration. A forwarder or broker helps review the code and offers guidance, and provides an estimated duty, but the legal responsibility for the classification and the duty stays with the importer. Treat a supplier's suggested code as a starting point to verify, not a final answer.
Common classification mistakes
The costly ones repeat. Taking the supplier's code at face value when it was chosen for export convenience, not US duty. Picking a general "basket" provision when a more specific one exists. Ignoring the chapter notes that would have moved the code. And classifying a set or a kit by one component when customs rules would treat it differently. Each of these can mean duty recalculated upward at entry, plus the delay of sorting it out at the border.
How Platton helps you classify correctly
Getting the code right before the entry files is cheaper than fixing it after CBP questions it. Platton builds that review into the shipment.
Classification reviewed, not guessed
Our customs compliance review checks the HTS code against your actual product before the entry submits, so the entry does not ride on an unchecked supplier code.
The China tariff priced with the code
Because the same code drives the China tariff, we flag your Section 301 exposure with the classification, so the duty you budget is the duty you pay.
Duty estimated before you commit
You get an estimated duty on the reviewed code as part of an itemized quote, so classification is priced into your decision, not discovered at customs clearance.
The importer's reasonable care supported
We give you the code review and the documentation to support a reasonable-care position, while the classification decision and responsibility stay yours, where the law puts them.
Get your HTS classification reviewed with a quote
Common Questions About HTS and HS Codes
What is the difference between an HS code and an HTS code?
An HS code is the six-digit international classification shared by more than 200 countries. An HTS code is the ten-digit US version, which adds four digits to the HS base to set the exact US duty rate and collect statistics. Every product has one HS root; the HTS extends it for US import purposes. When you import into the US, you declare the full ten-digit HTS code.
How do I find my HTS code?
Start from the official Harmonized Tariff Schedule published by the US International Trade Commission, searchable by keyword and chapter. Work from the chapter down to the heading, subheading, and tariff line, and read the section and chapter notes, which decide close calls. Aim for the single most specific code that describes your product, and verify a supplier's suggested code rather than accepting it outright.
Is an HTS code the same as a Schedule B number?
No. Both are ten digits and share the first six HS digits, but an HTS code classifies goods coming into the US and sets their duty, while a Schedule B number classifies goods leaving the US for export reporting. Importers use HTS; exporters use Schedule B. Using the wrong one for the wrong direction causes filing errors.
Who is responsible for the HTS classification?
The importer of record. US law requires the importer to use reasonable care to classify goods correctly, and the duty follows from that declaration. A forwarder or customs broker helps review the code and provides guidance and an estimated duty, but the classification decision and the legal responsibility remain with the importer, which is why the code is worth a real review before entry.
What happens if I use the wrong HTS code?
If the code understates duty, CBP can recalculate it upward at entry, hold the shipment, and in some cases assess penalties, and you owe the difference. If it overstates duty, you simply overpay, sometimes for years before anyone notices. Either way the remedy comes before filing: review the classification against the product and the chapter notes first.
Related Customs Guides
Schedule B number explained: the export side of classification.
How US import customs clearance works: the entry your classification feeds.
Country of origin and USMCA rules: why origin, not routing, sets the China tariff.
