ITC HS codes in India
You’ll need to pay import taxes when importing goods and services into India. To work out exactly how much to pay, you need to know the correct ITC codes. Learn how to find the right code to use, and get some great ideas about how to get a better deal when paying for goods from abroad, with Wise.
What is an HS code?
HS codes come from the Harmonised System of Nomenclature (HSN), which is a globally agreed system for categorising and coding product types. HS codes show the type of product and what it’s made from - which can be used by governments around the world to levy the correct import taxes.
In India, ITC-HS codes are used. ITC stands for Indian Trade Classification. While many countries use a 6 digit HS code, the ITC-HS codes contain the 6 digit HS code, plus 2 additional digits. This results in an 8 digit code which gives more detailed information about the product.
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ITC HS code search tool
Finding the right ITC code can be daunting. We’ve made it easy with this ITC HS code search tool.
Use our handy ITC-HS code search tool to find the code you need. You can filter by chapter, ITC‐HS Code or product description to get the code for the goods you’re importing.
What is an HS code in India?
When you’re importing goods into India you need to know the ITC-HS code for the specific products you’re dealing with.
ITC means Indian Trade Classification - also known as Indian Tariff Code. HS refers to the Harmonised System of Nomenclature - the codes used worldwide to categorise and identify different products.
HS codes have 6 digits. The ITC-HS code takes these 6 digits, and then adds a further 2 for clarity. HS codes are made up as follows:
- 2 digit Chapter code
- 2 digit Heading
- 2 digit Subheading
ITC-HS codes take this structure, and then add a further 2 digits, known as a tariff item. This structure fits into the guidelines of the World Customs Organisation, and is a build on the global HS code process.
ITC-HS code format
All you need to know about ITC-HS codes is covered in 2 official Schedules.
- ITC(HS) Import Schedule 1 covers guidelines and rules about importing goods into India
- Schedule 2 covers the guidelines when exporting from India
To make it easier to find the ITC-HS detail you need, Schedule 1 is broken down into 21 sections. Within these sections there are 98 total chapters.
Chapters are then broken down into smaller groups known as headings and subheadings. Each time the information is classified further it becomes more detailed, until you have very niche groups of products which relate to a single ITC-HS number. This makes it far easier to make sure you’re paying the correct import taxes for your specific products.
Take a look at the major ITC-HS code sections in the table below:
| Section | Category | Chapters |
|---|---|---|
1 | Animal & Animal Products | 1-5 |
2 | Vegetable Products | 6-14 |
3 | Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils | 15 |
4 | Prepared Foodstuffs | 16-24 |
5 | Mineral Products | 25-27 |
6 | Chemicals & Allied Industries | 28-38 |
7 | Plastics / Rubbers | 39-40 |
8 | Raw Hides, Skins, Leather, & Furs | 41-43 |
9 | Wood & Wood Products | 44-46 |
10 | Pulp of Wood or of Other Fibrous Material | 47-49 |
11 | Textiles | 50-63 |
12 | Footwear / Headgear | 64-67 |
13 | Stone / Glass | 68-70 |
14 | Natural or Cultured Pearls | 71 |
15 | Base Metals | 72-83 |
16 | Machinery / Electrical | 84-85 |
17 | Transportation | 86-89 |
18 | Precision Instruments | 90-92 |
19 | Arms and Ammunition | 93 |
20 | Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles | 94-96 |
21 | Works of Art | 97-98 |
