Trade & Customs
HS & HTS Code Finder
Describe your product in ordinary language. Pilot will help narrow the likely classification, explain which details matter and connect the result to duty and landed cost.
The first six digits (HS6) are shared worldwide; your destination adds its own digits (for example a US HTS or UK commodity code). Pilot suggests likely candidates only — classification is never binding, so confirm the final code with the official customs source or a licensed broker before you file.
Problems this solves
- You have a product description but no idea where it sits in the tariff.
- You need to know which attributes — material, function, processing — actually drive the code.
- You want a likely code family to estimate duty before paying for a binding ruling.
- You need to explain a classification decision to a supplier, broker or customs officer.
Questions you can ask Pilot
How Pilot works this out
Classification follows the General Rules of Interpretation (GRIs), applied in order. The starting point is the heading that most specifically describes the goods, then section and chapter notes that include or exclude particular products.
For many goods the decisive attributes are the constituent material (cotton vs synthetic), the degree of processing (raw, semi-finished, finished), the function or intended use, and whether the item is presented as a set or kit.
Pilot narrows a description toward a likely chapter and heading family and explains which attributes moved the decision. It does not assert a final ten-digit line where the description is ambiguous — instead it asks about the attribute that would change the answer.
The variables that matter
- Constituent material
- The dominant material by weight or value often selects the chapter.
- Function / use
- What the product does can override material for machinery, electronics and tools.
- Processing state
- Raw, intermediate and finished forms sit under different headings.
- Composition & sets
- Mixtures, composite goods and retail sets follow specific GRI tie-break rules.
Worked examples
“Men’s cotton knitted t-shirt”
Knitted cotton apparel points to Chapter 61; the specific heading depends on garment type and gender. Pilot flags this as a likely family, not a binding line.
“Stainless-steel vacuum flask”
Function (vacuum insulated container) and material both matter; Pilot asks whether the flask is for domestic use to separate the candidate headings.
Common mistakes
- Choosing a code because it carries a lower duty rate — this is misclassification and a compliance risk.
- Classifying by brand or marketing category rather than material and function.
- Assuming one code covers a whole product range when variants differ in material or use.
Limitations
- • Pilot offers classification assistance, not a binding customs ruling.
- • Ambiguous or novel products may need a formal ruling from the customs authority.
- • National tariff lines (8–10 digits) vary by country beyond the shared 6-digit root.
Verify before relying on this
- • Confirm the full national code in the official tariff for your destination.
- • Request a binding tariff ruling for high-value or high-volume goods.
- • Check chapter and section notes for exclusions that redirect the code.
Official source categories
Frequently asked questions
Can Pilot give me the exact HS code?
Pilot suggests a likely code family and explains the attributes behind it. The exact national line should be confirmed in the official tariff, and high-stakes shipments should obtain a binding ruling.
Why does Pilot ask about material and use?
Because classification rules often turn on the constituent material or the function of the product. Pilot asks only the attribute that would change the code rather than guessing.
Is a lower-duty code ever acceptable to choose?
Only if it is genuinely correct for the goods. Selecting a code to reduce duty when it does not describe the product is misclassification and can lead to penalties.