What is an HS code and how do I find the right one for my product?
An HS (Harmonized System) code is the universal 6-digit product classification customs authorities use worldwide; India's ITC-HS adds two more digits for an 8-digit code that determines your duty rate and whether your shipment gets flagged. Look it up on the DGFT's own ITC-HS portal or a free tool like Wise's or SEAIR's search by product description, get it wrong and you either overpay duty or get held at customs for reclassification. When in doubt, get a customs broker or your courier partner to confirm it before your first shipment, not your fiftieth.
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4 resources, 3 India-specific, 3 link-checked.
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The government's own HS/ITC-HS classification lookup, the most authoritative place to confirm your product's code before third-party tools, since your duty rate and export policy depend on getting it right.
A fast, filterable search tool for finding your ITC-HS code by chapter or product description when you want a quicker cross-check than the government portal's interface.
A fintech-written explainer that connects HS codes to the GST and payment side of exporting, which most pure customs guides skip, useful for seeing the whole compliance chain in one place.
A free search-by-product-name tool that's often faster than the government portal for a rough first lookup, cross-verify whatever it returns against the DGFT source before filing.
