How to Manage HS Codes

Harmonized System (HS) codes classify products for customs purposes. CargoLint extracts HS codes from documents and helps you verify or adjust classifications, ensuring accurate customs declarations and duty calculations.

Before you start

• You have documents with product information ready for review
• You understand your products’ categories (for example, “electronics,” “textiles,” “machinery”)
• You know your relevant trade regulations or have access to a customs broker
• You’re in the review queue with a document open

Steps

1. Understand what HS codes are

HS codes are six-digit international product classifications assigned by the Harmonized System, a standardized format recognized worldwide. HS codes determine tariff rates, import restrictions, and regulatory requirements. For example, cotton t-shirts use code 610510, while polyester t-shirts use 610520—two different classifications based on material.

2. Locate extracted HS codes in the review editor

When you open a document in the Review Queue, extracted HS codes appear in the product section. Each code displays the extracted value and its confidence percentage. If CargoLint found relevant codes, they’re listed; if not, the field is blank for you to add.

3. Search by commodity description

Click the HS code field to open the code selector. Enter a description of your product (for example, “cotton shirt” or “steel fasteners”). CargoLint’s AI analyses the description and recommends the most relevant HS codes with their full descriptions.

4. Handle ambiguous classifications

If multiple codes could apply to your product, the code selector shows several options with brief descriptions of what each covers. Read the descriptions carefully to find the closest match. When uncertain, consult your commodity codes reference or a customs broker—choosing the wrong code can cause compliance issues.

5. Verify code accuracy

Once you select an HS code, the system displays the full code description and relevant duty rates for your destination country (if configured in your account). Verify this matches your product before confirming.

6. Update codes across multiple documents

If you correct an HS code for a product type that appears in multiple documents, CargoLint can suggest the same code in future documents. Over time, the system learns your common products and their correct classifications.

7. Document code changes

All changes to HS codes are logged in your audit trail. This creates a compliance record showing who classified each product and when, which is valuable if customs authorities question your declarations.

Tip: Build a library of your company’s products with their correct HS codes. Reference this during review to ensure consistency across shipments.

Tip: HS codes can change annually, and some products face new regulations based on trade agreements. Check your local customs authority’s updates quarterly to stay current.

What’s next

• Reviewing Documents – Refine extracted data in the review queue
• Exporting Data – Download documents with finalized HS codes
• Filtering and Search – Find documents by product type or HS code