What Is HSN Code? | Meaning Of HSN Code
If you want to know the meaning of HSN code and why it’s important.
You are on the right page!
This article will help you to understand what is HSN code. Here I explained what HSN numbers are in 2-digit, 4 digits, and 6 digits numbers.
Hello, friends welcome to another fresh article on “Indiancustoms.info”, Here in this article I explained the meaning of HSN code and why it is important in import-export and GST.
If you are an importer/exporter or businessman, you need to understand what is HSN number is and how the wrong HSN number will impact your business.
All goods and services come under the HSN number, If you classify goods or services under the wrong HSN number, It impacts your business directly.
So, every businessman needs to understand the importance of HSN number and how it works for their business.
Now let’s take a look at what is HSN code or what is the meaning of HSN code.
What Is HSN code?
The full form of HSN is Harmonized System Nomenclature, HSN number is used for the classification of goods and services.
HSN is also known as HS code, CTH, ITC HS code, etc…
The Harmonized System Nomenclature (HSN) code is used worldwide to classify goods for taxation purposes.
The HSN number for each commodity is accepted by most countries and the said HSN number remains the same for almost all goods.
However, the HSN number used in some of the countries varies little, based on the nature of the goods classified.
In India, HSN codes are used for customs clearance of imports and export shipments.
With help of HSN, it’s easy to identify the classification of goods and collect customs duties and other taxes from importers, and exporters also claimed drawbacks and other incentive schemes.
After the implementation of GST ( Goods and Service Tax ) in India, HSN codes are also used for GST purposes, and the same classification code (HSN) is adopted for classifying Goods and Service Tax (GST).
Now in India HSN number is also used to classify goods to compute the value-added tax. It’s mandatory to mention the HSN number when preparing a Tax Invoice for GST.
How Many Digits Used In HSN code?
There is a total of 21 sections of HSN numbers are used to classify products, These 21 sections of HSN code are sub-classified into 99 chapters.
Each chapter is a two-digit HSN number which is known as a chapter heading and each two-digit HSN code is classified into 4 digit HSN codes which are known as sub-headings.
Based on such 4 digit HSN number, the sub-classification is done as 6 digit HSN number.
Worldwide most countries are using 6-digit HSN numbers to classify goods, but some countries additionally add 2 digits in the last part of such HSN number and it will become an 8-digit HSN number.
I hope now you understand HSN numbers are mainly used for taxation purposes, especially for the import and export of goods.
In India, 6-digit HSN numbers are used for export and import.
List Of Indian HSN Code or ITC HS Code or CTH.
HSN code are divided into 21 section and 98 chapters, each section contains different chapters and each chapter contain different products.
Section I
Note:-
- Any reference in this Section to a particular genus or species of an animal, except where the context otherwise requires, includes a reference to the young of that genus or species.
- Except where the context otherwise requires, throughout this Schedule, any reference to “dried products also covers products that have been dehydrated, evaporated, or freeze-dried.
Chapter 1 to 5 contains a list of HSN codes for Live Animals; Animal Products.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 01 | Live Animals |
| Chapter 02 | Meat and edible meat offal |
| Chapter 03 | Fish and crustaceans, mollusks, and other aquatic invertebrates. |
| Chapter 04 | Dairy produce; birds’ eggs; natural honey; edible products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included. |
| Chapter 05 | Products of animal origin, not elsewhere specified or included. |
Section II
Note:-
In this Section, the term “pellets” means products that have been agglomerated either directly by compression or by the addition of a binder in a proportion not exceeding 3 (percent) by weight.
Chapter 6 to 14 contains a list of HSN codes for Vegetable Products.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 06 | Live trees and other plants; bulbs, roots, and the like; cut flowers and ornamental foliage |
| Chapter 07 | Edible vegetables and certain roots and tubers |
| Chapter 08 | Edible fruit and nuts; peel of citrus fruits or melons. |
| Chapter 09 | Coffee, tea, mate, and spices |
| Chapter 10 | Cereals |
| Chapter 11 | Products of the milling industry; malt; starches; inulin; wheat gluten. |
| Chapter 12 | Oilseeds and oleaginous fruits; miscellaneous grains, seeds, and fruit; industrial or medicinal plants; straw and fodder. |
| Chapter 13 | Lac; gums, resins, and other vegetable saps and extracts. |
| Chapter 14 | Vegetable plaiting materials; vegetable products not elsewhere specified or included. |
Section III
Chapter 15 contains a list of HSN codes for Animal or Vegetable Fats and Oils and their cleavage products; Prepared Edible Fats; animal or vegetable waxes.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 15 | Animal or vegetable fats and oil and their cleavage products; prepared edible fats; animal or vegetable waxes. |
Section 4
Chapter 16 to 24 contains a list of HSN codes for Prepared Foodstuffs; Beverages, Spirits, and Vinegar; Tobacco, and Manufactured tobacco substitutes.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 16 | Preparation of meat, fish, or crustaceans, mollusks, or other aquatic invertebrates. |
| Chapter 17 | Sugars and sugar confectionery. |
| Chapter 18 | Cocoa and cocoa preparations |
| Chapter 19 | Preparations of cereals, flour, starch, or milk; pastry cooks’ products. |
| Chapter 20 | Preparations of vegetables, fruit, nuts, or other parts of plants. |
| Chapter 21 | Miscellaneous edible preparations |
| Chapter 22 | Beverages, spirits, and vinegar. |
| Chapter 23 | Residues and waste from the food industries; prepared animal fodder. |
| Chapter 24 | Tobacco and manufactured tobacco substitutes. |
Section 5
Chapter 25 to 27 contains a list of HSN codes for Mineral Products.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 25 | Salt; sulfur, earth, and stones; plastering materials, lime, and cement |
| Chapter 26 | Ores, slag, and ash |
| Chapter 27 | Mineral fuels, mineral oils, and products of their distillation; bituminous substances; mineral waxes. |
Section VI
Chapter 28 to 38 contains a list of HSN codes for Products of the Chemicals or Allied Industries.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 28 | Inorganic chemicals; organic or inorganic compounds of precious metals, of rare-earth metals, of radioactive elements, or isotopes |
| Chapter 29 | Organic chemicals |
| Chapter 30 | Pharmaceutical products |
| Chapter 31 | Fertilizers |
| Chapter 32 | Tanning or dyeing extracts; tannins and their derivatives; dyes, pigments, and other coloring matter, paints and varnishes; putty and other mastics; inks. |
| Chapter 33 | Essential oils and resinoids; perfumery, cosmetic, or toilet preparations. |
| Chapter 34 | Soap, organic surface-active agents, washing preparations, lubricating preparations, artificial waxes, prepared waxes, polishing or scouring preparations, candles, and similar articles, modeling pastes, “dental waxes” and dental preparations with a basis |
| Chapter 35 | Albuminoidal substances; modified starches; glues; enzymes. |
| Chapter 36 | Explosives; pyrotechnic products; matches; pyrophoric alloys; certain combustible preparations. |
| Chapter 37 | Photographic or cinematographic goods. |
| Chapter 38 | Miscellaneous chemical products. |
Section VII
Chapters 39 and 40 contain a list of HSN codes for Plastics and Articles thereof; Rubber and Articles Thereof.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 39 | Plastics and articles thereof |
| Chapter 40 | Rubber and articles thereof |
Section VIII
Chapter 41 to 43 contains a list of HSN codes for Raw Hides and Skins, Leather, Furskins and Articles thereof; saddlery and Harness; travel goods, Handbags, and similar Containers; Articles of animal gut (other than silk-worm Gut).
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 41 | Raw hides and skins (other than fur skins) and leather. |
| Chapter 42 | Articles of leather; saddlery and harness; travel goods, handbags, and similar containers; articles of animal gut (other than silkworm gut) |
| Chapter 43 | Furskins and artificial fur, manufacturers thereof |
Section IX
Chapter 44 to 46 contains a list of HSN codes for Wood and Articles of Wood; Wood Charcoal; cork and articles or cork; Manufactures of Straw, of Esparto or other Plaiting Materials; Basketware and Wickerwork.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 44 | Wood and articles of wood; wood charcoal |
| Chapter 45 | Cork and articles of cork |
| Chapter 46 | Manufactures of straw, of esparto, or of other plaiting materials; basket-ware and wickerwork. |
Section X
Chapter 47 to 49 contains a list of HSN codes for Pulp of wood or of other Fibrous Cellulosic Material; Recovered (Waste and Scrap) Paper or Paperboard; Paper And Paperboard and articles thereof.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 47 | The pulp of wood or of other fibrous cellulosic material; recovered (waste and scrap) paper or paperboard. |
| Chapter 48 | Paper and paperboard; articles of paper pulp, of paper, or of paperboard. |
| Chapter 49 | Printed books, newspapers, pictures, and other products of the printing industry; manuscripts, typescripts, and plans. |
Section XI
Chapter 50 to 63 contains a list of HSN codes for Textile and Textile Articles.
Chapters 50 to 60 mainly cover Yarn, fabrics, and materials used to manufacture garments and related articles.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 50 | Silk |
| Chapter 51 | Wool, fine or coarse animal hair; horsehair yarn and woven fabric |
| Chapter 52 | Cotton |
| Chapter 53 | Other vegetable textile fibers; paper yarn and woven fabrics of paper yarn. |
| Chapter 54 | Man-made filaments |
| Chapter 55 | Man-made staple fibers. |
| Chapter 56 | Wadding felt and nonwovens; special yarns; twine, cordage, ropes and cables, and articles thereof. |
| Chapter 57 | Carpets and other textile floor coverings. |
| Chapter 58 | Special woven fabrics; tufted textile fabrics; lace; tapestries; trimmings; embroidery. |
| Chapter 59 | Impregnated, coated, covered, or laminated textile fabrics; textile articles of a kind suitable for industrial use. |
| Chapter 60 | Knitted or crocheted fabrics |
Chapters 61 to 63 cover the garments and products manufactured from chapters 50 to 60.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 61 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories knitted or crocheted. |
| Chapter 62 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted. |
| Chapter 63 | Other made up textile articles; sets; worn clothing and worn textile articles; rags. |
Section XII
Chapter 64 to 67 contains a list of HSN codes for Footwear, Headgear, Umbrellas, Sun Umbrellas, Walking-sticks, seat-sticks, whips, Riding-crops, and Parts thereof; Prepared Feathers and articles Made therewith; artificial Flowers; Articles of Human Hair.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 64 | Footwear, gaiters, and the like; parts of such articles. |
| Chapter 65 | Headgear and parts thereof. |
| Chapter 66 | Umbrellas, sun umbrellas, walking sticks, seat-sticks, whips, riding-crops, and parts thereof. |
| Chapter 67 | Prepared feathers and down and articles made of feathers or of down; artificial flowers; articles of human hair. |
Section XIII
Chapter 68 to 70 contains a list of HSN codes for Articles of Stone, Plaster, Cement, Asbestos, Mica or similar Materials; Ceramic Products; Glass and Glassware.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 68 | Articles of stone, plaster, cement, asbestos, mica, or similar materials. |
| Chapter 69 | Ceramic products. |
| Chapter 70 | Glass and glassware. |
Section XIV
Chapter 71 is for Natural or Cultured Pearls, Precious or Semi-Precious Stones, Precious Metals, Metals clad with Precious Metal, and articles thereof; Imitation Jewellery; Coin.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 71 | Natural or cultured pearls, precious or semi-precious stones, precious metals, metals clad with precious metal and articles thereof; imitation jewelry; coin. |
Section XV
Chapter 72 to 83 contains a list of HSN codes for Base Metals and Articles of Base Metal.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 72 | Iron and steel |
| Chapter 73 | Articles of iron or steel |
| Chapter 74 | Copper and articles thereof |
| Chapter 75 | Nickel and articles thereof |
| Chapter 76 | Aluminum and articles thereof |
| Chapter 77 | (Reserved for possible future use) |
| Chapter 78 | Lead and articles thereof |
| Chapter 79 | Zinc and articles thereof |
| Chapter 80 | Tin and articles thereof |
| Chapter 81 | Other base metals; cermets; articles thereof |
| Chapter 82 | Tools, implements, cutlery, spoons, and forks, of base metal; parts thereof of base metal |
| Chapter 83 | Miscellaneous articles of base metal |
Section XVI
Chapter 84 to 85 contains a list of HSN codes for Machinery and Mechanical Appliances; Electrical Equipment; Parts thereof; sound Recorders and Reproducers, Television Image and Sound Recorders and reproducers, Television Image and sound Recorders and Reproducers, and Par.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 84 | Nuclear reactors, boilers, machinery, and mechanical appliances; parts thereof. |
| Chapter 85 | Electrical machinery and equipment and parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles. |
Section XVII
Chapter 86 to 89 contains a list of HSN codes for Vehicles, Aircraft, Vessels, and Associated Transport Equipment.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 86 | Railway or tramway locomotives, rolling-stock and parts thereof; railway or tramway track fixtures and fittings and parts thereof; mechanical (including electro-mechanical) traffic signaling equipment of all kinds. |
| Chapter 87 | Vehicles other than railway or tramway rolling stock, and parts and accessories thereof. |
| Chapter 88 | Aircraft, spacecraft, and parts thereof. |
| Chapter 89 | Ships, boats, and floating structures |
Section XVIII
90 to 92 contains a list of HSN codes for Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments, and apparatus; clocks and watches; musical instruments; part and accessories thereof.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 90 | Optical, photographic, cinematographic, measuring, checking, precision, medical or surgical instruments, and apparatus; parts and accessories thereof. |
| Chapter 91 | Clocks and watches and parts thereof. |
| Chapter 92 | Musical instruments; parts and accessories of such articles. |
Section XIX
Chapter 93 is for Arms and Ammunition; Parts and Accessories thereof.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 93 | Arms and ammunition; parts and accessories thereof. |
Section XX
Chapter 94 to 96 contains a list of HSN codes for Miscellaneous Manufactured Articles.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 94 | Furniture; bedding, mattresses, mattress supports, cushions, and similar stuffed furnishings; lamps and lighting fittings, not elsewhere specified or included; illuminated signs, illuminated name-plates, and the like; prefabricated buildings. |
| Chapter 95 | Toys, games, and sports requisites; parts and accessories thereof. |
| Chapter 96 | Miscellaneous manufactured articles. |
Section XXI
Chapter 97 and 98 contain a list of HSN codes for Works of art, Collectors’ Pieces, and Antiques.
| Chapters | Chapter Description |
|---|---|
| Chapter 97 | Works of art, collectors’ pieces, and antiques |
| Chapter 98 | Project imports, Laboratory chemicals, passenger’s baggage, personal importation by air or post; ship stores. |
I hope you understand what is the meaning of the HSN code and what it important for businessmen. If anyone has any suggestions or queries please comment in the comment box.
