Does exporting jargon confuse you? Do you find yourself spending a ton of time trying to figure out which export codes you’re supposed to use? No wonder – it IS confusing. Leave it to BorderBuddy, and avoid costly errors and frustrating delays – or worse. We’ve got pros, in all the importing codes.
Let’s break it down for you:
HS Code = Harmonized System Code
- A 6 digit code, recognized globally in importing
- Some countries add extra digits to distinguish products in some categories (?)
What does that mean? An HS code is one of the most commonly recognized codes in exporting, globally. It’s a 6 digit code, with some governments’ countries adding additional digits to distinguish products in some categories. If that sounds simple to you, you’re ahead of the game! But if it doesn’t, which it won’t for most, we’re here.
HTS Code (Harmonized Tariff Schedule Code)
- 10 digits for category classification with customers, vendors and anyone outside of the US
- Essential to commodity duties assessments
- If you are a U.S. importer, this is the code you must use.
An HTS Code is a 10 digit code that carries huge importance for US importers – and is, you guessed it, complex. The 10 digits follow a formula divided into 4 sets of numbers and it gets very, very granular. The slightest slip up could be costly, and accidentally illegal. But don’t worry, we’re here for you.
Schedule B Code
- 10 digit subdivision of HTS codes used for US exporters
- Used for statistical monitoring of US exports by the American government
This code’s purposes are maintained explicitly for US statistics, not the US International Trade Commission. Having said that – they are no less important to follow to the explicit digit. They mirror HS and HTS numbers in numeric sequences, but diverge in the last 4 digits in very specific ways.
Where does that leave you?
You might be feeling confused, overwhelmed, intimidated or deterred by the idea of keeping track of all these crucial codes. We suggest that you leave the codes to your team at BorderBuddy, who knows all of the variations and use cases, and why and when you should use each different code.
Refresher:
You must keep track of 6-10 digits, + possible extra digits by country, + further specificities, which leaves a pretty big margin for error, if this isn’t all you focus on. And it isn’t!
Minimizing margins for error = good, mitigating it entirely = much, much better. So, that’s where we come in at BorderBuddy. Come to us with all your code questions and avoid making expensive, unnecessary errors.
