About HSCODE.UK
HSCODE.UK is an independent reference tool for anyone importing goods into Great Britain, trading with the EU, or classifying goods internationally. Every figure on this site comes from an official public register — we do not invent data, and we do not sell it.
Data sources and how fresh they are
| Tool | Source | Update cadence |
|---|---|---|
| UK Tariff lookup | Official GOV.UK Trade Tariff API, maintained by HMRC — commodity codes, duty measures, quotas, licences and trade remedies | Live: every query pulls the current published data, briefly cached at the edge |
| Duty & VAT calculator | Duty rules taken live from the GOV.UK Trade Tariff API; VAT and excise parameters from published HMRC guidance | Calculated in your browser — no data leaves the page |
| EU TARIC | European Commission TARIC consultation, plus the monthly TARIC exports and the EU open data portal | Consultation updated daily on weekday evenings; full exports monthly |
| WCO HS 2022 | WCO HS Nomenclature 2022, via the UN Comtrade public classification (5,613 six-digit subheadings) | Edition-based: HS 2022 in force since 1 January 2022; HS 2028 applies from 1 January 2028 |
| UK local reference | Royal Mail postcode areas, Ofcom numbering ranges, ONS geography and Ordnance Survey open data | Reviewed when the underlying registers change |
| VAT & compliance tables | Published HMRC, GOV.UK and EU Commission guidance | Reviewed at each Budget and on material policy change |
How the UK tariff lookup works
When you search, this site queries the official GOV.UK Trade Tariff API through a cached edge proxy. The proxy holds responses for a short period so the data stays current without hammering HMRC’s service, and it keeps the site fast for everyone. If the proxy is unavailable, the browser falls back to calling the public API directly. Keyword searches use HMRC’s own published search-reference index, filtered on your device and cached locally so repeats are instant.
The response is parsed into plain-English groups:
- Customs duties — third-country (UK Global Tariff) and preferential rates, with the duty expression text exactly as published.
- Preferential arrangements — the trade agreements under which a lower or zero rate is available.
- Tariff-rate quotas — with their order numbers so you can apply through the right authority.
- Trade remedies — anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties.
- Licences, prohibitions and controls — import licensing and certification measures.
- VAT and excise — VAT-related measures recorded against the code; standard import VAT is 20%.
How the calculator works
The duty and VAT calculator runs entirely in your browser. It takes the customs value of the goods (normally the CIF value: goods + international freight + insurance), applies the percentage or specific duty rate, adds any trade remedy duty and excise duty, and then applies import VAT to the resulting base. Nothing you type is transmitted anywhere. Because duty rules change, always confirm the rate shown on the official Trade Tariff before you rely on a figure.
Editorial standards
- Rates and descriptions are reproduced from the source register, not paraphrased, so that what you see matches what you would declare from.
- Where a figure is an estimate or a range, it is labelled as such. The calculator is explicitly an estimating tool.
- We link to the authoritative register wherever an action is required — applying for a BTI ruling, checking a TARIC line, or finding an address — and we say plainly which site is official.
- Content is reviewed when the underlying registers change, and at least annually.
Limitations
- Results are for guidance only. Classification depends on the exact composition, function and origin of your goods. Always confirm with HMRC or a customs agent and, where needed, obtain a Binding Tariff Information (BTI) ruling before importing.
- EU TARIC measures change daily and are maintained by the Commission. Each code is linked to the official consultation for the current measures; the monthly full dataset is free to download.
- The WCO’s own HS Database is a subscription service. The free six-digit nomenclature reproduced here is the official HS 2022 text.
- UK import VAT rates (standard 20%, reduced 5%, zero) are shown as guidance. Special regimes, such as the rules for low-value parcels, may apply.
- Postcode checking validates the format and identifies the area. It does not confirm that a specific address exists at a postcode.
Independence
HSCODE.UK is not affiliated with, endorsed by or connected to HMRC, the European Commission, the World Customs Organization, Royal Mail, Ofcom or the Ordnance Survey. We exist to make official tariff and trade information easier to use. The site is funded by advertising; data is never sold and search queries are not stored on our servers.
Get in touch
Spotted an error, or want a tool we do not yet have? Contact us — we read every message, and corrections to data are prioritised.
Last reviewed: October 2026.