Read here what an HS code is and how to get it. With this code, customs know exactly what kind of goods enter a country.
Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.
Within the world of international transport, the term HS code (Harmonized System code) is often used. This is an 8 or 10-digit code that customs use to classify goods. An HS code is also known as a GN code, Taric code, or commodity code. By using this code, customs can identify the type of goods entering a country. But how can you obtain an HS code? And when is an HS code needed? In this blog post, we address your questions about HS codes. This way, you can send a package or ship a pallet abroad without any worries.
An HS code is a code that informs customs about the type of goods being imported. When you send a shipment to or from a country outside the European Union, your shipment goes through customs; it's cleared by customs. This HS code is included in a customs invoice, which you add to shipments to or from countries outside the European Union. Customs uses the HS code to calculate the amount of import duties. So, having an HS code is essential when sending a package abroad. Import duties are a type of tax that needs to be paid to protect the domestic market (of the country of clearance). The amount of import duties is determined by the customs (government authority) in the destination country. These potential costs are always passed on to the recipient by default (Incoterm: DAP). You can read more about import duties on our website.
An HS code or Taric code is only needed for shipments to or from countries outside the European Union. For example, a shipment from Belgium to the United States is subject to customs because the United States is not part of the European Union. Your shipment goes through customs, so a customs invoice is required. This customs invoice specifies all the goods that are being imported into the country. By specifying an HS code for each type of goods, customs knows exactly what goods are being imported. In short, only shipments to or from countries outside the European Union require a customs invoice and therefore an HS code.
All shipments to or from countries outside the European Union go through customs. Customs reviews the customs invoice to check which goods are being imported. By adding an HS code to the customs invoice, customs knows exactly what goods are involved, and your shipment is more likely to be released and delivered to the recipient sooner. When the goods being imported are unclear, customs will contact the sender or recipient to inquire about the goods being sent. This often happens with large packages and heavy packages. In such cases, customs asks for an HS code to specify the goods. So, if you routinely include the HS code on the customs invoice, there's a lower chance of delays at customs, and your shipment will be delivered faster. In short, we recommend always including an HS code on the customs invoice.
Do you ever send shipments to or from countries outside the European Union? Then you've likely encountered HS codes. MyParcelParcel provides the option to automatically create a customs invoice. During the booking process, in addition to the description, we ask for the value per item and quantity per item, as well as the HS code.
Entering an HS code is optional, but highly recommended. The correct HS code and description reduce the chances of customs delays, resulting in faster delivery of your shipment. Therefore, we've created a tool in MyParcelParcel to easily look up HS codes based on descriptions and vice versa (finding descriptions based on the HS code).
You can use our HS code tool unlimitedly and for free without registering. Our HS code tool is also integrated into our shipping platform, making it even easier to create a customs invoice. Read below to learn how to find the correct HS code. Want to try out our shipping platform? You can register for MyParcelParcel for free. Click further to see what other functionalities our shipping platform has.
Go to our HS code tool or click the button to search for an HS code in MyParcelParcel:
If you want to look up an HS code, enter a description of the item you're sending:
If you already have the HS code but want to find the corresponding description, type the HS code in the search field:
If you prefer to navigate through chapters yourself, that's also possible. It's recommended to browse through chapters manually if you don't get search results:
Additionally, you can choose whether to search in Dutch or English:
Click on the blue button with the respective code to add the HS code and its corresponding description.
If you've already entered a description, we'll ask if you want to replace it. It's recommended to use the description from our tool because it's the most comprehensive one.
In our shipping platform, MyParcelParcel, you can import and export from or to over 220 countries. Moreover, we've designed our shipping platform to make it easy for you to create a customs invoice within a few clicks. You can add the HS code you've selected in MyParcelParcel when creating a customs invoice.
Afterward, you can specify other fields, such as the price per item, item quantity, and total weight. For customs-regulated shipments, you'll receive shipping labels and the customs invoice via MyParcelParcel. If you don't have a MyParcelParcel account, you can sign up for free. Creating a customs invoice during booking is also free. You only pay for the shipping costs of the chosen carrier.
We're here to assist you in finding the correct HS code if you're sending the shipment through ParcelParcel.
Feel free to start a Live Chat or contact us by phone at 085 877 16 56 (Netherlands) or 038 087 099 (Belgium). We're available for your questions from Monday to Friday (08:00 - 17:30). You can also send an email to [email protected].
You can instantly check the shipping costs through our rate calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment, and you will see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times. The calculator can be used to compare shipping rates for both export and import shipments.
If you need help calculating a shipping rate, watch the video below. Click on the 
button to play the video and the 
icon to view the video in fullscreen.
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Shipping costs are calculated based on dimensions (LxWxH in cm), weight (in kg), and the destination country. Both the actual weight (as shown on the scale) and the volumetric weight are considered.
The volumetric weight is the weight calculated based on the space your shipment occupies in the plane. The higher of the two weights (volumetric or actual weight) is used to calculate the shipping rate. You don't need to calculate this yourself; our calculator does it for you.
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You can use the discount code PP10 for 10% discount on the transportation costs of your first shipment. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process (instructions).
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Whether additional costs apply depends on whether your shipment stays within the European Union or is sent to/from a country outside the European Union. Below, you can see the additional costs for each situation.
Within the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to Italy (within the EU), there will be an additional 21% VAT on the shipping costs.
Furthermore, if your shipment stays within the European Union, you won't have to deal with any import duties or customs clearance fees because your shipment doesn't go through customs. Please note that the European Union is not the same as Europe.
View here all the countries that are part of the European Union. For example, Switzerland is part of Europe but not part of the European Union.
Outside the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to the United States, there will be no VAT (0%) applied to the displayed shipping rates.
However, there might be import duties levied by customs in the destination country if you send a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union. Typically, customs costs are charged to the recipient. This is known as Delivered At Place (DAP) in logistics terminology.
Customs is a government agency that levies import duties in certain cases to protect the local market. As a company, you can also ship using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means any customs costs will be charged to you as the sender.
If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact us. Additionally, you can read everything about import duties, VAT, and the customs clearance process in this blog.
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A customs invoice is a form where all the goods you want to ship are specified. This invoice includes an English description of the goods, along with their corresponding value and weight.
The contents of your shipment must be specified per type of product you're sending to avoid delays at customs. A customs invoice is always prepared in quadruplicate in accordance with customs guidelines.
When is a customs invoice required?
A customs invoice is only required for shipments to/from countries outside the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - United States). If your shipment stays within the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - Italy), your shipment will not go through customs, and therefore, a customs invoice is not required.
Additionally, document shipments are not subject to customs, so if you're sending a document to a country within/outside the European Union, no customs invoice is needed.
Please note that not all goods can be shipped to every country. You can find a list of goods that cannot be sent via ParcelParcel on this page.
Do I need to create a customs invoice myself?
If you're sending a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union, it's mandatory to include a customs invoice with the shipment. We provide free support in creating a customs invoice.
You can easily generate a customs invoice through our shipping platform. The customs invoice will be automatically generated based on the content you specified during your booking.
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You can import just as easily as export via ParcelParcel.
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You can find a list of goods that cannot be shipped via ParcelParcel on this page.
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