UK Commodity Code Finder: 10-Digit Codes, Duty and VAT

Search the UK Trade Tariff by product or code. See where the code sits in the tariff, the 10-digit import and 8-digit export codes, duty, VAT and supplementary units. Free, no signup.

What you search for is sent to OrderSync, which looks it up in the UK Trade Tariff. Searches are never written to a database or our logs; tariff answers are cached for up to a day.

Try a sample:

Example result

4 declarable codes

Recorded from the UK Trade Tariff on 23 October 2026. Rates change, so search to see today's tariff.

Section XI: Textiles and textile articles
Chapter 61: Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, knitted or crocheted

6109T-shirts, singlets and other vests, knitted or crocheted

Commodity code

6109 10 00 10

Of cotton: T-shirts

Import declaration (10 digits): 6109100010
Export declaration (8 digits): 61091000
HS code (6 digits, worldwide): 610910
Third country duty: 12%
Import VAT: 20% or 0% (VAT zero rate)
Supplementary unit: items (p/st)

Using this on a commercial invoice

Goods coming into the UK: put 6109100010 in the commodity code column. Goods leaving the UK: give the 8 digits, 61091000. An EU buyer's broker will add their own TARIC digits to the first 8.
Describe the goods in plain trade terms: what it is, what it is made of and what it is for. The tariff wording is a starting point, not a description.
Customs also want the quantity in items (p/st), as well as the net weight.

All measures on GOV.UK

Third country duty is the rate with no trade deal. Goods that qualify by origin, for example under the UK and EU Trade and Cooperation Agreement, may pay less; quotas, licences and other measures are on GOV.UK.

Every code under heading 6109

6109 10Of cotton
6109 10 00 10T-shirts
- Duty 12%
- VAT 20% or 0%
- Unit: items (p/st)
6109 10 00 90Other
- Duty 12%
- VAT 20% or 0%
- Unit: items (p/st)
6109 90Of other textile materials
6109 90 20 00Of wool or fine animal hair or man-made fibres
- Duty 12%
- VAT 20% or 0%
- Unit: items (p/st)
6109 90 90 00Of other textile materials
- Duty 12%
- VAT 20% or 0%
- Unit: items (p/st)

A guide, not a binding ruling. You are responsible for the code you declare. For a decision HMRC will stand by, apply for an Advance Tariff Ruling.

Source: UK Global Tariff, from the UK Trade Tariff API. Crown copyright, used under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

What Is a UK Commodity Code?

A commodity code is the number customs use to classify goods. It sets the import duty and VAT you pay, and whether the goods need a licence or certificate. Every line on a customs declaration needs one, and most buyers and freight forwarders expect it on the commercial invoice too.

Digits	Level	Example (cotton T-shirts)
2	Chapter	61
4	Heading	6109
6	HS subheading, the same worldwide	6109 10
8	UK export code	6109 10 00
10	UK import code	6109 10 00 10

How to Classify Your Goods

Describe the goods precisely. What is it, what is it made of, and what is it for? "Knitted cotton T-shirt" finds the right heading faster than "top".
Open the heading that fits. The finder shows every line under it, indented the way the tariff nests them.
Pick the most specific declarable line. Only lines with a Select button can go on a declaration. "Other" is correct when none of the named lines fit.
Check the notes when it is close. Chapter and section notes on the official tariff decide borderline cases. HMRC's guide to finding commodity codes explains the rules.

Still unsure? Apply to HMRC for an Advance Tariff Ruling. It is free, legally binding and usually lasts 3 years.

Commodity Code vs HS Code vs TARIC Code

HS code: the first 6 digits, set by the World Customs Organization and shared by over 200 countries.
UK commodity code: 8 digits for exports, 10 for imports, from the UK Global Tariff.
TARIC code: the EU's 10-digit import code. The first 8 digits (the EU Combined Nomenclature) mostly match the UK's; the last 2 can differ.

Northern Ireland

Goods entering Northern Ireland can be charged under the EU tariff when they are at risk of moving on into the EU. Choose the Northern Ireland (XI) tariff above to see those duty rates. UK VAT still applies, so read VAT from the UK tariff.

Where the Data Comes From

Every live result is read from the UK Trade Tariff API, published by HMRC under the Open Government Licence v3.0. The tariff changes at most daily, so answers are cached for up to a day. Duty shown is the third country rate; a trade agreement can lower it if your goods meet its rules of origin.

With the code in hand, check your customer's customs number in the EORI number checker, confirm their VAT number, and work out duty and freight per unit with the landed cost calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a commodity code?

A commodity code is the number that classifies goods for customs. In the UK it has 10 digits for imports and 8 for exports. It decides the import duty, the import VAT rate and any licences or controls, so it appears on customs declarations and commercial invoices.

Is a commodity code the same as an HS code?

Not quite. The HS code is the first 6 digits and is the same in every country that uses the Harmonized System. The UK adds 2 digits for exports (8) and 2 more for imports (10). The EU's TARIC code is also 10 digits, but its last 4 can differ from the UK's, so check each tariff separately.

How do I find the right commodity code?

Describe the goods by what they are, what they are made of and what they are for, then search. Open the heading that fits, read down its tree and pick the most specific line that describes your goods. If two lines could fit, read the chapter and section notes on GOV.UK, or ask HMRC for an Advance Tariff Ruling.

Do I use 8 or 10 digits?

Use 10 digits on an import declaration into the UK and 8 digits on an export declaration. On a commercial invoice, give the code your customer's customs declaration will need: 10 digits for goods going into the UK, 8 for goods leaving it.

Which commodity code do I use for Northern Ireland?

The code is usually the same, but goods entering Northern Ireland can fall under the EU tariff instead of the UK one. Switch the finder to the Northern Ireland (XI) tariff to see the EU duty rates that apply there. Northern Ireland still charges UK VAT.

Is the code this tool shows legally binding?

No. It is a guide, read live from the UK Trade Tariff. You are responsible for the code you declare. For a decision HMRC will stand by, apply for an Advance Tariff Ruling, which is free and usually valid for 3 years.

Is the commodity code finder free?

Yes, with no signup. Searches go to the UK Trade Tariff through OrderSync and are not stored or written to our logs.