What products fall under HS Chapter 85?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
HS-2 · Chapter 85
HS chapter 85: Electrical machinery and equipment
Section XVI — Machinery and mechanical appliances; electrical equipment; parts thereof; sound recorders and reproducers, television image and sound recorders and reproducers, and parts and accessories of such articles
Chapter 85 of the Harmonized System covers a wide range of electrical machinery and equipment, including various components and accessories. This chapter is essential for traders dealing with electric motors, generators, transformers, and sound recording devices, among others. It is structured to facilitate easy navigation through specific HS-4 codes, allowing importers and exporters to identify the correct classifications for their products.
Understanding the organization of this chapter is crucial for compliance and accurate tariff application. The chapter is divided into multiple HS-4 headings, each detailing specific types of electrical machinery and their parts. For example, HS-4 codes like 8501 for electric motors and 8518 for microphones provide clear categorizations that traders can use to classify their goods accurately.
As you drill down from the chapter to HS-4 and then to HS-6 codes, be mindful of the specific notes and exclusions that may apply to your products. These details can significantly impact duties and regulations. If you are unsure about the classification or need further assistance, consulting with a customs broker or trade expert can provide clarity and ensure compliance with national regulations.
Terms & reference phrasing
These are common trade terms used for this chapter. Use them as context, not as a substitute for legal wording.
HS Chapter 85 · electrical machinery · electric motors · transformers · sound recording equipment · electric accumulators · microphones · HS-4 codes · import/export regulations · customs classification · electrical parts · trade compliance · tariff application · brokers for electrical goods · national digits · electronic devices · import duties · export documentation
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Related topics
Longer phrases that come up when you're comparing codes or talking to a broker.
- how to classify electric machinery for customs
- understanding HS codes for electrical equipment
- importing sound recording devices regulations
- navigating HS Chapter 85 for trade
- compliance for electric motors and generators
- guidelines for electrical machinery import/export
- finding the right HS-4 code for transformers
- consulting brokers for electrical goods classification
Examples & common questions
Example products reflect typical trade descriptions. The questions below mirror practical doubts teams raise during filing.
Example products
- Electric motors (HS-4: 8501)
- Transformers and inductors (HS-4: 8504)
- Electric accumulators (HS-4: 8507)
- Vacuum cleaners (HS-4: 8508)
- Microphones and loudspeakers (HS-4: 8518)
- Sound recording apparatus (HS-4: 8519)
- Video recording equipment (HS-4: 8521)
- Electrical insulators (HS-4: 8546)
Common classification questions
How do I classify electric motors for import?
Confirm composition, processing stage, and end-use in your documents before mapping to country digits.
Are there specific regulations for sound recording equipment?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
What are the HS-4 codes for electrical machinery?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
How do I find national digits for HS codes?
Use it as a chapter cue, then verify the final choice against heading and subheading legal wording.
What should I know about importing transformers?
Confirm composition, processing stage, and end-use in your documents before mapping to country digits.
Questions & answers
For orientation only—the binding text is your national tariff and the WCO nomenclature your country uses.
- What types of products are included in Chapter 85?
- Chapter 85 includes electric motors, generators, transformers, sound recording equipment, and various electrical parts and accessories.
- How do I determine the correct HS-4 code for my product?
- You can determine the correct HS-4 code by reviewing the specific headings in Chapter 85 and matching them with your product's specifications.
- Are there any exclusions I should be aware of in this chapter?
- Yes, certain products may be excluded from specific headings, so it’s important to review the notes associated with each HS-4 code.
- What is the importance of consulting a customs broker?
- A customs broker can provide expert guidance on classification, compliance, and navigating import/export regulations effectively.
- What are the implications of incorrect classification?
- Incorrect classification can lead to misapplied duties, compliance issues, and potential penalties from customs authorities.
All HS-4 headings in chapter 85 (48)
Each HS-4 links to a dedicated page with plain-English explanation, HS-6 subheadings, and FAQs. Use Browse to open the lookup in heading mode for that line.
8501
Electric motors and generators (excluding generating sets)
8502
Electric generating sets and rotary converters
8503
Electric motors and generators; parts suitable for use solely or principally with the machines of heading no. 8501 or 8502
8504
Electric transformers, static converters (e.g. rectifiers) and inductors
8505
Electro-magnets; permanent magnets, intended permanent magnets; electro-magnetic, permanent magnet chucks, clamps, similar; electromagnetic couplings, clutches, brakes; electro-magnetic lifting heads
8506
Cells and batteries; primary
8507
Electric accumulators, including separators therefor; whether or not rectangular (including square)
8508
Vacuum cleaners
8509
Electro-mechanical domestic appliances; with self-contained electric motor, other than vacuum cleaners of heading 85.08.
8510
Shavers, hair clippers and hair removing appliances, with self-contained electric motor
8511
Ignition or starting equipment; used for spark-ignition or compression-ignition internal combustion engines; generators and cut outs used in conjunction with such engines
8512
Lighting or visual signalling equipment (excluding articles of heading no. 8539), windscreen wipers, defrosters and demisters; electrical, of a kind used for cycles or motor vehicles
8513
Lamps; portable, electric, designed to function by their own source of energy (e.g. dry batteries, accumulators, magnetos), excluding lighting equipment of heading no. 8512
8514
Industrial or laboratory electric furnaces and ovens (including those functioning by induction or dielectric loss); other industrial or laboratory equipment for the heat treatment of materials by induction or dielectric loss
8515
Electric (electrically heated gas) soldering, brazing, welding machines and apparatus, capable or not of cutting, electric machines and apparatus for hot spraying of metals or sintered carbides
8516
Electric water, space, soil heaters; electro-thermic hair-dressing apparatus; hand dryers, irons; electro-thermic appliances for domestic purposes; electro heating resistors, not of heading no. 8545
8517
Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for cellular/wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data (including wired/wireless networks), excluding items of 8443, 8525, 8527, or 8528
8518
Microphones and their stands; loudspeakers, mounted or not in their enclosures; headphones and earphones, combined or not with a microphone, and sets of a microphone and one or more loudspeakers; audio-frequency and electric sound amplifiers and sets
8519
Sound recording or reproducing apparatus
8521
Video recording or reproducing apparatus
8522
Sound or video recording apparatus; parts and accessories suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading 8519 or 8521
8523
Discs, tapes, solid-state non-volatile storage devices, smart cards and other media for the recording of sound or of other phenomena, whether or not recorded, including matrices and masters for the production of discs, excluding products of Chapter 37
8524
Flat panel display modules, whether or not incorporating touch-sensitive screens
8525
Transmission apparatus for radio-broadcasting or television, whether or not incorporating reception apparatus or sound recording or reproducing apparatus; television cameras, digital cameras and video camera recorders
8526
Radar apparatus, radio navigational aid apparatus and radio remote control apparatus
8527
Reception apparatus for radio-broadcasting, whether or not combined, in the same housing, with sound recording or reproducing apparatus or a clock.
8528
Monitors and projectors, not incorporating television reception apparatus; reception apparatus for television, whether or not incorporating radio-broadcast receivers or sound or video recording or reproducing apparatus
8529
Transmission apparatus; parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading no. 8524 to 8528
8530
Signalling, safety or traffic control equipment; for railways, tramways, roads, inland waterways, parking facilities, port installations, airfields, excluding those of heading no. 8608
8531
Signalling apparatus; electric sound or visual (e.g. bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), excluding those of heading no. 8512 or 8530
8532
Electrical capacitors; fixed, variable or adjustable (pre-set)
8533
Electrical resistors (including rheostats and potentiometers), excluding heating resistors
8534
Circuits; printed
8535
Electrical apparatus for switching, protecting electrical circuits, for making connections to or in electrical circuits; for a voltage exceeding 1000 volts
8536
Electrical apparatus for switching, protecting electrical circuits, for making connections to or in electrical circuits, for a voltage not exceeding 1000 volts; connectors for optical fibres, optical fibre bundles or cables
8537
Boards, panels, consoles, desks, cabinets, bases with apparatus of heading no. 8535, 8536 for electricity control and distribution, (other than switching apparatus of heading no. 8517)
8538
Electrical apparatus; parts suitable for use solely or principally with the apparatus of heading no. 8535, 8536 and 8537
8539
Lamps; electric filament or discharge lamps, including sealed beam lamp units and ultra-violet or infra-red lamps, arc lamps, light-emitting diode (LED) light sources
8540
Thermionic, cold cathode or photo-cathode valves and tubes (e.g. vacuum, vapour, gas filled valves and tubes, mercury arc rectifying valves and tubes, cathode-ray and television camera tubes)
8541
Semiconductor devices (e.g. diodes, transistors, semiconductor based transducers); including photovoltaic cells assembled or not in modules or panels, light-emitting diodes (LED) assembled with other LEDs or not, mounted piezo-electric crystals
8542
Electronic integrated circuits
8543
Electrical machines and apparatus; having individual functions, not specified or included elsewhere in this chapter
8544
Insulated wire, cable and other electric conductors, connector fitted or not; optical fibre cables of individually sheathed fibres, whether or not assembled with electric conductors or fitted with connectors
8545
Carbon electrodes, carbon brushes, lamp carbons, battery carbons and other articles of graphite or other carbon; with or without metal, of a kind used for electrical purposes
8546
Electrical insulators of any material
8547
Insulating fittings; for electrical machines, appliances, equipment, excluding insulators of heading no. 8546, electrical conduit tubing and joints therefore
8548
Electrical parts of machinery or apparatus; not specified or elsewhere included in this chapter
8549
Electrical and electronic waste and scrap
Browse first heading (HS-4 8501)
Opens the lookup in heading browse for the first HS-4 block in this chapter (8501). Prefer the table above for a specific HS-4 page with full copy.
Before you file customs documents
Chapter pages on TradeTools are educational summaries, not legal classification determinations. Cross-check candidate codes with official notes, advance rulings where available, and your broker for high-value or borderline goods.
How we classify products explains what TradeTools does (and does not) automate.