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HSN Code Chapter Guide for Indian Manufacturers

This lookup lists the HSN chapters and common four-digit headings that Indian manufacturers meet most often. Use it to sanity check an item master, speed up GSTR-1 table 12 preparation, or train new accounts staff on where a product family sits.

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Chapter	Common 4-digit heading	Goods covered (general)	Typical manufacturing use
28	2801 to 2853	Inorganic chemicals	Process chemicals, industrial gases, acids
29	2901 to 2942	Organic chemicals	Solvents, intermediates, specialty chemicals
32	3208, 3209	Paints and varnishes (non-aqueous / aqueous)	Coatings for fabricated products
34	3403	Lubricating preparations	Cutting oils, greases, mould release agents
38	3824	Prepared binders for foundry moulds, other chemical products	Foundry binders, coolants
39	3917, 3923, 3926	Plastic tubes, containers, other plastic articles	Moulded parts, packaging, fittings
40	4009, 4016	Rubber tubes and other rubber articles	Gaskets, seals, hoses
48	4819	Cartons, boxes and cases of paper	Corrugated packaging
68	6804	Grinding stones and wheels	Abrasives for machining
70	7010	Glass containers and closures	Bottles, jars
72	7208, 7210, 7228	Flat-rolled steel, coated steel, alloy bars	Sheet, coil, bar stock for fabrication
73	7318, 7326	Screws, bolts, nuts, other articles of iron or steel	Fasteners, fabricated components
74	7407, 7411	Copper bars and tubes	Busbars, heat exchanger tubes
76	7604, 7606, 7610	Aluminium bars, plates, structures	Extrusions, enclosures
82	8207, 8211	Interchangeable tools, knives	Cutting tool inserts, tooling
83	8302	Base metal mountings and fittings	Hinges, brackets
84	8408, 8413, 8414	Engines, pumps, compressors and fans	Pump sets, blowers
84	8421, 8431	Filtering machinery, parts of lifting machinery	Filters, crane and hoist parts
84	8456 to 8466	Machine tools and their parts and accessories	CNC machines, chucks, tool holders
84	8481, 8483	Taps and valves, transmission shafts, gears	Valves, gearboxes
84	8482	Ball or roller bearings	Bearings
85	8501, 8504	Electric motors, transformers	Motors, power supplies
85	8507	Electric accumulators	Batteries
85	8535, 8536, 8537	Switchgear, connectors, control panels	Panels, relays, connectors
85	8541, 8542	Semiconductor devices, electronic integrated circuits	Diodes, LEDs, ICs
85	8544	Insulated wire, cable and optical fibre cables	Wire harness, fibre optic cable assemblies
85	8517	Telephone sets and communication apparatus	Networking and telecom equipment
85	8537	Boards and panels for electric control	PLC and control cabinets
87	8708	Parts and accessories of motor vehicles	Automotive components
88	8803	Parts of aircraft and spacecraft	Aerospace components
90	9001	Optical fibres and optical fibre bundles, lenses	Optical components
90	9015, 9017, 9024, 9031	Surveying, drawing, testing, measuring and checking instruments	Gauges, CMM, test equipment
94	9403	Other furniture and parts	Metal furniture

General guidance only. Always classify against the current Customs Tariff and the GST rate notification for the exact 6 or 8 digit code, and confirm with your tax adviser. Rates are intentionally not listed because they change by notification.

HSN exception report from your ERP

Optional: we can run a read-only scan of your item master for blank or inconsistent HSN codes.

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How to use the guide

Type a product word, a chapter number or a heading into the search box. The result shows the chapter, the common four-digit headings under it and the kind of manufacturing goods they cover. Treat the heading as the starting point, then drill down to the 6 or 8 digit tariff item in the Customs Tariff schedule. Export the filtered rows to Excel to attach to an item master clean-up task or a vendor onboarding pack.

Search by product word, chapter or heading
Confirm the full tariff item before saving it on the item master
Export to Excel for audit working papers

How HSN digits work and what is required

HSN is the Harmonised System of Nomenclature. The first two digits are the chapter, four digits give the heading, six digits the sub-heading and India extends it to eight digits in the Customs Tariff. For GST invoices, the number of digits you must report depends on your aggregate turnover in the previous financial year. Taxpayers with turnover up to Rs 5 crore have used a lower digit requirement than those above it, and the exact figure has been revised by notification. Check the current notification before configuring your ERP.

Common classification mistakes

The most common error is classifying a part by what it is made of rather than by what it is. A bracket for a machine may belong with the machine parts, not with articles of steel. Parts of goods are often classified by the Section and Chapter notes, which override the heading text. Another frequent problem is one HSN code used for a whole product family when the family spans different headings with different tax rates. Review any item with a changed rate for the last twelve months.

Read Section and Chapter notes before choosing a heading
Do not default every part to the heading of its raw material
Re-check HSN after any GST rate notification
Keep a record of the reasoning for disputed items

ERP notes

In SAP the HSN or SAC is held as a control code against the material master (the India tax data). In Oracle, Infor, Epicor, Tally and Busy it is usually a field on the item or a tax category. Whatever the system, run a check for blank or short HSN values before filing GSTR-1, because the HSN summary table is built from invoice line data and a blank code produces a validation error on the portal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does this list give GST rates?

No. Rates are set by notification and change, so a static list would mislead. Use this guide to find the heading, then check the current rate notification or your ERP tax determination for the rate on the exact tariff item.

Is the four-digit heading enough for my invoice?

That depends on your previous year aggregate turnover and on the current notification. Many mid-size and larger manufacturers must report six digits on B2B invoices. Check the latest rule and set the ERP validation to the stricter number to be safe.

Where do I find the full eight digit code?

The eight digit tariff item is in the Customs Tariff schedule published by the CBIC. The GST rate schedules refer to the same headings. Search the tariff by heading, then match your product description to the tariff item text.

What if two headings seem to fit?

Apply the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Harmonised System in order, starting with the heading text and the Section and Chapter notes. If still unclear, a written advance ruling or a classification opinion from your tax adviser protects you.

If your item master has thousands of parts with inconsistent HSN values, we can run a read-only analysis of your ERP data and list the exceptions for your finance team to review.

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