The Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) is the 10-digit classification system US Customs and Border Protection uses to assign duty rates. The TariffWatch Watchlist ($29/mo) checks the HTS codes you give it against Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) Federal Register notices and emails you a digest every Monday at 09:00 UTC. This guide walks the lookup, how to add codes, and exactly what the watchlist does with them.
Step 1: Find the right HTS code
The canonical source is the US International Trade Commission's HTS search at hts.usitc.gov, which lets you search by keyword, chapter, or code prefix. For a shipment you're already importing, the fastest path is your commercial invoice or CBP entry summary (Form 7501), which lists the 10-digit HTS by line. If you don't have a filed entry yet, walk the schedule: chapter, then the 4-digit heading, then the 6-digit subheading (the international HS level), then the 8-digit tariff line and the 10-digit statistical suffix.
Step 2: Confirm the code with a customs broker if the classification is contested
Some products can plausibly fall into more than one HTS code, and the duty rate can differ substantially by choice. A licensed customs broker can review your product and confirm the correct code. If you want a binding answer, request a ruling under 19 CFR Part 177; issued rulings are public and searchable at rulings.cbp.gov. TariffWatch does not classify products for you.
Step 3: Add codes on the welcome page
Right after checkout, Stripe sends you to the Watchlist welcome page. There are two ways to add codes there:
- By hand: paste up to 20 HTSUS codes and save. Saving this list replaces the codes previously saved on your subscription.
- By CSV: upload a CSV (up to 500 rows per import, 1 MB max). Imported codes are added to your existing list, and duplicates are skipped. See CSV import and export for the exact format.
Only the codes are stored. There are no per-code labels, country-of-origin fields, alert thresholds, or per-code routing. To change your codes later, reopen the link in your TariffWatch welcome email, or reply to any digest and we'll update them for you.
Step 4: What happens next
Every Monday at 09:00 UTC, the watchlist pulls the BIS documents published in the Federal Register over the prior seven days. It checks each notice title for your full code, its 6-digit subheading, or its 4-digit heading, then emails the matches with links to the source documents and any comment deadline. If nothing matched, you still get a short "nothing matched" email, so a quiet week is distinguishable from a broken monitor.
What it does not do: it does not watch USTR, CPSC, USITC or CBP feeds, it does not track MFN or Section 301 rate changes, it does not flag "adjacent" or substitute codes, and it is not a same-day alert. Because matching is on notice titles, a notice that lists codes only in its body text can be missed. The digest is a triage aid, not a classification or legal determination. The format of the email is described in understanding your weekly digest.
Step 5: Optional Slack delivery
If you connect Slack from your account's integrations page, the same weekly digest also posts to your Slack channel. Email remains the default delivery.
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FAQ
Can I add a 6- or 8-digit code instead of a 10-digit code? Yes. CSV import accepts 6- and 8-digit codes with a "broader match" warning. Matching already works at the 4-digit heading and 6-digit subheading level, so a shorter code mainly changes what is shown in the digest. Prefer 10-digit codes when you have them.
Is there a limit on how many codes I can watch? Hand entry saves up to 20 codes at a time. CSV import adds up to 500 rows per upload, merged into your list. For very large portfolios, email support@tariffwatch.app first.
What if my HTS code changes in a Harmonized System revision? TariffWatch does not remap codes automatically. When CBP renumbers a code, update your list by re-uploading or replying to a digest.
Does the watchlist track the MFN rate on my codes? No. It matches BIS Federal Register notices against your codes. For duty rates, use the Section 232 exposure calculator or your broker.
Still stuck? Email support@tariffwatch.app.