Heading 8540

HTS code 8540Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof

Chapter
85Electrical machinery and electronics
Tariff lines
38
General duty
General duty rates from 3% to 15%, with 4 duty-free lines

Tariff lines under heading 8540

Full 10-digit codes with their general (MFN) duty rates. The correct line depends on the product's material, construction, and use.

HTS codeDescriptionGeneral rateUnit
8540.11.1030Not exceeding 39 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color > Non-high definition, non-projection, having a video display diagonal exceeding 35.56 cm > Having a video display diagonal)15%No.
8540.11.1040Exceeding 39 cm but not exceeding 45 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color > Non-high definition, non-projection, having a video display diagonal exceeding 35.56 cm > Having a video display diagonal)15%No.
8540.11.1050Exceeding 45 cm but not exceeding 50 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color > Non-high definition, non-projection, having a video display diagonal exceeding 35.56 cm > Having a video display diagonal)15%No.
8540.11.1055Exceeding 50 cm but not exceeding 63 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color > Non-high definition, non-projection, having a video display diagonal exceeding 35.56 cm > Having a video display diagonal)15%No.
8540.11.1085Exceeding 63 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color > Non-high definition, non-projection, having a video display diagonal exceeding 35.56 cm > Having a video display diagonal)15%No.
8540.11.2401Having a video display diagonal not exceeding 34.29 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color > Non-high definition, non-projection, having a video display diagonal not exceeding 35.56 cm)7.5%No.
8540.11.2801Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color > Non-high definition, non-projection, having a video display diagonal not exceeding 35.56 cm)15%No.
8540.11.3000High definition, having a video display diagonal exceeding 35.56 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color)15%No.
8540.11.4401Having a video display diagonal not exceeding 34.29 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color > High definition, having a video display diagonal not exceeding 35.56 cm)7.5%No.
8540.11.4801Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color > High definition, having a video display diagonal not exceeding 35.56 cm)15%No.
8540.11.5000Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Color)15%No.
8540.12.1000Non-high definition (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Monochrome > Television picture tubes having a straight line dimension across the faceplate greater than 29 cm but having no straight line dimension across the faceplate that exceeds 42 cm)3.6%No.
8540.12.2000High definition (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Monochrome > Television picture tubes having a straight line dimension across the faceplate greater than 29 cm but having no straight line dimension across the faceplate that exceeds 42 cm)3.6%No.
8540.12.5040Projection (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Monochrome > Other > Non-high definition)3.3%No.
8540.12.5080Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Monochrome > Other > Non-high definition)3.3%No.
8540.12.7000High definition (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes > Monochrome > Other)3.3%No.
8540.20.2040Color (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Television camera tubes; image converters and intensifiers; other photocathode tubes > Cathode-ray tubes)6%No.
8540.20.2080Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Television camera tubes; image converters and intensifiers; other photocathode tubes > Cathode-ray tubes)6%No.
8540.20.4000Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Television camera tubes; image converters and intensifiers; other photocathode tubes)3.3%No.
8540.40.1010Color (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Data/graphic display tubes, monochrome; data/graphic display tubes, color, with a phosphor dot screen pitch smaller than 0.4 mm)3%No.
8540.40.1050Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Data/graphic display tubes, monochrome; data/graphic display tubes, color, with a phosphor dot screen pitch smaller than 0.4 mm)3%No.
8540.60.0020Not exceeding 30 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Other cathode-ray tubes > Having a video display diagonal)3%No.
8540.60.0065Exceeding 30 cm but not exceeding 36 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Other cathode-ray tubes > Having a video display diagonal)3%No.
8540.60.0080Exceeding 36 cm (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Other cathode-ray tubes > Having a video display diagonal)3%No.
8540.71.2000Modified for use as parts of microwave ovens (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Microwave tubes (for example, magnetrons, klystrons, traveling wave tubes, carcinotrons), excluding grid-controlled tubes > Magnetrons)FreeNo.
8540.71.4000Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Microwave tubes (for example, magnetrons, klystrons, traveling wave tubes, carcinotrons), excluding grid-controlled tubes > Magnetrons)3.7%No.
8540.79.1000Klystrons (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Microwave tubes (for example, magnetrons, klystrons, traveling wave tubes, carcinotrons), excluding grid-controlled tubes > Other)3.3%No.
8540.79.2000Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Microwave tubes (for example, magnetrons, klystrons, traveling wave tubes, carcinotrons), excluding grid-controlled tubes > Other)3.7%No.
8540.81.0000Receiver or amplifier tubes (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Other tubes)4.2%No.
8540.89.0020Gas and vapor electron tubes (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Other tubes > Other)3.7%No.
8540.89.0040Diodes, triodes and tetrodes (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Other tubes > Other)3.7%No.
8540.89.0060Light-sensing tubes (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Other tubes > Other)3.7%No.
8540.89.0080Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Other tubes > Other)3.7%No.
8540.91.1500Front panel assemblies (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Parts > Of cathode-ray tubes)5.4%No.
8540.91.2000Deflection coils (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Parts > Of cathode-ray tubes)FreeNo.
8540.91.5000Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Parts > Of cathode-ray tubes)5.4%kg
8540.99.4000Electron guns; radio frequency (RF) interaction structures for microwave tubes of subheadings 8540.71 through 8540.79, inclusive (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Parts > Other)FreeNo.
8540.99.8000Other (Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof > Parts > Other)FreeNo.

Documents required to import under 8540

Customs paperwork typically required to import these goods into the United States. Conditional items depend on shipment value, transport mode, or origin.

  • Commercial InvoiceRequired
  • Packing ListRequired
  • Bill of Lading / Airway BillRequired
  • CBP Entry Summary (7501)Required

    Prepared and filed by your customs broker

  • CBP Entry / Release (3461)Required

    Prepared and filed by your customs broker

  • Customs Bond (CBP 301)Conditional

    Required for formal entries — generally shipments valued over $2,500

    Single-entry or continuous bond, obtained through your broker or a surety

  • Importer Security Filing (ISF "10+2")Conditional

    Required for ocean freight only

    Filed electronically at least 24 hours before loading at the foreign port

  • Importer ID Input Record (CBP 5106)Conditional

    Required to establish or update your importer-of-record number with CBP

    One-time setup for a new importer; not filed per shipment

  • Entry Manifest (CBP 7533)Conditional

    Alternative to the 3461 for informal, low-value, or contiguous-country entries

  • FCC Declaration (Form 740)Conditional

    Required for electronic devices that emit radio frequency

  • FDA Radiation Declaration (Form 2877)Conditional

    Required for products that emit radiation (X-ray, laser, microwave, etc.)

Common questions

What is HTS code 8540?
HTS heading 8540 covers thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof. It sits in Chapter 85 (electrical machinery and electronics) of the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule and contains 38 tariff lines.
What is the duty rate for HTS 8540?
General duty rates from 3% to 15%, with 4 duty-free lines. The general rate applies to most-favoured-nation trading partners; goods from countries with a free trade agreement may qualify for a reduced or duty-free special rate.
How many digits does a full HTS code have?
US import entries require the full 10-digit HTS code. Heading 8540 is the first four digits — the remaining six narrow it down to the specific product, which is what determines the duty rate you actually pay.

Related headings in Chapter 85