Heading 9608
HTS code 9608 — Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609
- Tariff lines
- 13
- General duty
- General duty rates from 4% to 6.6%, with 4 duty-free lines; 7 lines carry a specific or compound duty
Tariff lines under heading 9608
Full 10-digit codes with their general (MFN) duty rates. The correct line depends on the product's material, construction, and use.
| HTS code | Description | General rate | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9608.10.0000 | Ball point pens (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609) | 0.8¢ each + 5.4% | No. |
| 9608.20.0000 | Felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609) | 4% | gross |
| 9608.30.0031 | India ink drawing pens (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 > Fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens) | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% | No. |
| 9608.30.0039 | Other (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 > Fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens) | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% | No. |
| 9608.40.4000 | With a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 > Propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils)) | 6.6% | gross |
| 9608.40.8000 | Other (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 > Propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils)) | Free | gross |
| 9608.50.0000 | Sets of articles from two or more of the subheadings 9608.10, 9608.20, 9608.30 or 9608.40 (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609) | The rate applicable to each article in the absence of this subheading | No. |
| 9608.60.0000 | Refills for ball point pens, comprising the ball point and ink reservoir (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609) | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% | No. |
| 9608.91.0000 | Pen nibs and nib points (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 > Other) | Free | gross |
| 9608.99.2000 | Refill cartridges (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 > Other > Other) | 0.4¢ each + 2.7% | No. |
| 9608.99.3000 | Balls for ball point pens (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 > Other > Other) | 20¢/thousand + 3.5% | thousands |
| 9608.99.4000 | Parts of articles provided for in subheadings 9608.10 and 9608.30 (other than balls for ball point pens) (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 > Other > Other > Other) | Free | No. |
| 9608.99.6000 | Other (Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 > Other > Other > Other) | Free | No. |
Documents required to import under 9608
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
- FWS Wildlife Declaration (Form 3-177)Conditional
Required for wildlife, wildlife products, or CITES-listed species
Filed with U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at a designated port
Common questions
- What is HTS code 9608?
- HTS heading 9608 covers ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating styli; propelling or sliding pencils (for example, mechanical pencils); pen-holders, pencil-holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609. It sits in Chapter 96 (miscellaneous manufactured articles) of the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule and contains 13 tariff lines.
- What is the duty rate for HTS 9608?
- General duty rates from 4% to 6.6%, with 4 duty-free lines; 7 lines carry a specific or compound duty. 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 9608 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 96
- 9601Worked ivory, bone, tortoise-shell, horn, antlers, coral, mother-of-pearl and other animal carving material, and articles of these materials (including articles obtained by molding)
- 9602Worked vegetable or mineral carving material and articles of these materials; molded or carved articles of wax, of stearin, of natural gums or natural resins, of modeling pastes, and other molded or carved articles, not elsewhere specified or included; worked, unhardened gelatin (except gelatin of heading 3503) and articles of unhardened gelatin
- 9603Brooms, brushes (including brushes constituting parts of machines, appliances or vehicles), hand-operated mechanical floor sweepers, not motorized, mops and feather dusters; prepared knots and tufts for broom or brush making; paint pads and rollers; squeegees (other than roller squeegees)
- 9604Hand sieves and hand riddles
- 9605Travel sets for personal toilet, sewing or shoe or clothes cleaning (other than manicure and pedicure sets of heading 8214)
- 9606Buttons, press-fasteners, snap-fasteners and press-studs, button molds and other parts of these articles; button blanks
- 9607Slide fasteners and parts thereof
- 9609Pencils (other than those pencils of heading 9608), crayons, pencil leads, pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks and tailors' chalks