HSN Code Finder with GST Rate by Product Name or Number

HSN Code Finder with GST Rate

Find the HSN code for any product or service, with its current GST rate. Check by product name, enter a code, or browse all 99 chapters in the search bar below.

HSN Code Structure - 2, 4, 6, and 8 Digits Explained

The global standard for HSN code is 6 digits. India adds two more digits for finer customs and export classification. 2 digits give the chapter, 4 the heading, 6 the subheading, and 8 the India-specific tariff item.

Here is one real code broken apart, level by level:

HSN digits	Level	What it identifies	Example (62139010)
2-digit	Chapter	Broad category of goods	62 - Articles of apparel & clothing accessories, not knitted
4-digit	Heading	Specific group within the chapter	6213 - Handkerchiefs
6-digit	Subheading	Product-level code (global WCO standard)	621390 - Handkerchiefs of other textile materials
8-digit	Tariff item	India-specific code for imports & exports	62139010 - Of man-made fibres

HSN Code with GST Relation

The HSN code connects a product to its applied GST rate. Once you have the code, you can get the applied GST slab too. India adopts GST on HSN so that the same goods are taxed the same way in every state, whether it moves as CGST + SGST within a state or as IGST across state lines.

The HSN code digits for an item of a business depend on its turnover. The code determines the GST rate, which is mentioned in the invoice billed and even in the GST return filed.

Along with the invoice, HSN is also required as a reporting field. In GSTR-1, Table 12, every registered taxpayer files an HSN-wise summary of outward supplies, mentioning the code, description, UQC (Unit Quantity Code), quantity, taxable value, and tax. Similarly, GSTR-9 (annual return) asks for HSN-level data on inward and outward supplies above set thresholds.

HSN Code List with GST Rates (Chapter-wise)

India's HSN list is organized into 21 sections and 99 chapters. Each chapter contains related goods, and the specific code for that chapter sets the GST rate. Since the GST 2.0 reform, effective 22 September 2025, most goods fall into four working slabs: 0%, 5%, 18%, and 40%.

Current GST rate slabs (post 22 September 2025):

Slab	Applies to	Examples
0% (Nil)	Daily essentials and specified items	Fresh milk, eggs, unbranded cereals, most life-saving drugs, individual health & life insurance
5%	Mass-consumption goods	Packaged food staples, footwear, and apparel within notified price limits, many medicines
18%	Standard rate for most goods & services	Cement (2523), mobile phones (8517), TMT steel (7213), most machinery, professional services
40%	Luxury & sin goods	Tobacco, pan masala, aerated drinks, large vehicles, and motorcycles above 350cc

With the GST slab change, HSN code categorization also shifted; namely, three changes took place with the 22 September 2025 reform:

1. Cement (2523) dropped from 28% to 18%;
2. Raw timber (4403) rose from 5% to 18%; and
3. Premiums on individual health and life insurance moved to nil.

This is why it is essential to first confirm the live rate against the finder or the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) before invoicing an HSN code.

Important: GST rates also vary within a chapter, i.e., a chapter can hold items at 0%, 5%, 18%, and 40%. For example, the Cocoa & preparations group in Chapter 18 contains items belonging to both 5% and 18% GST rates. Our HSN Code finder returns the exact CBIC-notified rate for each specific code.

Use our GST calculator to split any rate into CGST and SGST once you have the HSN code.

Section-wise HSN Code List (Sections I–XXI)

The Harmonized System of Nomenclature divides all items into 99 chapters and 21 broad sections. The 2-digit chapter then covers the 4, 6, or 8-digit HSN code with different item categories.

Here is the full section map with the chapters each one holds:

Section	Chapters	Covers
I	01–05	Live animals & animal products
II	06–14	Vegetable products
III	15	Animal & vegetable fats and oils
IV	16–24	Prepared food, beverages, and tobacco
V	25–27	Mineral products
VI	28–38	Chemical & allied products
VII	39–40	Plastics & rubber
VIII	41–43	Hides, skins, leather, furs
IX	44–46	Wood, cork, basketware
X	47–49	Pulp, paper, printed material
XI	50–63	Textiles & textile articles
XII	64–67	Footwear, headgear, and umbrellas
XIII	68–70	Stone, ceramics, glass
XIV	71	Pearls, precious metals, jewellery
XV	72–83	Base metals & articles
XVI	84–85	Machinery & electrical equipment
XVII	86–89	Vehicles, aircraft, vessels
XVIII	90–92	Instruments, clocks, musical instruments
XIX	93	Arms & ammunition
XX	94–96	Miscellaneous manufactured articles
XXI	97	Works of art, collectors' pieces, antiques

Who Must Declare HSN Codes? Turnover Limits & Digit Rules

The HSN digit for any goods depends on the aggregate turnover reported by your business in the previous financial year. This rule comes from Notification 78/2020 – Central Tax (dated 15 October 2020), which took effect on 1 April 2021. The limits under the update replaced the earlier lower thresholds.

Different digits may apply for a B2B and a B2C business as described in the table below:

Aggregate annual turnover	B2B invoices	B2C invoices
Up to ₹5 crore	4-digit HSN (mandatory)	4-digit HSN (optional)
Above ₹5 crore	6-digit HSN (mandatory)	6-digit HSN (mandatory)
Any turnover (exports & imports)	8-digit HSN (mandatory)	8-digit HSN (mandatory)

The business invoices should contain these two aspects:

1. Exporters and importers must always quote the full 8-digit ITC-HS code on shipping bills and Bills of Entry, regardless of turnover. This is done to ensure customs valuation and IGST reporting stay accurate.
2. The same digit rule applies in GSTR-1, Table 12, not just on the invoice, so your filing has to match your billing.

What Changed Under Notification 78/2020?

Before 1 April 2021, businesses up to ₹1.5 crore were not required to showcase HSN, and those with a band of ₹1.5–5 crore used 2-digit HSN codes. That concession has now been removed. As of 2026, the 4-digit HSN code is the base code for almost every invoice, and the ₹5 crore limit is the threshold that decides whether 4 or 6 digits would apply.

If you are not yet registered or are unsure which bracket applies to you, start with GST registration and set your HSN digit level correctly from your first invoice.

HSN Code in a GST Invoice

On a GST invoice, the HSN (or SAC) code sits in the particular section, right beside the description, quantity, Unit Quantity Code (UQC), taxable value, and tax rate. It is a mandatory field to be added in the GST invoice once your turnover crosses the thresholds mentioned above. It should also appear in your GSTR-1 form and on any linked e-invoice or e-way bill.

The placement of the HSN code in the invoice matters because it connects three fields at once:

1. It fixes the rate,
2. It feeds the HSN summary in Table 12, and
3. It lets your buyer match the line for Input Tax Credit.

Be careful with the filing of the HSN code in the GST invoice and the rate charged, as the mismatch often leads to your ITC being questioned or rejected. For the full field-by-field layout, use our GST invoice generator tool.

How to Find the HSN Code for Your Product?

The fastest way to find your HSN code is to search by product name in our tool above (the search bar at the beginning). The results will give a list of digits where you can scroll to the 6- or 8-digit level till your turnover requirement is shown.

If you want to cross-check or use another method to find the HSN code, here are other options:

1. Check the GST Portal

The official GST portal (services.gst.gov.in) and CBIC (cbic-gst.gov.in) publish the rate and classification notifications. Use these to confirm a code before a high-value or unusual supply.

2. Browse by Chapter

When a product could fit more than one description, start from the chapter-wise list above and narrow down. This is the safest route for raw materials and multi-component goods.

3. Check your Supplier's Invoice

Have a look at the vendor invoice or purchase order to see the code they used. However, avoid copying and trusting the code blindly, as the supplier may have misclassified the item. If you are not careful, then the liability for a wrong code on your invoice would be yours to pay.

For genuinely ambiguous items, the General Rules of Interpretation (GIR) decide classification, and you can seek a binding advance ruling from the GST authorities. When the stakes are high, confirm with a tax professional rather than blindly guessing.

HSN Code vs SAC Code - What is the Difference?

HSN codes classify goods, and SAC codes classify services. Both are part of the GST system and determine a tax rate for businesses, but they cover opposite sides of what one supplies.

• If you are a manufacturer, trader, wholesaler, retailer, importer, or exporter who sells physical products, then you are required to use HSN codes.
• If you are a consultant, IT firm, agency, or professional who supplies services, you use a 6-digit SAC. Construction services, for example, use SAC 9954.

Parameter	HSN code	SAC code
Full form	Harmonised System of Nomenclature	Services Accounting Code
Classifies	Goods	Services
Digits	4, 6 or 8	Always 6
Starts with	Chapter number (01–98)	Always 99
Example	8517 - mobile phones	9954 - construction services
Maintained by	WCO (extended by India)	CBIC
Used by	Sellers of goods	Providers of services

The easiest way to discriminate an HSN code from a SAC is the prefix: every SAC begins with 99, the chapter GST reserves for services. So 9954 is a construction service, 9971 a financial service, and so on. Picking the correct code (HSN or SAC) is what keeps your invoice valid and your buyer's input tax credit intact.

What Happens If You use the Wrong HSN Code?

Using the wrong HSN code exposes you to a penalty of up to ₹50,000 (₹25,000 under CGST + ₹25,000 under SGST) under Section 125 of the CGST Act. However, the indirect repercussions should also be considered. A wrong code often means a wrong GST rate, and that breaks the chain for everyone downstream.

Here’s what you may face if you show an incorrect HSN code:

• A wrong rate can deny or delay your buyer's ITC, because the value and rate on your invoice will not reconcile with what they claim.
• Under e-invoicing, an invalid or mismatched HSN can cause the Invoice Reference Number (IRN) to be rejected outright.
• For exporters, an inaccurate 8-digit ITC-HS code can hold up customs clearance and stall refund claims.
• Repeated mismatches also disturb the auto-population of GSTR-1 and invite scrutiny notices.

Let’s take a short example to understand the worst-case scenario: 

Suppose you sell cement and quote HSN 2523 but bill it at the old 28% rate instead of the current 18%. You have over-collected tax, your buyer's ITC will mismatch, and a credit note plus a corrected return will follow. This is an avoidable rework that a quick check in the finder using a reliable HSN Code Finder tool can prevent. When you are unsure, classify conservatively, document your reasoning, and confirm the rate before issuing the invoice.

Benefits of Using RegisterKaro's Free HSN Code Finder

RegisterKaro's free HSN code finder makes GST classification for businesses and entrepreneurs simple, fast, and error-free. Here's why businesses across India prefer it:

1. Search by Product Name or HSN Number

The finder offers complete flexibility. You can search using the product name, a partial HSN number, or browse by chapter. Whether you type "cotton saree" or enter "62", the tool delivers accurate HSN matches instantly.

2. Verified HSN Codes with the Latest GST Rates

Every entry in the HSN code list with GST rate is mapped to the latest slab notified by CBIC. The data stays updated with changes announced in GST Council meetings. This ensures you apply the correct slab (NIL, 5%, 18%, or 40%) on every invoice.

3. Free Download of the Full HSN Code List in Excel

You can download the complete HSN code list along with GST rates in Excel format, absolutely free. It serves as a handy reference for CAs, GST practitioners, and businesses managing large product catalogues.

With speed, accuracy, and a clean interface, RegisterKaro's HSN code finder makes GST compliance effortless for every business.