The HTS Code for most comics is 4901.99.00.92

A while back, I posted a Substack note about the Harmonized System (HS) Codes that I use. Given that I have the memory of an elderly goldfish I keep having to go back and find that note and those tariff codes each time I ship physical items to countries outside Canada. As such, it felt prudent to post the codes in an easier-to-find blog post.

Rather than bury the lead, here’s what I am always searching for:

HTS Codes for Comics (Canada/US)

4901.99.00.92 - Containing 5 or more pages each, but not more than 48 pages each (excluding covers)

4901.99.00.93 - Containing 49 or more pages each (excluding covers)

Disclaimer: HS codes (and extended HTS codes) are subject to change and legal interpretation, so be sure to double-check these codes for your own shipments.

A Harmonized Code (HS Code) applies to each individual item you ship in your package to another country. It is how you give customs officials the heads-up about the type of product(s) you are sending.

In theory, this simplifies processing and ensures consistent and fair application of tariffs, duties, and unique documentation requirements. I say, in theory, because for creators who have never even had to consider tariffs before, finding and adding the appropriate HS Code(s) to your shipping documents represents new shipping friction and an unexpected learning curve.

The sudden need to know about HS Codes is a direct outcome of the US suspending the de minimis rules1 that previously allowed shipments under a certain total dollar amount to be hand-waved through the border. Prior to August 2025 the “this shipment is not worth the paperwork” rule allowed most Kickstarter fulfilment packages to fly under the radar. This made still makes sense in many cases given that there was no actual tariff to collect on comics coming from Canada into the US, for example. The tariff rate applicable to items coded 4901.99.00.92 was/is 0%.

The Harmonized System (HS) of tariff nomenclature is a standardized, globally consistent, 6-digit international system for classifying traded products. Countries can add digits (to 8 or 10) for specific tariffs, taxes, or regulations relevant to their jurisdiction. In the US and Canada, we have the 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) codes. These numbers have a prescribed hierarchy classifying products in progressively finer detail.

Consider the code 4901.99.00.92:

• 2 digits (Chapter): 49 — Printed books, newspapers, pictures, and other products of the printing industry.

• 4 digits (Heading): 4901 — Printed books, brochures, leaflets, and similar printed matter, whether or not in single sheets.

• 6 digits (Subheading): 4901.99 — Other printed books not more specifically described elsewhere.

• 8–10 digits (National Extensions): 4901.99.00.92 — Country-specific classification identifying comic books for customs, tariff, or regulatory purposes under the U.S. or Canadian HTS system. In this case, the last digits relate to page count.

The problem with trying to classify every traded good on the planet into a universal coding system is that there are always things that don’t quite fit. In my first Kickstarter related to The Lump Sum Saga, the primary reward was a postcard with a miniature comic affixed to the back using a plastic sleeve. The pages of the mini-comic were full versions of the real comic pages, just illegibly tiny.

If I were sending a bulk load of these postcards to a retailer in the US, I’d definitely seek out a pre-authorized ruling on the appropriate HTS code. There are firms that will handle this process for you and some shipping companies may actually offer this service for you. For example, Chit Chats here in Canada allows you to have product SKUs pre-evaluated for CUSMA duty free items.

In my case, the postcards went in the regular post and thankfully were treated as regular mail - no customs shenanigans required. Just know that there may be a need for interpretation of where your product fits and this has the potential to change the tariffs due on a product dramatically.

It is really common to have stretch-goal rewards in a successful Kickstarter campaign. Be very thoughtful about what you offer as every item you include in your package needs to be coded if shipping internationally and the financial ramifications of what you include can be huge. If, for example, I added an enamel pin made in China as a stretch goal, that item would not qualify for CUSMA tariff rates even though I fulfill the entire package from Canada. A bundle that was previously easy to send across the border could suddenly trigger scrutiny, brokerage fees, and tariffs for you and/or your backer. Have I mentioned I am a big fan of digital?

I am not sure what I am going to do with this discovery, but while researching this topic I ran across some fascinating data sources. There are companies out there that aggregate information about imports and exports with HS Codes allowing for fine-tuned analysis.

If, for example, you want to know how many books Marvel shipped to India in October 2023, you might actually be able to determine that.

Thankfully, once you know the codes and country of origin for each of the items you sell, many modern sales platforms make it easy to store this information and will handle the gory details of the shipping paperwork for you. For example, Shopify has specific fields for an HS Code and “County of Origin” for each item SKU and will compile this information for you as part of the shipping label process.

Here’s hoping these tools will make international shipping straightforward enough that we don’t end up with an indie comic landscape made up of creators who only ship physical comics within their own country.

Disclaimer

The information in this post is not meant as financial advice. Be sure to seek out professional help when trying to navigate the up-to-date details of shipping internationally.