Code 9608 40 · Heading 9608

Pencils

This code covers pencils. It is for the pencil product itself, rather than the other pen types, sets, refills, nibs or parts listed separately.

See the official tariff text

Official tariff text

Propelling or sliding pencils

How we got to this code

XX
96
9608
9608 40

Show the steps

The path to this code

Every code is reached through these choices, one level at a time.

Step 4 of 4

Step 1 · Section XX Miscellaneous manufactured articles
Is the item furniture, bedding or a lighting article; a toy, game or sports article; or another miscellaneous good?
✓
Step 2 · Chapter 96 Miscellaneous manufactured articles 3 of 3 chapters in section XX
Which named product group best describes the item: carved material goods, brushes, hand sieves, travel sets, buttons, zips, writing or drawing items, boards, hand stamps, ink ribbons or stamp pads, lighters, pipes, hairdressing items, toilet-use sprays or powder puffs, vacuum-insulated containers, shop-window display figures, hygiene products, or stands?
✓
Step 3 · Heading 9608 Ball-point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tippe… 8 of 20 headings under chapter 96
Is the item a ballpoint pen, a felt-tip, fibre-tip or similar pen, a fountain pen, stylograph or other pen, a pencil, a set of two or more such items, a ballpoint refill made of a ballpoint and ink holder, a pen or nib, or another part or similar item?
✓
Step 4 · Subheading 9608 40 Propelling or sliding pencils 4 of 8 subheadings under heading 9608
Is the product a pencil?

Pick the 8-digit code

Import duty on the codes below: 3.7%

Only one code below

9608 40 00

Propelling or sliding pencils

3.7%

This subheading has one 8-digit code, so that is the code to use.

Open 9608 40 00 Save

Compare the sibling codes

See all 8 codes at this level

Selling to Norway, Great Britain and the United States

What they charge on arrival.

Norway, Great Britain and the United States use their own tariff lines under the 6-digit HS code. The rates below are what their customs charge on goods arriving from the EU. Match the goods against each country's own wording before you rely on a rate.

Norway

Duty free

Their lines1 Norwegian line

96.08.4000 Propelling or sliding pencils

Norwegian tariff data checked Sept. 13, 2026.

Great Britain

2.0%

Their lines1 British line
EU originDuty free

9608 40 00 00 Propelling or sliding pencils

Northern Ireland follows other rules.

UK tariff data checked Sept. 13, 2026.

United States

10.0%

Estimated from published US measures

Their lines2 US lines
Entry dateSept. 17, 2026

9608.40.40.00 Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens

The US importer of record files the entry.

US tariff data checked Sept. 16, 2026.

See the 1 Norwegian line

Selling to Norway

Norway splits the 6-digit category its own way, so these are Norway's own lines under it, not this EU code. Check your product against their wording; what Norwegian customs charges is shown per line.

96.08.4000

Propelling or sliding pencils

Ordinary duty

Duty free

Norwegian tariff data version 1.5/1.2, last checked Sept. 13, 2026.

Contains data from Norwegian Customs (data.toll.no), licensed under CC BY 4.0, adapted for display.

See the 1 British line

Selling to Great Britain

What UK customs charges when goods like these arrive in Great Britain.

9608 40 00 00

Propelling or sliding pencils

Ordinary duty

2.0%

Goods of EU origin

Duty free You need documentation of EU preferential origin to use this rate.

These rates apply in Great Britain. Different rules may apply for goods entering Northern Ireland.

UK tariff data version v4.0.1599, last checked Sept. 13, 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

Source: UK Department for Business and Trade (data.api.trade.gov.uk).

See the 2 US lines

Selling to the United States

What US customs charges when goods like these arrive from the EU. The US importer of record files the entry and pays the duty.

9608.40.40.00

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), With a mechanical action for extending, or for extending and retracting, the lead

General rate

6.6%

From the EU

10.0% Estimated from published US measures US headings applied: 9903.05.39 Section 301 forced-labour action, 91 FR 47318 (memorandum 91 FR 47717), U.S. note 52 to subchapter III of chapter 99
9608.40.80.00

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), Other

General rate

Free

From the EU

10.0% Estimated from published US measures US headings applied: 9903.05.39 Section 301 forced-labour action, 91 FR 47318 (memorandum 91 FR 47717), U.S. note 52 to subchapter III of chapter 99

Worked out for an entry on Sept. 17, 2026.

US tariff schedule 2026HTSRev19, last checked Sept. 16, 2026.

Last change we recorded: Revision 19 (2026), Sept. 16, 2026.

Anti-dumping and countervailing duties, US import taxes and customs fees are not included.

The descriptions above are the US tariff texts, which the United States publishes in English only.

Source: the US International Trade Commission's Harmonized Tariff Schedule (hts.usitc.gov), public domain, and the measures published in the Federal Register.

This is a planning estimate from the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (revision shown) and the published Federal Register measures as of the date shown, for a shipment of EU origin. It is not a customs entry, legal advice or a broker's opinion, and tariffs.help is not a US-licensed customs broker. The US importer of record or their broker confirms the classification, origin, value and the duty due before filing.

Duty rates shown here are estimates, read from official EU / Danish, Norwegian and UK tariff data for orientation only. Confirm the current rate with Toldstyrelsen, TARIC, Norwegian Customs or the UK Online Trade Tariff before you file. The rate you pay can also depend on the country of origin. These are base customs duties only: import VAT, excise duties, anti-dumping duties and safeguard or quota measures are not included.