Typewriter or similar ribbons, inked or otherwise prepared for giving impressions, whether or not on spools or in cartridges; ink pads, whether or not inked, with or without boxes
6 declarable lines
Heading 9612 covers inked or otherwise prepared ribbons that give impressions, whether loose, on spools, or in cartridges, plus ink pads with or without boxes. It splits into two groups: 9612.10 for ribbons and 9612.20 for ink pads. Ribbons are further split by width, by whether they are permanently put up in plastic or metal cartridges, and by material.
Products in this heading
- Printer ribbon in a sealed plastic cartridge for a desktop printer
- Nylon impact printer ribbon on a spool
- Thermal transfer ribbon on a roll for label printing
- Woven man-made fiber ribbon in a metal cartridge
- Inked stamp pad
- Uninked felt pad for a hand stamp
- Replacement ribbon cartridge for a point of sale receipt printer
How to choose the right subheading
- Whether the article is a ribbon prepared for giving impressions or an ink pad: this decides 9612.10 versus 9612.20.
- For ribbons, the width: less than 30 mm wide and permanently put up in a plastic or metal cartridge goes to 9612.10.10.
- Whether the ribbon is woven of man-made fibers, which carries its own line within both the cartridge and non-cartridge groups.
- Whether a non-cartridge ribbon is a thermal transfer ribbon of coated polyethylene terephthalate film.
- Whether the ribbon is simply on a spool or in a cartridge, since presentation changes the subheading and the rate.
Often confused with
- Heading 9608Ball point pens and porous-tipped markers
Pens and markers are separate articles, not ribbons or pads.
- Heading 9609Pencils, crayons and writing chalk
These write by abrasion of the stick itself, not by transferring ink from a prepared ribbon or pad.
- Heading 8443Ink cartridges for inkjet printers
Liquid ink cartridges with a printhead are parts of printing machinery, not prepared ribbons.
- Heading 3215Printing ink in bulk containers
Liquid or paste ink sold by volume is a chemical product, not a prepared ribbon or pad.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for thermal transfer printer ribbons?
Thermal transfer printing ribbons of coated polyethylene terephthalate film are classified under 9612.10.90.30, with a general (MFN) rate of 7.9%.
What is the duty on ink pads?
Ink pads are classified under 9612.20.00.00 and carry a general (MFN) rate of 3.5%.
How do I classify a printer ribbon in a cartridge less than 30 mm wide?
If the ribbon is woven of man-made fibers, use 9612.10.10.10; if it is another material or construction, use 9612.10.10.20. Both lines are free of general (MFN) duty.
Guide written from the official schedule text. Rates quoted are general (MFN) rates; check the line page for trade agreement rates and the classification of your exact product.