Alcoholic beverage samples (each sample containing not more than 300 milliliters if a malt beverage, not more than 150 milliliters if a wine and not more than 100 milliliters if any other alcoholic beverage) to be used in the United States only for soliciting orders by persons importing alcoholic beverages in commercial quantities
3 declarable lines
Heading 9811 covers samples imported only to solicit orders in the United States. It has three declarable lines: alcoholic beverage samples, tobacco product samples, and other samples that are valued at not over $1 each or made unsuitable for sale. All three lines carry a general (MFN) rate of Free.
Products in this heading
- Miniature malt beverage bottles within the 300 milliliter sample limit for order solicitation
- Wine sample bottles within the 150 milliliter limit for order solicitation
- Distilled spirit sample bottles within the 100 milliliter limit for order solicitation
- Cigar samples containing no more than 3 cigars for order solicitation
- Cigarette samples containing no more than 3 cigarettes for order solicitation
- Snuff samples of no more than 3.5 grams for order solicitation
- Low-value promotional samples valued at not over $1 each for soliciting foreign product orders
- Product samples marked or perforated as samples and unsuitable for sale
How to choose the right subheading
- Identify whether the item is an alcoholic beverage sample, a tobacco product sample, or another sample.
- For alcohol, check container size: malt beverage not over 300 milliliters, wine not over 150 milliliters, other alcoholic beverage not over 100 milliliters.
- For tobacco, check contents: not over 3 cigars, 3 cigarettes, 3.5 grams of tobacco, 3.5 grams of snuff, 3 cigarette tubes, or 25 cigarette papers.
- For other samples, check whether each item is valued at not over $1 or is marked, torn, perforated, or otherwise treated so it is unsuitable for sale.
- Confirm the samples are imported only to solicit orders in the United States and are not for resale or personal use.
Often confused with
- Heading 2204Retail bottle of wine imported for sale
A full-size bottle for resale is classified as wine, not as a solicitation sample.
- Heading 2402Cigars imported in retail packages for resale
Cigars for resale do not qualify as tobacco samples under 9811.00.40.
- Heading 2203Beer imported in normal commercial containers for sale
Malt beverages for sale are not sample-size solicitation items.
- Heading 9816Personal gift sent to a customer
A bona fide gift is not a sample used only to solicit orders.
- Promotional item valued over $1 and suitable for sale
9811.00.60 requires value not over $1 each or treatment that makes the item unsuitable for sale.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for alcoholic beverage samples?
Use 9811.00.20 for alcoholic beverage samples that meet the size limits and are used only to solicit orders; the general (MFN) rate is Free.
What is the duty on tobacco product samples?
Tobacco product samples that meet the limits in 9811.00.40 have a general (MFN) rate of Free.
How do I classify low-value product samples?
If each sample is valued at not over $1 or is marked or treated so it is unsuitable for sale, classify it in 9811.00.60; the general (MFN) rate is Free.
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.
All lines in heading 9811
- 9811.00.20Alcoholic beverage samples (each sample containing not more than 300 milliliters if a malt beverage, not more than 150 milliliters if a wine and not more than 100 milliliters if any other alcoholic beverage) to be used in the United States only for soliciting orders by persons importing alcoholic beverages in commercial quantitiesFree
- 9811.00.40Samples of tobacco products, and cigarette papers and tubes (each sample consisting of not more than (a) 3 cigars, (b) 3 cigarettes, (c) 3.5 grams of tobacco, (d) 3.5 grams of snuff, (e) 3 cigarette tubes or (f) 25 cigarette papers) to be used in the United States only for soliciting orders by persons importing tobacco products, cigarette papers or cigarette tubes in commercial quantitiesFree
- 9811.00.60Any sample (except samples covered by heading 9811.00.20 or 9811.00.40), valued not over $1 each, or marked, torn, perforated or otherwise treated so that it is unsuitable for sale or for use otherwise than as a sample, to be used in the United States only for soliciting orders for products of foreign countriesFree