Help

What an HS code is

A Harmonized System (HS) code is the number customs uses to tell what a product is. Carriers and customs forms ask for it, and it decides which duties apply.

The first 6 digits are the same in every country. Many countries add more digits. Customs-Ready suggests the 6-digit code, and the 10-digit US code when one clearly fits.

How Customs-Ready picks a code

It searches the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (published by the US International Trade Commission) using your product’s title, type, Shopify category, tags, and description, and keeps the closest matches.

If AI is on, Anthropic’s Claude picks the best of those matches. It can only choose from that list, so it can’t make up a code. You can turn AI off in Settings, and Customs-Ready then uses keyword matching alone.

What High, Medium, and Low mean

High means the product details clearly point to one code, for example your Shopify category settles it. Medium means the code is probably right but a detail, like the material, is missing. Low means it’s our best guess, so check it before you approve.

A Low code can’t be approved in one click. Click Review, check the code or pick another one, and save it.

Only High codes can be saved without review, and only if you turn on auto-apply (Growth and Scale plans).

Where the country of origin comes from

Country of origin is where a product was made, not where you ship from. Customs-Ready never guesses it. It comes from what’s already in Shopify, your vendor rules, a clear statement in the description (like “Made in Portugal”), or your default country.

What changes in Shopify when you approve

Approve writes the HS code and country of origin to each variant’s shipping details, and fills in only what’s missing. Nothing you’ve already set is replaced.

Edit, then Save, replaces the code and country on every variant of that product with what you picked.

Why a product has no code

Gift cards and products that don’t need shipping are skipped, because they never go through customs. Products over your plan’s limit wait until you move to a larger plan. If nothing matched, use Edit to enter a code yourself.

Suggestions, not customs or legal advice

The codes are suggestions for you to review. You’re responsible for the codes and countries on your products and shipments. For a binding answer, ask a customs broker or your country’s customs authority.

Your data after you uninstall

The app stops and its access to your store is removed right away. Shopify asks us to delete your shop’s data 48 hours later, and we delete all of it. The privacy policy has the details.