HTS code for printed documents, booklets and business cards (2026)
Most printed booklets and multi-page brochures fall under 4901.99.00, with a general (column 1) rate of Free. Single-sheet leaflets and flyers go to 4901.10.00.40, also Free. Business cards and similar small printed pieces not covered by heading 4901 typically land in heading 4911, with the specific line determined by whether the printing process is lithographic (4911.99.60.00, Free general rate) or not (4911.99.80.00, Free general rate).
The single attribute that most often moves a product off the default 4901.99.00 line is format: single-sheet presentation pushes the item to 4901.10.00, advertising or catalog content pushes it to 4911.10.00, and a non-book character with no qualifying text pushes it to 4911.99.
Candidate HTS lines for printed documents, booklets and business cards
| Code | Line | General rate | Special rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4901.99.00 | Other Other: Use when: Use for multi-page printed books, brochures, booklets or similar printed matter that are bound or multi-sheet and do not fall into a more specific subheading such as textbooks, directories or hardbound books. | Free | |
| 4901.99.00.92 | Containing 5 or more pages each, but not more than 48 pages each (excluding covers) (No.) Other: › Other › Other: › Other: › Other: Use when: Use for other printed booklets or brochures containing 5 or more pages but not more than 48 pages each, excluding covers, that are not textbooks, directories, religious books or hardbound books. | Free | |
| 4901.99.00.93 | Containing 49 or more pages each (excluding covers) (No.) Other: › Other › Other: › Other: › Other: Use when: Use for other printed booklets or brochures containing 49 or more pages each, excluding covers, that are not textbooks, directories, religious books or hardbound books. | Free | |
| 4901.10.00.40 | Other (kg) In single sheets, whether or not folded Use when: Use for printed brochures, leaflets or similar printed matter presented in single sheets, whether or not folded, that are not reproduction proofs. | Free | |
| 4911.10.00.80 | Other (kg) Trade advertising material, commercial catalogs and the like Use when: Use for trade advertising material, commercial catalogs and the like that do not fall under the specific catalog or tourist literature subheadings. | Free | |
| 4911.99.60.00 | Printed on paper in whole or in part by a lithographic process (kg) Other: › Other: › Other: Use when: Use for other printed matter, including business cards, printed in whole or in part by a lithographic process on paper. | Free | |
| 4911.99.80.00 | Other (kg) Other: › Other: › Other: Use when: Use for other printed matter, including business cards, not printed by a lithographic process and not covered by a more specific heading under 4911. | Free | |
| 4901.99.00.70 | Hardbound books (No.) Other: › Other › Other: › Other: Use when: Use for hardbound books that are printed books or brochures not classified as textbooks, directories, religious or technical books. | Free | |
| 4901.99.00.10 | Textbooks (No.) Other: › Other Use when: Use for printed textbooks imported for educational use. | Free | |
| 4901.99.00.30 | Directories (No.) Other: › Other Use when: Use for printed directories, whether telephone, trade or other reference directories. | Free |
Chapter 99 duties and claims that attach to these lines today
Section 301 China
- 9903.88.15 Section 301 China, +7.5%, applies to 4901.99.00, 4901.99.00.92, 4901.99.00.93, 4901.10.00.40, 4911.10.00.80, 4911.99.60.00, 4911.99.80.00, 4901.99.00.70, 4901.99.00.10, 4901.99.00.30 9903.88.15 Explained: Section 301 China List 4, 7.5% Duty Rate
Russia
- 9903.90.08 Russia, claim or exemption heading, no additional duty, applies to 4901.99.00, 4901.99.00.92, 4901.99.00.93, 4901.10.00.40, 4911.10.00.80, 4901.99.00.70, 4901.99.00.10, 4901.99.00.30 9903.90.08 Explained: 35% Russia Column 2 Duty for Importers
Each applicable Chapter 99 heading is reported as its own line beside the classification. Its duty is separate from the general rate above; most programs charge it on top, and a heading's own text says how it is assessed.
What decides the line
Classification starts with a threshold question: is the item a printed book, brochure, leaflet or similar printed matter within heading 4901, or is it other printed matter within heading 4911? Items with a primarily informational or reading purpose and substantial text, such as booklets and brochures, go to 4901. Items whose primary purpose is advertising, decoration or identification, such as business cards, catalogs and flyers aimed at promoting products, go to 4911.
Within heading 4901, the next check is presentation. Items in single sheets, folded or not, go to 4901.10.00.40 (or 4901.10.00.20 for reproduction proofs). Multi-sheet or bound items go to the 4901.91 or 4901.99 branches. Within 4901.99.00, the statistical suffix is decided by content type (textbook, directory, religious book, technical book, art book, hardbound, rack-size paperbound) and then by page count: not more than 4 pages goes to 4901.99.00.91, 5-48 pages to 4901.99.00.92, and 49 or more pages to 4901.99.00.93.
Within heading 4911, trade advertising material and commercial catalogs go to 4911.10.00.80 (or a more specific suffix if the catalog meets the description at .20 or .40). Remaining printed matter is split by printing process: lithographic on paper goes to 4911.99.60.00; all other processes go to 4911.99.80.00. That process distinction matters for column 2 rates even though the column 1 rate is Free for both.
Country of origin is a separate overlay. Goods of China are subject to Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.15, which adds +7.5% on top of the column 1 Free rate for most lines in headings 4901 and 4911 covered here. Goods of Russia are subject to column 2 rates and, where indicated, 9903.90.08. Each applicable Chapter 99 heading is reported as its own line on the entry.
Common mistakes
- Importers often classify single-sheet folded flyers under 4901.99.00 when the correct line is 4901.10.00.40, which specifically covers printed matter in single sheets whether or not folded.
- Business cards are frequently filed under heading 4901 as if they were booklets, but cards with no substantial text serving only an identification or advertising purpose belong in heading 4911, most often 4911.99.60.00 if lithographically printed or 4911.99.80.00 if not.
- Commercial catalogs printed by a company based abroad are sometimes classified under 4901.99.00 rather than the correct line 4911.10.00.40, which covers printed catalogs, price lists or trade notices relating to offers by a person whose principal place of business is in a foreign country.
- Filers sometimes omit the Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.15 for goods of China, failing to report it as a separate line and pay the additional +7.5% that applies on top of the Free column 1 rate for most lines in headings 4901 and 4911.
- Multi-page booklets are sometimes reported under 4911.99.80.00 as other printed matter when they qualify as brochures or leaflets under 4901.99.00, which carries a column 2 rate of Free rather than 35%.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HTS code for printed business cards?
Printed business cards are generally classified as other printed matter under heading 4911 rather than as books or brochures under heading 4901. If the cards are printed in whole or in part by a lithographic process on paper, the correct line is 4911.99.60.00, with a general (column 1) rate of Free and a column 2 rate of 66 cents per kg plus 0.4%. If they are printed by another process, the line is 4911.99.80.00, also Free under column 1 but with a column 2 rate of 35%.
What HTS code covers printed booklets and brochures?
Multi-page printed booklets and brochures that are not in single sheets belong to heading 4901. The most common line is 4901.99.00, with a general rate of Free. The statistical suffix depends on page count and content type: booklets with 5-48 pages (excluding covers) use 4901.99.00.92, and those with 49 or more pages use 4901.99.00.93. Single-sheet leaflets, folded or not, use 4901.10.00.40, also Free.
Are printed documents from China subject to additional tariffs?
Yes. Goods of China classified under most lines in headings 4901 and 4911 covered here are subject to Chapter 99 provision 9903.88.15 (Section 301 China), which adds +7.5% on top of the column 1 general rate. Even though the column 1 rate is Free, the 9903.88.15 duty still applies and must be reported as a separate line on the entry alongside the classification heading.
What is the HTS code for printed catalogs and advertising materials?
Trade advertising material and commercial catalogs fall under heading 4911.10.00, with a general rate of Free. The most common statistical suffix for general advertising materials is 4911.10.00.80. Catalogs specifically relating to current offers for the sale of United States products use 4911.10.00.20, and foreign-origin catalogs or price lists from a seller based in a foreign country use 4911.10.00.40, both also Free under column 1.
Do printed documents from Russia face higher duty rates?
Goods of Russia are generally subject to column 2 rates rather than column 1 rates. For most lines in headings 4901 and 4911 the column 2 rate is Free, so in practice the duty is often the same. However, 4911.99.80.00 carries a column 2 rate of 35% and 4911.99.60.00 carries a column 2 rate of 66 cents per kg plus 0.4%, which would apply to Russian-origin goods on those lines. Where the block shows 9903.90.08 attached to a line, that is a claim or exemption heading with no additional duty; confirm current applicability in the HTSUS or with a licensed broker.
How does page count affect the HTS statistical suffix for booklets?
For booklets and similar printed matter classified under 4901.99.00, the U.S. statistical suffix is determined by page count excluding covers. Items containing not more than 4 pages each use 4901.99.00.91; items containing 5 or more but not more than 48 pages each use 4901.99.00.92; and items containing 49 or more pages each use 4901.99.00.93. The general (column 1) rate is Free for all three suffixes.