HS Code 490900
6-digit classification for Printed or Illustrated Postcards, with duty lookup and 1688 checks before payment
Official description: Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings
Also searched as: postcards, greeting cards, birthday cards, holiday cards, note cards
Classification
How 490900 breaks down
Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other printed products
Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings
Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings
Short answer
What HS code 490900 means before paying a 1688 supplier
HS code 490900 is the 6-digit HS 2022 starting point for printed or illustrated postcards; often searched as postcards, greeting cards, birthday cards. Before using it in a landed-cost estimate, confirm the product material, function, destination market, and the official tariff source. Treat any 1688 supplier code as a clue, not the final import classification.
Use
Start with this 6-digit HS code and compare the product's material, function, and use.
Verify
Check the destination market's official HTS, TARIC, commodity-code, duty, VAT, or GST source.
Decide
If classification, documents, or restricted-product risk is unclear, submit the product for a written check.
Covered products
What products fall under HS code 490900?
Buyers sourcing printed or illustrated postcards from 1688 commonly describe it in these ways. If your product matches, 490900 is likely the right 6-digit starting point — confirm material and intended use against the official tariff.
Import duty by market
Where to check the import duty for HS 490900
The 6-digit code is universal, but duty, VAT and GST are set by the destination country and depend on the full national tariff line with China as the country of origin. Start from the official source for your market.
United States
USITC / CBP · Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS)
European Union
TARIC · Access2Markets
United Kingdom
HMRC · UK Integrated Online Tariff
Canada
CBSA · Canadian Customs Tariff
Australia
ABF · Australian customs tariff
Singapore
Singapore Customs · Singapore Trade Classification (HS)
Compare the real China-origin import tax across markets
Use the HS & import duty checker to estimate duty + VAT/GST for 490900 by destination before you pay a 1688 supplier.
Questions
HS code 490900: common questions
What is HS code 490900?
HS code 490900 is the World Customs Organization 6-digit HS 2022 subheading for "Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings". The first two digits (49) are the chapter — Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other printed products — and digits 3-4 (4909) are the heading. Countries add further digits (8-10) for their national tariff line.
What products fall under HS 490900?
Common products classified under 490900 include postcards, greeting cards, birthday cards, holiday cards, note cards and similar items matching printed or illustrated postcards. The correct code still depends on the product's material, function and intended use.
How do I find the import duty for HS code 490900?
Duty is set by the destination country, not by the 6-digit HS code alone. Start from the official tariff of your market — USITC HTS (US), TARIC / Access2Markets (EU), GOV.UK Trade Tariff (UK), CBSA (Canada), ABF (Australia) or Singapore Customs — and look up the full national code with China as the country of origin.
Is HS code 490900 the same in every country?
The first 6 digits (490900) are the same worldwide under the WCO Harmonized System. Beyond that, each country extends the code (HTS in the US, TARIC in the EU, etc.) and sets its own duty and tax rates.
Can I trust the HS code a 1688 supplier gives me?
Treat a supplier-provided code as a clue, not a final classification. It can be incomplete, China-export-specific, or mismatched to your destination's rules. Verify against the official tariff and your product's actual material and use.
Chapter 49
Explore Printed books, newspapers, pictures and other printed products
Sourcing printed or illustrated postcards from 1688?
Get a written pre-payment check — classification clues, China-origin landed cost, and supplier risk — before you commit. 5,754 HS codes covered.