Electrical resistors — HTS 8533
Electrical resistors (including rheostats and potentiometers), other than heating resistors; parts thereof
Chapter 85 › Heading 8533
2026 HTS Rev 19 Synced Rules verified Operational
Written to help non-specialists understand this page. Rates, dates, and legal facts come from the official records above and on the linked source.
HTS heading 8533 covers electrical resistors and their parts, excluding resistors designed for heating. Resistors limit or control the flow of electrical current. The heading includes fixed resistors, variable resistors such as rheostats and potentiometers, and qualifying parts. A rheostat generally adjusts current in a circuit, while a potentiometer provides an adjustable voltage signal or division.
The 4-digit heading is only the starting category, not the final classification. To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS subheading, read the lower-level provisions and their descriptions. These commonly distinguish products by construction or type, such as whether the resistor is fixed or variable, and by the material or technology used. Confirm that the item meets the heading’s scope and is not a heating resistor or a product classified in a more specific heading.
What to check
- Identify the product’s function: fixed resistance, adjustable resistance, voltage-divider control, or a part used specifically with a resistor.
- Check the construction and resistance technology, including the resistive material, substrate, and whether the item is wire-wound, carbon-based, film-based, or another type.
- Use the complete product specification, datasheet, photographs, and catalog description rather than relying only on a trade name such as “potentiometer.”
- Read every 8-digit option and its legal notes in the current HTSUS, then match the wording to the product’s actual design and condition.
- If the item is a specialized assembly, replacement part, or could fit another heading, obtain a customs-broker review or consider requesting a binding classification ruling.
HTS heading 8533 summary
Electrical resistors is a 4-digit product category containing 1 published product-code lines in this snapshot. A heading does not carry one universal duty rate; classification must be narrowed to the line matching the product facts.
How to find your code in this category
A heading is a product category. To get the exact duty, narrow from this 4-digit heading to a sub-category (usually by material), then open the 8-digit code that matches your product.
Open any code in the tables below to see its exact duty rate, a duty calculator (enter your shipment value → estimated duty and landed cost), the rate-change history chart, and the country-by-country breakdown (including Section 301/232 add-on duties).
Why you have to click in: a single category can contain products with very different duties. The rate depends on the specific product — its material and construction — and on the country of origin, and those only get pinned down at the 8-digit code level. That is why this page points you to codes instead of showing one rate for the whole category.
Sub-categories
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| 8533.40 | Other variable resistors, including rheostats and potentiometers |
| 8533.90 | Parts |
Product codes & duty rates
👇 Each row is a specific product code — click a blue code to open its full page with exact duty rates by country, the rate-history chart, and a duty calculator. 👉
| Code | Description | General (MFN) | Special | Column 2 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8533.10.00 👉 | Fixed carbon resistors, composition or film types | Free | — | 35% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8533?
Electrical resistors (including rheostats and potentiometers), other than heating resistors; parts thereof. To classify a specific item you must pick the matching sub-category and 8-digit code above; the right choice usually depends on the material and construction of the product.
How do I choose the right code within this category?
Start from the sub-categories (typically divided by material—for example cotton versus man-made fibers), then open the active 8- or 10-digit code that matches the product. When unsure, a licensed customs broker or a CBP binding ruling can confirm the classification.
Reference information only, not customs, legal, or classification advice. Confirm the current code and rate against the official HTS before you import.