Typewriter or similar ribbons — HTS 9612
Typewriter or similar ribbons, inked or otherwise prepared for giving impressions, whether or not on spools or in cartridges; ink pads, whether or not inked, with or without boxes
Chapter 96 › Heading 9612
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 9612 groups supplies that transfer ink or another marking medium to paper or a similar surface. It covers typewriter and similar ribbons that are already inked or otherwise prepared to make impressions, whether supplied on spools, in cartridges, or without those formats. It also covers ink pads, whether inked or uninked, and whether packaged in boxes or not.
Heading 9612 is only a 4-digit category, not the complete tariff classification. To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS subheading, first identify the product’s essential type—such as a ribbon or an ink pad—and then follow the applicable subheadings, which may distinguish the product by construction, material, preparation, or other listed characteristics. Read the full legal wording and the statistical suffix, and verify that the product’s actual design and condition match the selected code.
What to check
- Describe the item as imported: identify whether it is a ribbon, cartridge, spool, or ink pad, and state whether it is inked or otherwise prepared to make impressions.
- Check the product’s construction and material, including the carrier or pad material, because the subheadings may separate products using these characteristics.
- Do not classify a general printer or printing accessory under heading 9612 solely because it uses ink; confirm that the item itself is a prepared ribbon or an ink pad covered by the heading.
- Review the complete HTSUS entry, including legal notes, exclusions, and the 8-digit statistical suffix, rather than stopping at heading 9612.
- Keep product specifications, photographs, packaging details, and supplier descriptions available to support the classification; ask a customs broker or request a binding ruling if the product’s design creates uncertainty.
HTS heading 9612 summary
Typewriter or similar ribbons 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 |
|---|---|
| 9612.10 | Ribbons |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9612.20.00.00 👉 | Ink pads | 3.5% | Free | 40% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 9612?
Typewriter or similar ribbons, inked or otherwise prepared for giving impressions, whether or not on spools or in cartridges; ink pads, whether or not inked, with or without boxes. 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.