How to Automatically Set an HS Code

Carriers and customs authorities require an HS code for each item in an international shipment. If an imported order arrives without one, you can have Swotzy fill it in for you instead of adding it to each item manually.

For how rules are structured and how rule priority works, see What Are Store Automation Rules?

Result

Once you've completed these steps:

• Items in imported orders receive an HS code automatically
• The rule appears in your store's Rules list, where you can reorder, duplicate, deactivate, or delete it

Before You Start

Make sure that:

• Your store is connected in Integrations > Stores
• You have read What Are Store Automation Rules?

There are two ways to set an HS code. Both create the same type of rule.

• Option A — set a default HS code. Use this when one code applies to every item that arrives without one.
• Option B — create the rule manually. Use this when the code depends on conditions, such as the item or the shipping method.

Option A — Set a default HS code

1. Go to Integrations > Stores
2. Click Manage on the store you want to configure
3. In the Defaults section, enter the code in the Default item HS code field

If you do not know the code, click Find HS Code beside the field label. This opens tariffnumber.com, where you can look up the code for your product.

One default code works if all your products are the same type. If you sell different types of products, use Option B to set codes by Item SKU or Item title.

Swotzy creates an order import rule from this field. The rule sets your code when Item HS code is empty, so items that already include an HS code keep their own.

The rule appears under Order Import in the Rules list on the right, where you can manage it like any other rule.

Option B — Create the rule manually

Use this option when the HS code depends on conditions.

1. Go to Integrations > Stores
2. Click Manage on the store you want to configure
3. In the Rules section, click Add order import rule under Order Import
4. Select Set HS code from the action list — use the search field to find it
5. Enter the code in the HS code field
6. Click Add Condition
7. Select the field to check in the first dropdown — for example, Item HS code, Item SKU, Is international, or Shipping method
8. Select the operator in the second dropdown — for example, is, is not, or contains
9. Enter the value to match in the third field
10. Enter a name in Rule name (optional) to identify the rule in your list
11. Leave Status set to Active
12. Click Create Rule

Available operators depend on the field you select. To reproduce the behaviour of Option A, select Item HS code and the is empty operator.

What the rule affects depends on the field you choose. If your condition uses an item field, such as Item title or Item SKU, the rule sets the HS code only on the items that match. If it uses an order field, such as Shipping method, the rule sets the HS code on every item in the order.

To match on more than one condition, click Add Condition again. All conditions must be true for the rule to apply.

Without conditions, the rule applies to every item in every order imported from the store.

If you ship to the United States, you need a separate automation to set HTS codes. See How to Automatically Set an HTS Code for US Shipments.

Rules run in order, and the first matching rule wins per group. To set different codes for different items, place your most specific rule first.

Need Assistance?

If you experience any issues while setting up your rule, our support team is here to help.

Contact us at support@swotzy.com