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HTS code for lithium ion battery: facts to check before import

Planning Use only. Broker review required for Entry Use.

A lithium ion battery file should not be built from the word "battery" alone.

The review needs chemistry, form factor, capacity, voltage, whether the battery is a cell or pack, and whether it ships alone or with equipment. It also needs the safety paperwork close by, because the import conversation and transport conversation often overlap.

quick answer

For a lithium ion battery, use the lookup result for Planning Use until chemistry, form factor, capacity, voltage, shipped configuration, safety documents, origin, supplier code, Missing Facts, Authority Sources, and Broker review status are documented. Do not use the result as Entry Use classification.

The code path should be based on the battery as shipped.

facts to collect for a lithium ion battery

Collect:

Product name and invoice description.
Photos of the battery, label, terminals, casing, packaging, and warning marks.
Chemistry and form factor: cell, module, pack, button cell, pouch cell, cylindrical cell, or replacement battery.
Capacity, voltage, watt-hours, and model number.
Whether protection circuitry, housing, connector, or wiring is included.
Intended equipment or use.
Whether it ships alone, with a charger, or inside equipment.
Safety documents, SDS, UN38.3, test summary, or transport paperwork.
Country of origin and production support.
Supplier HS or HTS code.

If the supplier file has battery specs in a separate safety sheet, attach it to the classification record.

missing facts

Mark the record incomplete when:

Chemistry is not confirmed.
Cell vs pack is unclear.
Capacity, voltage, or watt-hours are missing.
Intended equipment is unknown.
Safety documents are missing.
Supplier code is unsupported.
Origin is assumed.
Duty-stack exposure has not been checked.

These gaps matter before pricing, shipping, or review.

authority sources

Use official sources:

USITC gives tariff text. CROSS can help compare batteries, replacement batteries, modules, and equipment-specific rulings.

what TariffCase should produce

TariffCase should produce a Planning Use record with chemistry, form factor, capacity, shipped configuration, safety-document checklist, supplier code, HTS Candidate, Missing Facts, Authority Sources, and Broker review status.

That gives the reviewer enough facts to see whether the supplier code is plausible.

cell module or finished battery

Do not let the invoice collapse every lithium ion product into one label. A loose cell, protected cell, battery module, replacement battery, and finished pack can need different review notes. The record should say whether the item has terminals, housing, protection circuitry, wiring, connectors, or equipment-specific fittings.

When the supplier cannot answer those questions, mark the file incomplete and ask for the spec sheet or product drawing.

internal links

questions importers ask

Does cell vs pack matter?

Yes. The record should say whether the item is a cell, module, pack, or battery inside equipment.

Should I attach safety documents?

Yes. Keep them with the file so reviewers can see the battery profile.

Can I use the supplier code?

Use it as a clue and verify it against the exact battery facts.

What detail is easy to miss?

Write whether the goods are cells, battery packs, or packs with a protection circuit. Include chemistry, capacity, voltage, terminals, BMS status, and transport documents.

planning boundary

This lithium ion battery HTS page is a planning artifact. It is not an Entry Use classification, not a binding ruling, and not a legal opinion. The importer remains responsible for reasonable care and must obtain broker or customs authority review before filing.

Turn this search into a file

Run a free Duty Surprise Scan, then build a Planning Use Classification Record when the Missing Facts matter.

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