Planning Use SEO page 25

HTS code for phone case: facts to check before import

Planning Use only. Broker review required for Entry Use.

A phone case is one of those products that sounds simple until the material list shows up.

Plastic, silicone, leather, textile, metal, magnets, card slots, straps, stands, rings, and packaging can all change the review questions. A supplier code for "phone case" may be a start, but it is not enough for a US import record.

Classify the case as shipped, not as named.

quick answer

For a phone case, use the lookup result for Planning Use until material, construction, added features, packaging, origin, supplier code, Missing Facts, Authority Sources, and Broker review status are documented. Do not use the result as Entry Use classification.

The first question is usually material. The second is whether the case is still just a case.

facts to collect for a phone case

Collect:

• Product name and invoice description.
• Photos of the case, packaging, labels, and included accessories.
• Main material: plastic, silicone, leather, textile, metal, or mixed material.
• Material percentages when available.
• Construction: molded, stitched, laminated, coated, or assembled.
• Added features: magnets, stand, card slot, strap, ring, wallet, or screen cover.
• Whether the case ships alone or in a kit.
• Country of origin and production support.
• Supplier HS or HTS code.
• Product page, spec sheet, or bill of materials.

If the case has a magnetic ring, wallet flap, or strap, write that down. Those details are easy to miss in a short SKU title.

missing facts

Mark the record incomplete when:

• Material is described only as "TPU", "PU", "premium", or "hybrid" without support.
• Material percentages are unknown.
• Added features are not listed.
• Packaging or kit contents are unclear.
• Supplier code is unsupported.
• Origin is assumed.
• Similar CBP rulings have not been checked.
• Duty-stack exposure has not been reviewed.

Phone case classification often turns on facts buried in product photos or supplier specs. Pull them into the file.

authority sources

Use official sources:

• USITC HTS
• CBP CROSS
• 19 CFR 177.2
• CBP rulings guidance

USITC gives the tariff text. CROSS can help compare phone cases, protective covers, wallets, straps, and mixed-material goods.

what TariffCase should produce

TariffCase should produce a Planning Use record with material evidence, construction notes, feature list, supplier code, HTS Candidate, Missing Facts, Authority Sources, and Broker review status.

That record is much stronger than a bare code because the reviewer can see whether the material and feature facts support the path.

duty surprise checks

Phone cases are often low-margin accessories. A duty change can matter. If origin is China, Section 301 review should be flagged after the HTS Candidate is selected. If material is unclear, keep the duty estimate provisional.

related planning questions

• hts code for phone case
• hs code for phone case
• phone case hts code
• phone case import duty
• phone case customs classification
• phone case tariff code
• hts classification phone case
• hts code lookup

These searches usually need a material-first review.

internal links

• /hts-code-lookup
• /classification-record
• /duty-surprise-scan
• /tariff-calculator

questions importers ask

Does phone case material matter?

Yes. Plastic, silicone, leather, textile, metal, and mixed-material cases can raise different review questions.

What if the case has magnets or a wallet flap?

List those features in the record. They may affect how the product is described and reviewed.

Can I use the supplier code?

Use it as a clue and check it against material evidence, product photos, and official sources.

What detail is easy to miss?

Check material, magnets, wallet pockets, stand function, battery function, strap, screen cover, and packaging. A simple plastic shell and a battery case are different files.

planning boundary

This phone case 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.