The "Customs Clearance Codebook" for Home Appliance Exports

In recent years, China's home appliance exports have continued to rise, with air conditioner exports exceeding 50 million units in 2022, and refrigerator and washing machine export value increasing by 15% year-on-year. However, during customs clearance, many companies often face delays due to improper product classification. Today, let's decode the classification mysteries of these "major appliances" like cracking a code.

The Classification Methods for the Three Musketeers in the Living Room

As the main force in exports, the classification of living room appliances requires special attention to structural features and technical parameters:

Air Conditioner: Cooling Capacity Determines Its Fate

• Cabinet air conditioners: The integrated structure of the whole machine is directly classified into 84151010
• Split air conditioners: When the indoor and outdoor units are declared separately, special attention is neededThe cooling capacity demarcation lineAt 4000 kcal/hour
• Common Misconceptions: Declaring the compressor separately as item 8414, it should actually be classified according to the whole system

Television: Display Technology Decides Everything

Last year, a certain enterprise in Shenzhen misdeclared an OLED TV as an LCD TV, resulting in the return of the entire batch of goods. The key difference lies in:

• Liquid - crystal TV (LCD) is classified into 85287222
• Plasma TV (PDP) is classified into 85287232
• EmergingMicro LED TVsCurrently, they are temporarily classified as liquid crystal TVs

The "Identity Confusion" of Smart Speakers

A cross - border e - commerce enterprise declared a smart speaker with a screen as 8518.5000, and as a result, due to the built - in Android system, it was re - classified by the customs under item 8517. Reminder:

• Devices with pure audio functions are classified into item 8518
• WithSmart operating systemDevices may be classified into 8517
• Combined - function devices need to be classified according toThe main functionTo determine the classification

The Classification Traps of the Four Treasures in the Kitchen

Kitchen appliances are most prone to classification disputes due to their complex structure:

Refrigerators: There are particularities in volume measurement

When a certain enterprise in Qingdao exported a side - by - side refrigerator, it declared the total volume as the volume of the refrigerating compartment, resulting in a classification error. The correct approach:

• Compression refrigerators are declared byTotal effective volumeBy classification
• For dual - temperature - zone refrigerators, the refrigerating and freezing volumes need to be calculated together
• Special - purpose refrigerators such as wine cabinets may be classified into 8418.40

The mystery of range hood dimensions

Remember thisThe golden number 120cm:

• Devices with a cover side length ≤ 120cm are classified into 8414.6010
• Commercial models with > 120cm are classified into 8414.6090
• WithAutomatic cleaning functionThe models shall still be classified according to their basic functions.

The functional boundaries of dishwashers

Last year, a batch of dishwashers with a drying function exported from Ningbo was required to pay additional taxes because they were wrongly declared as household dishwashers (8422.1100). Key points:

• Only hasbasic washing functionClassified into 8422.11
• Withhigh - temperature sterilizationDevices with additional functions such as... may be classified into 8422.19

The fuel debate of gas stoves

Pay special attention to such 'cross-border players':

• Pure gas stoves are classified into 7321.1100
• For electric - gas dual - use cookers, we need to look atthe main heating method
• Induction cookers are classified into item 8516

The special rules for bathroom appliances

There are some special classification rules for bathroom appliances:

The "Weight Threshold" of Washing Machines

Remember10 kgthis key indicator:

• Dry - clothing capacity ≤ 10kg is classified as a household washing machine
• > 10kg is classified as a commercial model (8450.20)
• Washing - drying all - in - one machines are classified according towashing capacityTo determine the classification

The energy puzzle of water heaters

This case is worthy of vigilance: An enterprise wrongly classified a solar - assisted electric water heater into item 8419, and it should actually be classified into 8516. Key points:

• Pure electric water heaters fall under heading 8516.
• Solar/gas water heaters fall under heading 8419.
• with electric auxiliary heatingThe dual - system water heaters still fall under 8516.

Three principles for classification practice

Based on 20 years of foreign trade experience, the golden rules for classifying home appliances are summarized as follows:

• Function takes precedencePrinciple: Classify according to the main function rather than the additional functions.
• Specific listingPrinciple: Give priority to the commodity names specifically described in the tariff regulations.
• Overall classificationPrinciple: Complete sets of equipment should be declared according to the complete functional system.

It is recommended that enterprises do three things before export: 1) Prepare a complete technical parameter table; 2) Keep the product structure diagram; 3) Consult a professional classifier. Remember, correct classification is not only a compliance requirement but also a key link in cost control.