Skins and other parts of birds — HTS 0505
Skins and other parts of birds, with their feathers or down, feathers and parts of feathers (whether or not with trimmed edges) and down, not further worked than cleaned, disinfected or treated for preservation; powder and waste of feathers or parts of feathers
Chapter 05 › Heading 0505
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 0505 is a four-digit product category for bird skins and other bird parts that still have feathers or down, as well as feathers, parts of feathers, and down. It also covers these materials when they have only been cleaned, disinfected, or treated for preservation. Powder and waste made from feathers or feather parts are included as well.
A merchant narrows the heading to a specific 8-digit HTSUS code by matching the product’s physical form and description to the tariff subheadings and statistical subdivisions. The relevant distinction may involve whether the item is a whole skin or another bird part, feathers or down, feather parts, or powder and waste, along with any stated material or type distinctions. Do not classify a product here if it has been further manufactured into a finished article or processed beyond the treatments described in the heading.
What to check
- Describe exactly what the shipment contains: whole skins, bird parts, feathers, down, feather pieces, powder, or waste.
- Check whether the material was only cleaned, disinfected, or preserved, or whether it was further processed, assembled, or made into another product.
- Review the HTSUS heading, subheading notes, legal notes, and 8-digit statistical descriptions for distinctions based on type, material, or form.
- Keep product specifications, processing information, photographs, and supplier documents that support the classification.
- Confirm the final code against current official HTSUS data and seek a customs broker or binding ruling when the product’s processing or composition is unclear.
HTS heading 0505 summary
Skins and other parts of birds 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 |
|---|---|
| 0505.90 | Other |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0505.10.00 👉 | Feathers of a kind used for stuffing; down | Free | — | 20% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 0505?
Skins and other parts of birds, with their feathers or down, feathers and parts of feathers (whether or not with trimmed edges) and down, not further worked than cleaned, disinfected or treated for preservation; powder and waste of feathers or parts of feathers. 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.