Transfers — HTS 4908
Transfers (decalcomanias)
Chapter 49 › Heading 4908
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 4908 covers transfers, also called decalcomanias. These are designs, images, lettering, or other printed matter made to be transferred from a prepared backing onto another surface, such as ceramic, glass, metal, wood, or another article. The heading groups the products by what they are and how they are used, rather than by the finished item onto which they are applied.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTSUS code, first determine the applicable 6-digit subheading, commonly based on whether the transfer is vitrifiable—intended to be permanently fired onto surfaces such as ceramics or glass—or is another type of transfer. The remaining statistical digits distinguish the specific classification shown in the current HTSUS. Confirm the product’s construction, transfer method, and intended application; material alone may not determine the code.
What to check
- Identify whether the product is a decalcomania transfer rather than an ordinary sticker, label, wallpaper, or printed sheet.
- Confirm whether the transfer is vitrifiable and designed to be fixed by firing or heat, using product specifications and technical documentation.
- Review the backing, printing process, coatings, and application instructions, but do not assume the backing material alone controls classification.
- Check the current HTSUS text, legal notes, and statistical suffixes for the relevant 6-digit subheading before selecting the 8-digit code.
- Keep product literature, photographs, samples, and supplier statements supporting the classification; ask a customs broker or seek a binding ruling if the product’s characteristics are unclear.
HTS heading 4908 summary
Transfers is a 4-digit product category containing 2 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.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4908.10.00.00 👉 | Transfers (decalcomanias), vitrifiable | Free | — | 66¢/kg + 15% |
| 4908.90.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | 88¢/kg |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 4908?
Transfers (decalcomanias). 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.