Telephone sets — HTS 8517
Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, including apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network (such as a local or wide area network), other than transmission or reception apparatus of heading 8443, 8525, 8527 or 8528; parts thereof
Chapter 85 › Heading 8517
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 8517 is a broad product category for telecommunications equipment. It includes telephone sets such as smartphones, phones for cellular or other wireless networks, and other equipment that transmits or receives voice, images, or data over wired or wireless networks. Examples can include certain network communication equipment, such as equipment used in local area networks (LANs) or wide area networks (WANs), as well as parts of covered equipment. The heading excludes products classified in headings 8443, 8525, 8527, or 8528 when those headings apply.
To choose an 8-digit HTSUS code, first identify the product’s essential function and whether it is a complete device or a part. Then follow the subheading structure and product descriptions, which may separate products by type, network function, or other technical characteristics. Material alone is not usually the main deciding factor for finished telecommunications equipment; for parts, construction, dedicated use, and whether the item is identifiable solely or principally for the equipment can matter. Confirm the current tariff text, statistical suffix, and any relevant legal notes, rulings, or binding classification decision.
What to check
- Describe the item’s primary function, such as cellular calling, data networking, signal routing, or wireless transmission and reception.
- Check whether the shipment is a complete apparatus, an accessory, or a part, and review whether the part is designed solely or principally for covered equipment.
- Read every subheading and its legal notes rather than stopping at the heading description; small technical distinctions can lead to different 8-digit codes.
- Confirm the product’s actual specifications, including wired or wireless operation, network protocol, transmission or reception capability, and any integrated functions.
- Verify the current 8-digit HTSUS code using official tariff data and, when classification is uncertain, seek a customs broker’s advice or a binding ruling.
HTS heading 8517 summary
Telephone sets is a 4-digit product category containing 9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8517.11.00.00 👉 | Line telephone sets with cordless handsets | Free | — | 35% |
| 8517.13.00.00 👉 | Smartphones | Free | — | 35% |
| 8517.14.00 👉 | Other telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks | Free | — | 35% |
| 8517.18.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | 35% |
| 8517.61.00.00 👉 | Base stations | Free | — | 35% |
| 8517.62.00 👉 | Machines for the reception, conversion and transmission or regeneration of voice, images or other data, including switching and routing apparatus | Free | — | 35% |
| 8517.69.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | 35% |
| 8517.71.00.00 👉 | Aerials and aerial reflectors of all kinds; parts suitable for use therewith | Free | — | 35% |
| 8517.79.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | 35% |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 8517?
Telephone sets, including smartphones and other telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks; other apparatus for the transmission or reception of voice, images or other data, including apparatus for communication in a wired or wireless network (such as a local or wide area network), other than transmission or reception apparatus of heading 8443, 8525, 8527 or 8528; parts thereof. 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.