Painting — HTS 9701
Painting, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading 4906 and other than hand-painted or hand-decorated manufacture articles; collages, mosaics and similar decorative plaques
Chapter 97 › Heading 9701
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 9701 is a broad product category for original paintings, drawings, and pastels made entirely by hand, plus collages, mosaics, and similar decorative plaques. It generally excludes technical or architectural drawings covered by heading 4906 and manufactured articles that are merely hand-painted or hand-decorated. The key issue is whether the item is an original artwork in the relevant form, rather than a mass-produced or functional product with decoration added by hand.
To reach the correct 8-digit HTS code, first confirm that heading 9701 applies, then use the heading’s subheadings and statistical provisions to identify the artwork’s specific type or distinguishing characteristic. Depending on the applicable provisions, this may involve the kind of artwork, its materials or construction, or another stated classification distinction. Read the complete 8-digit description—not just the heading—and verify that it matches the item as imported. Borderline questions, such as whether a work is entirely hand-executed or whether it is an original artwork versus a decorative manufactured article, may require a customs broker or formal classification ruling.
What to check
- Confirm that the artwork is executed entirely by hand and is not a reproduction, printed image, or manufactured article with hand decoration.
- Check whether the item is a technical, architectural, or similar drawing that belongs under heading 4906 instead of heading 9701.
- Review every 8-digit option under heading 9701 and compare the full descriptions, including any material, type, or construction distinctions.
- Keep evidence such as photographs, artist or gallery descriptions, invoices, provenance, and production details to support the classification.
- Ask a customs broker or seek an official classification ruling when the artwork’s originality, hand execution, or construction is uncertain.
HTS heading 9701 summary
Painting is a 4-digit product category containing 6 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9701.21.00.00 👉 | Paintings, drawings, and pastels | Free | — | Free |
| 9701.22.00.00 👉 | Mosaics | Free | — | Free |
| 9701.29.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | Free |
| 9701.91.00.00 👉 | Paintings, drawings, and pastels | Free | — | Free |
| 9701.92.00.00 👉 | Mosaics | Free | — | Free |
| 9701.99.00.00 👉 | Other | Free | — | Free |
"Special" shows the free-trade-agreement rate; open a code to see exactly which countries qualify.
Common questions
What products fall under HTS heading 9701?
Painting, drawings and pastels, executed entirely by hand, other than drawings of heading 4906 and other than hand-painted or hand-decorated manufacture articles; collages, mosaics and similar decorative plaques. 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.