GST Rate & HSN Code Finder
Search by product name or 4-digit HSN code to find the applicable GST rate for commonly traded goods in India.
Disclaimer: This tool includes a curated list of top 30 common HSN codes for quick reference. GST rates are subject to change based on GST Council notifications. Always consult a Chartered Accountant for final invoice preparation.
| HSN Code | Product Description | GST Rate |
|---|---|---|
0402 | Milk and cream, concentrated or containing added sugar or other sweetening matter | 5% |
0406 | Cheese and curd | 12% |
0901 | Coffee, whether or not roasted or decaffeinated | 5% |
0902 | Tea, whether or not flavoured | 5% |
1006 | Rice (Pre-packaged and labelled) | 5% |
1101 | Wheat or meslin flour (Pre-packaged and labelled) | 5% |
1511 | Palm oil and its fractions | 5% |
1701 | Cane or beet sugar and chemically pure sucrose, in solid form | 5% |
1806 | Chocolate and other food preparations containing cocoa | 18% |
1905 | Bread, pastry, cakes, biscuits and other bakers' wares | 18% |
2106 | Food preparations not elsewhere specified or included | 18% |
2201 | Water (including natural or artificial mineral waters and aerated waters), not containing added sugar or other sweetening matter nor flavoured | 18% |
3004 | Medicaments (excluding goods of heading 3002, 3005 or 3006) consisting of mixed or unmixed products for therapeutic or prophylactic uses | 12% |
3304 | Beauty or make-up preparations and preparations for the care of the skin (other than medicaments) | 18% |
3401 | Soap; organic surface-active products and preparations for use as soap | 18% |
3923 | Articles for the conveyance or packing of goods, of plastics; stoppers, lids, caps and other closures, of plastics | 18% |
4819 | Cartons, boxes, cases, bags and other packing containers, of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres | 18% |
6101 | Men's or boys' overcoats, car-coats, capes, cloaks, anoraks (including ski-jackets), wind-cheaters, wind-jackets and similar articles | 12% |
6401 | Waterproof footwear with outer soles and uppers of rubber or of plastics | 18% |
6907 | Unglazed ceramic flags and paving, hearth or wall tiles; unglazed ceramic mosaic cubes and the like | 18% |
7323 | Table, kitchen or other household articles and parts thereof, of iron or steel | 12% |
8415 | Air conditioning machines, comprising a motor-driven fan and elements for changing the temperature and humidity | 28% |
8471 | Automatic data processing machines and units thereof (Computers/Laptops) | 18% |
8517 | Telephones for cellular networks or for other wireless networks (Mobile phones) | 18% |
8528 | Monitors and projectors, not incorporating television reception apparatus | 18% |
8703 | Motor cars and other motor vehicles principally designed for the transport of persons | 28% |
9018 | Instruments and appliances used in medical, surgical, dental or veterinary sciences | 12% |
9403 | Other furniture and parts thereof | 18% |
9503 | Tricycles, scooters, pedal cars and similar wheeled toys; dolls' carriages | 12% |
9608 | Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers | 18% |
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Contact the FirmWhat Is an HSN Code, and Why Does GST Use It?
HSN stands for Harmonised System of Nomenclature — an internationally standardised system of numeric codes used to classify traded goods, originally developed for customs purposes and adopted into India's GST framework to identify which rate applies to which product. Because it's a common classification system rather than something invented for GST, the same HSN code for a product generally lines up with how it's classified for customs and international trade purposes as well. Under GST, every invoice for goods is expected to carry the applicable HSN code, and the number of digits required depends on your turnover — smaller businesses generally need to report fewer digits than larger ones, and the exact thresholds are set and revised by government notification, so it's worth confirming the current requirement for your turnover slab rather than assuming last year's rule still applies.
HSN vs SAC — Goods vs Services
HSN codes classify goods. Services are classified separately under SAC (Services Accounting Code), a parallel numeric system built specifically for GST rather than borrowed from customs practice. If your business only sells services — consulting, professional services, and similar — you'll be working with SAC codes on your invoices and returns rather than HSN codes. Many real businesses deal in both: a trader who also offers installation or maintenance, for instance, needs to classify the goods portion under HSN and the service portion under SAC separately, since each can carry a different GST rate.
Why Getting the Code Right Actually Matters
An incorrect HSN code isn't just a technicality — it can misstate the GST rate charged on an invoice, which creates a mismatch between what you've charged and what the correct liability actually is. That mismatch tends to surface later during return filing or reconciliation, when it's harder and more time-consuming to correct than it would have been to get right at the point of invoicing. It can also affect your customer's ability to claim input tax credit cleanly, since credit claims are validated against the invoice details you've reported. Getting the classification right at the time of invoicing — rather than relying on how a similar product was billed previously — is the more reliable habit, since product lines and applicable rates do get revised over time.
When a Product Could Fall Under Two Headings
Classification isn't always obvious — many products sit close to the boundary between two headings, or combine features that could reasonably point to either. Packaging and labelling status (pre-packaged and labelled versus loose), the precise composition or use of the product, and whether it's a finished good or a component can all shift which heading is correct. When a product is genuinely ambiguous, look for how the classification is generally applied to comparable products, and where it still isn't clear, treat it as a question for a CA rather than a guess — an incorrect classification applied consistently across many invoices compounds into a much larger correction later than getting a single early opinion would have cost.
Rates Change — Treat Every Number Here as a Snapshot
GST rates on any given HSN code are not fixed permanently — they are revised from time to time through GST Council notifications, and a rate that applied a year ago may no longer be current. This tool's list above is a curated reference for common items, not a live feed from the GST portal, so treat any rate you find here as a starting point for verification rather than a final answer, especially for high-value transactions or recurring invoicing where an error would repeat across many bills. The authoritative source is always the current CBIC notification, and a CA can confirm the applicable rate for your specific product before you finalise pricing or invoicing formats.
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on your turnover — the required digit length scales up as turnover increases, and the specific thresholds are set by notification and revised periodically. Confirm the current requirement for your turnover slab rather than relying on a figure from an earlier year.
HSN codes classify goods and originate from the international customs classification system. SAC codes classify services and are specific to India's GST framework. A business dealing in both goods and services typically needs to use both systems, one for each type of supply.
Yes. GST rates are revised by GST Council notification from time to time, and a rate that was correct in the past may since have changed. It's worth periodically re-checking the rates on your regularly invoiced products rather than assuming they're permanent.
It can result in charging the wrong GST rate, create mismatches during return filing and reconciliation, and potentially affect your customer's input tax credit claim. Correcting it at the point of invoicing is preferable to discovering it later during a return or an audit.
Look closely at factors like packaging status, composition, and intended use, and check how similar products are generally classified. If it remains genuinely ambiguous, it's worth getting a CA's opinion before invoicing at scale, since an incorrect classification repeated across many invoices is far costlier to fix than a single early check.
No — it's a curated reference covering commonly traded goods for quick lookup, not an exhaustive or live feed from the GST portal. For a complete or authoritative answer, check the current CBIC notification or consult a Chartered Accountant.