HS Code for Original prints

Original prints, including engravings and lithographs, are classified under HS code 9702.90, provided they are less than 100 years old. This classification is part of Chapter 97, which covers works of art, collectors' pieces, and antiques. To qualify as an "original" print under this heading, the work must be printed directly from plates, blocks, or other surfaces that have been entirely executed by hand by the artist. This means the artist must have personally engraved, etched, or otherwise prepared the master surface. The classification excludes any mechanical or photomechanical processes. The subheading 9702.90 is specifically for modern and contemporary works; if the print is older than 100 years, it would typically move to the antique category. This distinction is vital for customs purposes as original works of art often enjoy duty-free status or reduced tax rates compared to commercial printed matter.

Products Included

• Original hand-signed lithographs
• Limited edition etchings and drypoints
• Woodcut and linocut prints created by the artist
• Original copper-plate engravings
• Serigraphs (silk-screen prints) produced as original art
• Monotypes where the artist works directly on the plate

Common Misclassification

The most common misclassification for original prints is HS code 4911, which covers other printed matter, including commercial posters, calendars, and mass-produced reproductions. If a print is made using a photomechanical process or is a simple reproduction of a painting, it belongs in 4911, not 9702. Another error involves HS code 9706, which is reserved for antiques exceeding 100 years of age. If an original print is 110 years old, it should be classified under 9706 rather than 9702.90.

FAQ

What is the HS code for original prints?

Original prints, engravings, and lithographs under 100 years old are classified under HS code 9702.90.

Are digital prints considered original prints under 9702?

Generally, no. Most digital or giclée prints are considered mechanical reproductions and are classified under HS code 4911 unless they meet very specific criteria for original art.