HS Code Category

HS Code Candidates for Greeting Cards

Use this page to prepare candidate HS headings, product facts, material and function variants, invoice descriptions, ecommerce catalog fields, and risk flags before official review.

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Answer summary

Product facts to verify

Main material and fiber or chemical composition
Construction: knitted, woven, molded, assembled
Function and intended use
Whether it includes electronics, battery, magnets, leather, or textile
Country of origin and destination market

Use this tool

HS Code Finder Commercial Invoice CSV Catalog Checker

Source note

Candidates are preparation aids only. Verify final code in USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or the destination tariff database before filing.

Last reviewed

2026-08-02

Candidate headings table

Review candidates

The table below lists candidate HS headings for greeting cards. Each row is a starting point, not a final classification; verify in the destination tariff database before filing.

Code	Heading	Use when
`4909`	Printed or illustrated postcards and greeting, message, or announcement cards	The card bears a printed greeting, message, announcement, or correspondence function covered by current text, with or without envelopes or trimmings.
`4911`	Other printed matter	The printed article does not fit the greeting, message, announcement, or postcard language of heading 4909.
`4820 / 4823`	Stationery or other paper articles	The product is blank stationery, an unprinted paper craft base, or another paper article rather than a qualifying printed greeting card.
`Chapter 85 / components`	Electronic sound or light assembly review	A speaker, sound module, LED circuit, battery, or recorded-media function is substantial and must be compared with the printed-card identity.
`GRI 3 / components`	Card set with envelopes, stickers, gifts, or other goods	Unlike articles are packaged together and one treatment is not supported without set analysis.

National extensions after the 6-digit heading vary by destination market. Verify the full national code in USITC HTS, EU TARIC, or UK Trade Tariff before filing.

Decision tree

How to classify greeting cards

Step 1: Identify the correspondence function

Printed greeting, announcement, postcard, blank stationery, collectible print, or electronic messaging device.

Step 2: Record print and paper construction

Message, illustration, folding, dimensions, paperboard weight, envelope, and ordinary trimmings.

Step 3: List non-paper components

Sound module, LEDs, display, battery, textiles, plastics, metal, wood, and removable gifts.

Step 4: Review the retail set

Cards, envelopes, stickers, stationery, storage box, and any unrelated gift item.

Step 5: Read current official text

Compare the candidate heading, legal notes, exclusions, and national subdivisions in the destination tariff schedule.

Step 6: Check origin and entry date

Review additional measures only after the national code candidate is supported; save the source URL and lookup date.

Step 7: Preserve the review trail

Keep specifications, photos, component lists, candidate comparisons, source notes, and invoice wording with the SKU.

Material variants

How material changes the code

Material	Typical heading	Notes
Printed paper or paperboard card	4909 candidate	Record printed message, card dimensions, folding, print process, envelope, trimmings, and quantity.
Blank paper note card	4820, 4823, or stationery review	A blank correspondence card may not satisfy the printed greeting/message wording.
Layered handmade mixed-media card	4909 or composite printed-paper review	List textile, plastics, wood, metal, beads, electronics, and other attachments instead of calling all embellishment paper.
Musical or LED card	4909 versus electrical/component review	Record module, speaker, circuit, LEDs, battery type, activation method, and whether parts are removable.
Digital screen or reusable electronic message card	Chapter 85 candidate	A reusable electronic device can have a different identity from disposable printed correspondence.

Function and use-case variants

How function changes the code

Function	Typical heading	Notes
Printed greeting or announcement	4909 candidate	Birthday, wedding, holiday, condolence, thank-you, and announcement messages should be recorded exactly.
Postcard	4909 candidate	Record illustrated/printed face, correspondence side, postage format, and whether it is sold as a collectible print.
Blank note-card set	Stationery or 4909 review	Determine whether printed motifs or messages satisfy the heading and list envelopes separately.
Sound- or light-producing card	Printed card versus electrical-function review	The commercial role of the module and battery must be explicit.
Card packaged with gift	Set or separate-line review	Jewelry, gift cards, toys, cosmetics, or other physical goods should not disappear inside “greeting card.”

Risk flags

Source-check required

Flag	Impact on classification	Where to verify
Printed message or announcement	Supports heading 4909 and distinguishes blank stationery or other printed matter.	USITC heading 4909 and CBP ruling H305186.
Electronic module	Sound, light, battery, and display functions can require component or electrical review.	Product bill of materials and current Chapter 85.
Substantial attachments	Mixed-media decorations can change the article facts or create separately classifiable components.	Material list and destination GRI rules.
Set with other goods	A card-and-gift package may require set analysis or separate invoice lines.	Component quantities, values, and retail presentation.
Envelope and packaging	Ordinary envelopes may travel with the card, but extra stationery and accessories need to be listed.	CBP ruling H305186 and product set record.

Risk flags signal the need for official review before the candidate code is used on customs documents.

Invoice description examples

Strong descriptions

Strong invoice descriptions include material, function, product type, and key components (battery, electronics, magnet, leather, textile). Avoid generic words such as gift, sample, accessory, or product. The descriptions below are examples only, not final classifications.

Printed folded paper birthday greeting cards with envelopes, retail box of 12
Printed wedding invitation and announcement cards with paper envelopes
Blank paper note cards with printed floral motif and envelopes, boxed set
Musical printed greeting card with sound module and button-cell batteries included
Handmade layered paper greeting card with textile ribbon and plastic embellishments

Use these descriptions on the commercial invoice line item, with the candidate HS code and country of origin declared per line.

Ecommerce catalog fields

Shopify, WooCommerce, and CSV fields to check

Before labels and invoices are generated, prepare these fields in your ecommerce catalog. The CSV Catalog Checker scans Shopify, WooCommerce, Amazon, or custom CSV exports for missing customs fields locally in your browser.

Field	Why it matters
SKU and variant ID	Keeps the classification record, supplier specification, invoice line, and marketplace export tied to the same sellable item.
Plain product description	States what the article physically is instead of relying on a holiday collection name or marketing phrase.
Materials and construction	Preserves paper, textile, plastics, glass, metal, wax, electrical, coating, lining, and component facts that can change the heading path.
Function and seasonal design	Separates a specifically festive article from ordinary apparel, packaging, stationery, lighting, containers, or year-round decoration.
Included parts and retail presentation	Shows whether the SKU is one article, a filled calendar, a mixed set, a powered item, or packaging supplied with other goods.
Country of origin	Supports origin measures only after the full destination classification candidate has been verified.
Destination and lookup date	Prevents a historical ruling or six-digit heading from being reused as a final code in every market and year.
Invoice-ready description	Carries the reviewed material, form, use, powered features, quantity, and set relationship into shipment documents.

Pair this with the Commercial Invoice Generator, the HS Code Finder, and the CSV Catalog Checker.

Worked example

Worked example: musical birthday card

Scenario: A seller imports a folded printed birthday card with a paper envelope, electronic sound module, small speaker, activation tab, and two installed button-cell batteries.

Record printed birthday message, paper card construction, envelope, sound module, speaker, circuit, activation method, batteries, dimensions, and unit value.
Begin with heading 4909 but keep the electrical/component review visible because the sound function is more than ordinary paper trim.
Determine whether the product remains a printed greeting card under current destination notes and comparable decisions.
Keep battery and electronics data available for separate transport and product-compliance checks.
Verify the full national code and origin measures.
Use an invoice description that states printed card function, sound module, speaker, and installed batteries.

A reusable video-message device or a card packed with jewelry requires a different review.

Common mistakes

What to avoid

Using 4909 for completely blank stationery without reviewing the printed-message requirement.
Ignoring sound modules, LEDs, screens, or installed batteries.
Treating jewelry or gifts attached to a card as paper trim.
Using one code for postcards, invitations, blank note cards, and reusable electronic cards.
Omitting envelopes and set quantities from the invoice description.
Copying a US ruling result to another destination without checking its schedule.

Related Tools

Continue the workflow

Editorial

About this category page

Written by the TariffCatalog Editorial Team. Maintained by Ryan Cole and reviewed for candidate-only customs-data workflow clarity.

This page follows TariffCatalog's methodology for candidate-only classification, estimate-only calculators, and document draft workflows. Candidates are preparation aids, not binding classifications.

Methodology Sources Report an error

Maintainer

Reviewed by Ryan Cole

Ryan Cole maintains TariffCatalog from the perspective of a long-time ecommerce operator with 15+ years of experience in product catalog, international shipping, and pre-shipment data workflows. This page is reviewed for candidate-only HS code preparation, source-check clarity, and estimate-only or candidate-only wording.

TariffCatalog is a preparation aid, not a customs broker, legal, tax, or freight-forwarding service. Verify final classifications, rates, documents, and filing treatment with official sources or qualified professionals.

Last reviewed: August 2026 · Maintainer entity: Ryan Cole · Source policy: verified against official customs and tariff sources

Official Source Note

Check final codes

USITC HTS

Check current headings 4909, 4911, paper articles, and electrical provisions.

CBP ruling H305186

Greeting and note-card set fact pattern.

CBP CROSS

Search musical, light-up, handmade, and gift-card sets by exact construction.

FAQ

Common questions

What HS code may apply to greeting cards?

Heading 4909 may apply to printed greeting, message, announcement, or postcard products. Blank, electronic, or mixed sets need additional review.

Are blank note cards in the same heading?

Not automatically. Record any printed motif or message and compare stationery and paper-article candidates.

How are musical greeting cards reviewed?

Keep the printed-card and electrical/component candidates visible and record the module, speaker, circuit, activation, and battery.

Do envelopes change the candidate?

Ordinary envelopes can be part of the correspondence product, but extra stationery or unusual containers should be listed and reviewed.

What about handmade mixed-media cards?

List every material and attachment. Ordinary trimmings may remain with the card, while substantial components can require separate analysis.

How are cards with gifts handled?

Identify each gift, quantity, value, material, and function, then apply destination set or separate-line rules.

What should the invoice description include?

State printed purpose, paper construction, dimensions, envelope, electronics/battery, attachments, and set quantity.

Are these candidates binding?

No. Verify the current destination code and actual product before filing.

Last reviewed: 2026-08-02

Disclaimer

TariffCatalog provides candidate HS code suggestions, estimate-only calculators, and document drafts. Verify final classifications, duty rates, document requirements, and filing obligations with official sources, carriers, brokers, or destination authorities before filing or shipping.

Candidate headings on this page are preparation aids, not binding classifications. Final classification depends on exact product facts and the destination tariff rules in effect on the entry date.