HS Code 4909Printed or illustrated postcards; printed cards bearing personal greetings, messages or announcements, whether or not illustrated, with or without envelopes or trimmings

What HS code 4909 covers

This heading is for small printed cards that carry a message or a picture. It has two main groups. The first is postcards, printed or illustrated. The second is cards with a personal greeting, message or announcement on them.

The cards may be plain or illustrated. They may come alone, with envelopes, or with trimmings such as ribbons or edging. An envelope or a trim does not move the card to another heading.

In everyday terms, this means birthday and Christmas cards, wedding and other invitation cards, and cards that announce an event or news. Customs uses formal wording, but the goods are the ones you would find in a card shop or a printer's order book.

Think of the printed product, not the blank paper it was made from. A finished card is classified as a card.

HS code 490900 on your paperwork

Every card that fits this heading uses 490900. You never have to choose between sub-codes at the six-digit level.

Write HS 490900 on your invoice, packing list and customs forms. Many countries add extra digits for their own tariffs, so check your local tariff for the full national code.

Duty and GST rates are set by each country and can change. This page does not list them. Check your national tariff, or look at live records for your market.

Difference between HS 4909 and 4911, and other nearby codes

Printed goods are easy to mix up. Ask what the item is for and how it is used. A card meant to be sent with a greeting, message or announcement belongs in 4909. Other printed items go elsewhere.

These are the headings people most often confuse with 4909:

• 4911: prints and photographs that are not cards, plus other printed items that fit no other heading.
• 4910: wall, desk and pocket calendars. A card with a calendar printed on it is a calendar, not a greeting card.
• 4907: value documents such as unused stamps, banknotes and cheque forms.
• 4901: booklets, flyers and books. A folded leaflet that sells or explains something goes here, not under 4909.
• 4908: designs made to be pressed or rubbed onto another surface.

Who imports and exports HS 4909 greeting cards and postcards

If you sell cards, you may want to know which companies buy and ship them. The HS code is a sound starting point, because customs records are filed under it.

EximDataX shows shipment-level import and export records from official customs sources. Coverage: 43 direct customs feeds plus 184 mirror-derived countries. Named buyers and named suppliers are available in 38 of the 43 direct markets. Most markets refresh weekly and some refresh daily. You can search by HS code to see who imports and exports a product, and book a free demo.

To start, search 490900 and look at the records for your market. You can then move to buyer or supplier lists.

Other headings in Chapter 49

If your product is not a card, a neighbouring heading may fit better. Use the links below to compare them, or try the classifier if you are unsure.