Heading · Chapter 62 · Section XI, Textiles and textile articles
HS 6213Handkerchiefs
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted
- Customs duty
- 20%
- 3 tariff items
- GST now
- 5% or 18%
- depending on the goods
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- units
- Duty in China
- 6%
- On Indian goods
Codes under this heading
2 codes. Duty and GST are set on the 8-digit tariff items; open the one that describes your goods.
| Code | Description | Customs duty | GST now | Unit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6213 20 00 | Of cotton | 20% | 5% or 18% | units |
| 6213 90 | Of other textile materials | 20% | 5% or 18% | units |
Importing into India
Duty is set on each 8-digit tariff item: open one of the codes above. Basic customs duty across its 3 tariff items: 20%. The rules below cover this whole code.
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty
None in force on this code as on 19 Oct 2026.
Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS)) of its tariff items
- Free: 3 tariff items
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now 5% or 18%, depending on the goods.
- Until 21 September 2025 5% or 12%, depending on the goods.
- Change: Changed.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule I, S.No. 389 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted, of sale value not exceeding Rs. 2500 per piece | 5% |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 198 | Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted, of sale value exceeding Rs. 2500 per piece | 18% |
History
| Period | Rate | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Until 21 Sep 2025 | 5% or 12% | 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) |
| From 22 Sep 2025 | 5% or 18% | 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate) |
Exporting from India
Export duty
Nil. The Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act does not list these goods, so no export duty is charged.
Duty drawback (All Industry Rates)
| Drawback item | Goods | Rate | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6213Special Advance Authorisation | Handkerchiefs | — | — |
| 621301Special Advance Authorisation | Of Cotton | 1.6% | — |
| 621302Special Advance Authorisation | Of Blend containing Cotton and Man Made Fibre | 2.1% | Rs. 20 per Kg |
| 621303Special Advance Authorisation | Of Man Made Fibres | 2.1% | Rs. 11 per Kg |
| 621304Special Advance Authorisation | Of Silk (other than containing Noil silk) | 0.9% | — |
| 621305Special Advance Authorisation | Of Wool | 0.9% | — |
| 621306Special Advance Authorisation | Of Blend containing Wool and Man Made Fibre | 0.9% | — |
| 621399Special Advance Authorisation | Of Others | 0.9% | — |
| 6213 | Handkerchiefs | — | — |
| 621301 | Of Cotton | 2.1% | Rs. 5 per Kg |
| 621302 | Of Blend containing Cotton and Man Made Fibre | 3.3% | Rs. 32 per Kg |
| 621303 | Of Man Made Fibres | 3.5% | Rs. 42 per Kg |
| 621304 | Of Silk (other than containing Noil silk) | 5.1% | Rs. 341.7 per Kg |
| 621305 | Of Wool | 2.5% | Rs. 46 per Kg |
| 621306 | Of Blend containing Wool and Man Made Fibre | 2.6% | Rs. 49 per Kg |
| 621399 | Of Others | 2.1% | Rs. 10 per Kg |
Drawback items follow the 4-digit heading, not the 8-digit code: claim the one that describes your goods. Rates of notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.) as amended, in force on 19 Oct 2026.
Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2) of its tariff items
- Free: 3 tariff items
China: the same goods (6213)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 4 in force and 3 expired under 6213. Exporters see what China charges Indian goods; importers see the rebate and licences their Chinese supplier deals with.
| China code | Goods | Duty on Indian goods | MFN | Import VAT | Export rebate | Licences |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6213.20.10.00 | Embroidered handkerchiefs of cotton棉制刺绣手帕 | 6%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 6% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 6213.20.90.00 | Other handkerchiefs of cotton其他棉制手帕 | 6%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 6% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 6213.90.20.00 | Embroidered handkerchiefs of other textile materials其他纺织材料制刺绣手帕 | 6%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 6% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 6213.90.90.00 | Handkerchiefs of other textile materials其他材料制手帕 | 6%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 6% | 13% | 13% | None |
- India is a member of the Asia-Pacific Trade Agreement (APTA). With an APTA certificate of origin, Indian goods pay China's APTA rate where the line has one; China applies the lower of that and its provisional rate.
- The export VAT rebate is what China refunds its own exporters. When China cuts it, Chinese export prices tend to rise.
China's tariff as compiled by HS编码网 from China Customs, the State Council Tariff Commission and the State Taxation Administration. The Chinese is the original.
Nearby codes
Sources
- GSTN HSN code masterChecked 13 Oct 2026
- DGFT ITC(HS) import and export policyChecked 9 Oct 2026
- GST rate per HSN (archived GSTZen extract)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- Customs Tariff of India (First Schedule): sections, chapters, notes and statutory BCDChecked 19 Oct 2026
- GST rates on goods, before and after 22 September 2025Checked 18 Oct 2026
- BIS compulsory certification: products and Quality Control OrdersChecked 18 Oct 2026
- Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties in force (India)Checked 19 Oct 2026
- India's export duty (Second Schedule to the Customs Tariff Act and notifications 27/2011, 55/2022, 22/2024)Checked 18 Oct 2026
- India's All Industry Rates of duty drawback (notification 77/2023-Customs (N.T.))Checked 19 Oct 2026
- China customs tariff (HS编码网)Checked 19 Oct 2026
For information, not a customs ruling. Only notifications published in the Gazette have legal force; confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE before you price a deal.