Tariff item · Chapter 62 · Section XI, Textiles and textile articles
HS 6213 20 00Handkerchiefs: of cotton
Articles of apparel and clothing accessories, not knitted or crocheted › Of cotton
- Customs duty
- 20%
- Tariff rate
- GST now
- 5% or 18%
- depending on the goods
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- units
- Duty in China
- 6%
- On Indian goods
Importing into India
What customs charges, what trade agreements take off, and the rules the goods must meet.
Customs duty
| Duty | Rate | Charged on |
|---|---|---|
| Basic customs duty (BCD), MFN rate | 20% | Assessable value |
| Agriculture Infrastructure and Development Cess (AIDC) | Nil | Assessable value11/2021-Customs, S.No. 17 |
| Social Welfare Surcharge (SWS) | 10% of BCD, AIDC and Health Cess | BCD + AIDC |
| Integrated GST (IGST) | 5% or 18% | Assessable value + BCD + AIDC + SWS |
Lower duty under trade agreements
| Agreement | Customs duty | Goods from |
|---|---|---|
| ASEAN–India FTA | 0% | Brunei, Indonesia, Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam |
| Duty-free tariff preference for LDCs | 0% | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Benin, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Central African Republic, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Haiti, Cambodia, Comoros, Laos, Liberia, Lesotho, Madagascar, Mali, Myanmar, Malawi, Mozambique, Niger, Rwanda, Sudan, Sierra Leone, Senegal, Somalia, Chad, Togo, Timor-Leste, Tanzania, Uganda, Yemen, Zambia |
| India–EFTA TEPA51/2025-Customs | 0% | Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway |
| India–Japan CEPA | 0% | Japan |
| India–Korea CEPA | 0% | South Korea |
| India–Malaysia CECA | 0% | Malaysia |
| India–Oman CEPA20/2026-Customs | 0% | Oman |
| India–Sri Lanka FTA | 0% | Sri Lanka |
| India–UAE CEPA | 0% | United Arab Emirates |
| India–UK CETA29/2026-Customs | 0% | United Kingdom |
| SAFTA | 0% | Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal |
| SAFTA | 5% | Sri Lanka |
| SAPTA | 8% | Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal |
| India–Australia ECTA | 8.6% | Australia |
| India–EFTA TEPA53/2025-Customs | 12% | Iceland |
Goods from Pakistan pay 200%.
Anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duty
None in force on this code as on 19 Oct 2026.
Import policy (DGFT ITC(HS))
- Free.
Notes on these rates
- BCD is the statutory tariff rate from a one-time snapshot of the Indian Trade Portal. Exemption notifications (such as 45/2025-Customs) and tariff changes made after the snapshot, including the Finance Act 2026 changes from 1 May 2026, are not applied.
- IGST comes from our archived GST table, which still has the 12% and 28% slabs, so it may pre-date the GST rate changes of 22 September 2025. Check the current rate.
- AIDC, Health Cess and the SWS exemptions are read from notifications 11/2021-Customs, 08/2020-Customs and 11/2018-Customs as amended (to 16/2026-Customs), and the notifications that lower AIDC for a while. SWS is 10% of BCD, AIDC and Health Cess together (Finance Act 2018, s.110), never of anti-dumping, countervailing or safeguard duty or IGST.
- AIDC is Nil (S.No. 17 of 11/2021-Customs, which exempts all goods it does not name).
- Not included: GST compensation cess, anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard duties, and exemptions or concessions such as end-use, EOU/SEZ or project imports.
- This does not check whether the import is allowed (DGFT import policy, licences, quality-control orders). The HS code explorer shows the import policy.
- This is an estimate, not an assessment. Confirm the duty with your customs broker or ICEGATE's duty calculator before you price a deal.
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 incentives (RoDTEP and RoSCTL)
- RoDTEP, Appendix 4R (exports from the domestic tariff area): Not listed: this item earns nothing under it.
- RoDTEP, Appendix 4RE (exports under Advance Authorisation, EOU or SEZ): Not listed: this item earns nothing under it.
- RoSCTL (garments and made-ups): In force until 31 Dec 2026: the rate depends on the garment and its fibres, in the table below.
| RoSCTL item | Goods | State + central | Cap |
|---|---|---|---|
| 621301For this code | Handkerchiefs: Of Cotton | 2.9% + 2% = 4.9%Fabric imported duty free (Special AA): 1.37% + 1.08% | Rs. 53.4 per kg + no cap |
| 621302On a condition | Handkerchiefs: Of Blend containing Cotton and Man Made FibreIf a blend containing cotton and man-made fibre | 2.5% + 1.85% = 4.35%Fabric imported duty free (Special AA): 1.37% + 1.08% | Rs. 42.1 per kg + no cap |
The rebate is the state part plus the central part, each the lower of its rate on the FOB value and its cap on the quantity. Rates of notification 14/26/2016-IT (Vol.II) of 08.03.2019, continued unchanged since; FIBC as revised on 01.10.2024. The rate follows the actual fibre mix, which an 8-digit code does not record: claim the item that describes your goods.
Export policy (DGFT ITC(HS) Schedule 2)
- Free.
What buyers pay abroad: import duty in the US, UK, EU and Australia for 6213 20, and China's below.
China: the same goods (6213 20)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 2 in force under 6213 20. 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 |
- 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.
Every Chinese code in full
6213.20.10Embroidered handkerchiefs of cotton
6213.20.10.00Embroidered handkerchiefs of cotton棉制刺绣手帕
- Unit
- piece / kg
- MFN import duty
- 6%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 90%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 23 Aug 2026
Licences and certificates
None.
Inspection and quarantine
None.
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Weaving method (woven; embroidered, non-embroidered)织造方法(机织;刺绣、非刺绣)
- 3.Ingredient content成分含量
- 4.Side length边长尺寸
- 5.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 6.Item number货号
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
- 9.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 7%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 0%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 7%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 7.6%
- Indonesia
- 0%
- Philippines
- 0%
- Myanmar
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 6213201000999Embroidered handkerchiefs of cotton棉制刺绣手帕
6213.20.90Other handkerchiefs of cotton
6213.20.90.00Other handkerchiefs of cotton其他棉制手帕
- Unit
- piece / kg
- MFN import duty
- 6%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 90%
- Import VAT
- 13%
- Consumption tax
- 0%
- Export duty
- 0%
- Provisional export duty
- None
- Export VAT rebate
- 13%
- Updated by China
- 23 Aug 2026
Licences and certificates
None.
Inspection and quarantine
None.
What the customs declaration must state
- 0.Brand type品牌类型
- 1.Export preferential status出口享惠情况
- 2.Weaving method (woven; embroidered, non-embroidered)织造方法(机织;刺绣、非刺绣)
- 3.Ingredient content成分含量
- 4.Side length边长尺寸
- 5.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 6.Item number货号
- 7.GTIN
- 8.CAS
- 9.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 11.2%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 0%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 0%
- Ecuador
- 0%
- Serbia
- 0%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 0%
- Brunei
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 7%
- Laos
- 0%
- Malaysia
- 0%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Singapore
- 0%
- Thailand
- 0%
- Vietnam
- 0%
- Japan
- 7.6%
- Indonesia
- 0%
- Philippines
- 0%
- Myanmar
- 0%
CIQ codes
- 6213209000999Other handkerchiefs of cotton其他棉制手帕
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 import tariff by origin (Indian Trade Portal snapshot)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- GST schedule headings and 8-digit IGST (archived)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- HS code descriptions (archived file)Checked 29 Sep 2026
- India's AIDC, Health Cess and Social Welfare Surcharge exemptions (11/2021, 08/2020, 11/2018-Customs)Checked 18 Oct 2026
- India's preferential tariff schedules (CBIC notifications)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
- RoDTEP export incentive rates (DGFT Appendix 4R and 4RE)Checked 18 Oct 2026
- RoSCTL rebate for apparel and made-ups (Ministry of Textiles): periods and ratesChecked 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.