Subheading · Chapter 96 · Section XX, Miscellaneous manufactured articles
HS 9608 30Fountain pens, stylograph pens and other pens
Miscellaneous manufactured articles › Ball point pens; felt tipped and other poroustipped pens and markers; fountain pens; stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating stylos; propelling or sliding pencils; pen holders, pencil holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609
- Customs duty
- 10%
- 9 tariff items
- GST now
- 0% or 18%
- depending on the goods
- Import policy
- Free
- Export policy
- Free
- Unit
- units
- Duty in China
- 12%
- On Indian goods
Codes under this subheading
9 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608 30 11 | High value fountain pens (US $ 100 and above c.i.f. per unit) | 10% | 0% or 18% | units |
| 9608 30 12 | With body or cap of precious metal or rolled precious metal | 10% | 0% or 18% | units |
| 9608 30 19 | Other | 10% | 0% or 18% | units |
| 9608 30 21 | High value pens (US $ 100 and above c.i.f. per unit) | 10% | 0% or 18% | units |
| 9608 30 22 | With body or cap of precious metal or rolled precious metal | 10% | 0% or 18% | units |
| 9608 30 29 | Other | 10% | 0% or 18% | units |
| 9608 30 91 | High value pens (US $ 100 and above c.i.f. per unit) | 10% | 0% or 18% | units |
| 9608 30 92 | With body or cap of precious metal or rolled precious metal | 10% | 0% or 18% | units |
| 9608 30 99 | Other | 10% | 0% 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 9 tariff items: 10%. 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: 9 tariff items
GST
IGST on imports is the GST rate. Rates changed on 22 September 2025.
- Now 0% or 18%, depending on the goods.
- Until 21 September 2025 12% or 18%, depending on the goods.
- Change: Changed.
The rules that set it now
| Notification | Goods | Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 10/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule Exempt, S.No. 163 | Pencils (including propelling or sliding pencils), crayons, pastels, drawing charcoals, writing or drawing chalks and tailor's chalk; Slate pencils and chalk sticks | Nil |
| 9/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate)Schedule II, S.No. 626 | Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens; stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating stylos; pen holders, pencil holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 | 18% |
History
| Period | Rate | Notification |
|---|---|---|
| Until 21 Sep 2025 | 12% or 18% | 1/2017-Central Tax (Rate) |
| From 22 Sep 2025 | 0% or 18% | 10/2025-Integrated Tax (Rate); 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9608 | Ball point pens; felt tipped and other porous-tipped pens and markers; fountain pens; stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating stylos; propelling or sliding pencils; pen holders, pencil holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609 | — | — |
| 960801 | Ball point pens | 4.2% | Rs. 269 per 1000 Pcs |
| 960802 | Felt tipped and other porous tipped pens and markers | 4.4% | Rs. 633 per 1000 Pcs |
| 960803 | Fountain pens; stylograph pens and other pens | 4.2% | Rs. 269 per 1000 Pcs |
| 960804 | Propelling or sliding pencils | 2.2% | Rs. 260 per 1000 Pcs |
| 960899 | Others including parts | 1.4% | — |
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: 9 tariff items
What buyers pay abroad: import duty in the US, UK, EU and Australia for 9608 30, and China's below.
China: the same goods (9608 30)
China shares the first 6 digits with India and splits them into 10-digit codes of its own: 3 in force under 9608 30. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9608.30.10.00 | Ink brushes墨汁画笔 | 12%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 12% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9608.30.20.00 | Fountain pens自来水笔 | 12%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 12% | 13% | 13% | None |
| 9608.30.90.00 | Other fountain pens其他钢笔 | 12%MFN rate (no APTA concession on this line) | 12% | 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
9608.30.10Ink brushes
9608.30.10.00Ink brushes墨汁画笔
- Unit
- piece / kg
- MFN import duty
- 12%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 80%
- 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.Type种类
- 3.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 4.Model型号
- 5.GTIN
- 6.CAS
- 7.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 16.8%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 4.2%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 8.4%
- Ecuador
- 9.9%
- Serbia
- 8.4%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 10.5%
- Brunei
- 10.5%
- Cambodia
- 10.5%
- South Korea
- 10.5%
- Laos
- 10.5%
- Malaysia
- 10.5%
- New Zealand
- 12.6%
- Singapore
- 10.5%
- Thailand
- 10.5%
- Vietnam
- 10.5%
- Japan
- 14.4%
- Indonesia
- 10.5%
- Philippines
- 10.5%
- Myanmar
- 10.5%
CIQ codes
- 9608301000101Ink brushes (Chinese brushes)墨汁画笔(毛笔)
- 9608301000102Ink brushes墨汁画笔(其他笔)
9608.30.20Fountain pens
9608.30.20.00Fountain pens自来水笔
- Unit
- piece / kg
- MFN import duty
- 12%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 80%
- 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.Type种类
- 3.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 4.Model型号
- 5.GTIN
- 6.CAS
- 7.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 16.8%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 8.4%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 8.4%
- Ecuador
- 10.2%
- Serbia
- 8.4%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 15.8%
- Brunei
- 15.8%
- Cambodia
- 15.8%
- South Korea
- 15.8%
- Laos
- 15.8%
- Malaysia
- 15.8%
- New Zealand
- 16.8%
- Singapore
- 15.8%
- Thailand
- 15.8%
- Vietnam
- 15.8%
- Indonesia
- 15.8%
- Philippines
- 15.8%
- Myanmar
- 15.8%
CIQ codes
- 9608302000999Fountain pens自来水笔
9608.30.90Stylograph fountain pens and other fountain pens
9608.30.90.00Other fountain pens其他钢笔
Including stylographic pens包括铁笔型自来水笔
- Unit
- piece / kg
- MFN import duty
- 12%
- Provisional import duty
- None
- General import duty
- 80%
- 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.Type种类
- 3.Brand (Chinese or foreign names)品牌(中文或外文名称)
- 4.Model型号
- 5.GTIN
- 6.CAS
- 7.Other其他
China's agreement rates
- ASEAN
- 0%
- Chile
- 0%
- Pakistan
- 16.8%
- New Zealand
- 0%
- Peru
- 0%
- Costa Rica
- 0%
- Switzerland
- 0%
- Iceland
- 0%
- Australia
- 0%
- South Korea
- 8.4%
- Georgia
- 0%
- Mauritius
- 0%
- Maldives
- 0%
- Cambodia
- 0%
- Nicaragua
- 8.4%
- Ecuador
- 10.2%
- Serbia
- 8.4%
- Hong Kong
- 0%
- Macao
- 0%
RCEP rates
- Australia
- 15.8%
- Brunei
- 15.8%
- Cambodia
- 15.8%
- South Korea
- 15.8%
- Laos
- 15.8%
- Malaysia
- 15.8%
- New Zealand
- 16.8%
- Singapore
- 15.8%
- Thailand
- 15.8%
- Vietnam
- 15.8%
- Japan
- 16%
- Indonesia
- 15.8%
- Philippines
- 15.8%
- Myanmar
- 15.8%
CIQ codes
- 9608309000999Other fountain pens (including stylograph type fountain pens)其他钢笔(包括铁笔型自来水笔)
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
Previous9608 10Ball point pensOne level up9608Ball point pens; felt tipped and other poroustipped pens and markers; fountain pens; stylograph pens and other pens; duplicating stylos; propelling or sliding pencils; pen holders, pencil holders and similar holders; parts (including caps and clips) of the foregoing articles, other than those of heading 9609Next9608 60Refills for ball point pens, comprising the ball point and ink-reservoir
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.