Why HS Code 841480 Decides Your Landed Cost
A shipment held at the port for a classification review can cost more than the compressor’s inland freight. For screw air compressor buyers, HS Code 841480 is not a paperwork detail. It sets the duty base, the documentation trail, and the clearance time, so a wrong code turns a clean purchase into a demurrage bill.
Where Screw Compressors Sit in the Tariff
Rotary screw air compressors are compressed-air machines, so they normally sit under HS heading 8414: “air or vacuum pumps, air or other gas compressors and fans.” The six-digit residual subheading 8414.80 covers “other” compressors, and that is where most rotary screw units are cleared. The final 8–10 digit line varies by destination, so confirm the importer’s national tariff before quoting. See the full rotary screw air compressor range before you lock the paperwork.
- 8414 — heading level: pumps, compressors and fans.
- 8414.80 — residual subheading: other air compressors.
- 8414.80.XX / 8414.80.90XX — country-specific national line.
Do not assume every country uses the same 8-digit split. A code that clears in one market can be reclassified in another.
The Specs Customs Actually Checks
Customs classifies by function and capacity, and the commercial invoice must support both. Panrui’s RSS-Ⅱ two-stage permanent-magnet variable-speed range, for example, runs from 7.5 kW (1.2 m³/min) up to 75 kW (15 m³/min) at 0.8 MPa discharge pressure, with footprints from 80×67×88 cm to 192×133×168 cm. Power, free air delivery, and discharge pressure are the three fields a broker will ask for first.
Those numbers also shape valuation. A 55 kW unit delivering 11.5 m³/min at 0.8 MPa is a different line item from a 7.5 kW unit, even when both clear under 8414.80. Matching the model table to the invoice is what keeps a low-value flag from becoming a customs hold. If you compare efficiency as part of the landed-cost case, the two-stage range reaches a specific power of 6.9 kW/(m³/min) and is designed for a 52°C ambient operating point — useful evidence when a buyer asks why the unit should be valued as a premium compressor rather than a generic one.
Four Steps to a Clean HS Code 841480 Entry
- Confirm the exact 8–10 digit national line before you quote.
- Print power (kW), free air delivery (m³/min), and discharge pressure (bar/MPa) on the invoice.
- State country of origin and attach a Certificate of Origin where required.
- Describe the motor, controller, and enclosure as one integrated compressor set, not loose parts.
If a dryer, tank, or filter ships in the same container, ask the supplier to put each item on a separate invoice line. Bundling unrelated equipment under 8414.80 is a common cause of reclassification and delay.
Duty Is a Range, Not a Fixed Number
Do not budget a single duty percentage. Rates vary by destination, trade agreement, and valuation method; some markets apply ad valorem duty on CIF value, while others add VAT on the duty-inclusive amount. Build the quote on CIF value plus duty plus VAT plus port charges, then add a 2–3% buffer for reclassification risk. Confirm final rates with a licensed broker in the destination country, because this guide is general import guidance, not customs or legal advice.
FAQ: HS Code 841480 Buyer Questions
- Can I use one code for the whole package? No. Compressors, dryers, tanks, and filters often need separate lines.
- Does a variable-speed drive change the code? No. The machine’s function as an air compressor is what drives the heading.
- What reduces clearance delays? A spec-matched invoice, packing list, Certificate of Origin, and a clean model table.
Get Spec Sheets That Match Your Customs Paperwork
HS Code 841480 clearance becomes simpler when the manufacturer gives you a documentation-ready package with consistent power, FAD, and pressure data. Before you quote, compare the variable-speed screw compressors and confirm the exact national tariff line for your market.
Need an invoice-ready specification sheet or help aligning the model table with your broker’s requirements? Contact Panrui for the technical data that keeps your shipment moving.
