HTS heading 8531 · Chapter 85
HTS 8531: Electric sound or visual signaling apparatus, other…
HTS heading 8531 covers electric sound or visual signaling apparatus (for example, bells, sirens, indicator panels, burglar or fire alarms), other than those of heading 8512 or 8530; parts thereof. It has 8 tariff lines with a duty rate; the general (MFN) rates are Free (6 lines), 1.3% (2 lines).
Imports may also owe Chapter 99 tariffs (Section 232, 301 or 201) depending on origin and date, plus the Merchandise Processing Fee and, by sea, the Harbor Maintenance Fee.
Rates from the 2026 HTS Revision 22, effective October 30, 2026. Source: U.S. International Trade Commission.
Tariff lines and duty rates
| HTS code | Description | General | Special | Column 2 | Estimate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8531.10.00 | Burglar or fire alarms and similar apparatus | 1.3% | Free (A,AU,B,BH,C,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | |
| Smoke detectors: | |||||
| 8531.10.00.15 | Battery powered[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.10.00.25 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Other: | |||||
| 8531.10.00.35 | Burglar alarms[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.10.00.45 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.20.00 | Indicator panels incorporating liquid crystal devices (LCD's) or light emitting diodes (LED) | Free | 35% | ||
| 8531.20.00.20 | Incorporating LCD's[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.20.00.40 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.80 | Other apparatus: | ||||
| 8531.80.15.00 | Doorbells, chimes, buzzers and similar apparatus[kg] | 1.3% | Free (A,AU,B,BH,C,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8531.80.90 | Other | Free | 35% | ||
| Indicator panels: | |||||
| 8531.80.90.05 | Incorporating electric discharge (fluorescent) devices[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.80.90.26 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.80.90.31 | Horns[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.80.90.41 | Other sound signaling apparatus[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.80.90.51 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8531.90 | Parts: | ||||
| Printed circuit assemblies: | |||||
| 8531.90.15.00 | Of the panels of subheading 8531.20[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| 8531.90.30.00 | Other[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| Other: | |||||
| 8531.90.75.00 | Of the panels of subheading 8531.20[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| 8531.90.90.01 | Other[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → |
19 lines shown. Statistical suffixes (the last two digits) inherit the rate of the 8-digit subheading above them.
Example: base duty and fees on $10000
For HTS 8531.10.00 at the general rate of 1.3%, shipped by ocean, before any Chapter 99 tariffs:
| Base duty (1.3%) | $130.00 |
| Merchandise Processing Fee (0.3464%, min $34.58) | $34.64 |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (0.125%) | $12.50 |
| Duty and fees | $177.14 |
Origin-specific tariffs can multiply this. Run this example from China or from Mexico to see every line.
Special program codes in this heading
- A, A*, A+
- Generalized System of Preferences (GSP)
- AU
- U.S.–Australia FTA
- B
- Automotive Products Trade Act
- BH
- U.S.–Bahrain FTA
- C
- Agreement on Trade in Civil Aircraft
- CL
- U.S.–Chile FTA
- CO
- U.S.–Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement
- D
- African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA)
- E, E*
- Caribbean Basin Economic Recovery Act
- IL
- U.S.–Israel FTA
- JO
- U.S.–Jordan FTA
- KR
- U.S.–Korea FTA (KORUS)
- MA
- U.S.–Morocco FTA
- OM
- U.S.–Oman FTA
- P, P+
- CAFTA-DR
- PA
- U.S.–Panama Trade Promotion Agreement
- PE
- U.S.–Peru Trade Promotion Agreement
- S, S+
- USMCA (United States–Mexico–Canada Agreement)
- SG
- U.S.–Singapore FTA
A special rate applies only when the goods qualify under that program's rules of origin and the claim is made at entry.