HTS heading 8540 · Chapter 85
HTS 8540: Thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes
HTS heading 8540 covers thermionic, cold cathode or photocathode tubes (for example, vacuum or vapor or gas filled tubes, mercury arc rectifying tubes, cathode-ray tubes, television camera tubes); parts thereof. It has 26 tariff lines with a duty rate; the general (MFN) rates are 15% (5 lines), 3.3% (4 lines), Free (4 lines) and others.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cathode-ray television picture tubes, including video monitor cathode-ray tubes: | |||||
| 8540.11 | Color: | ||||
| 8540.11.10 | Non-high definition, non-projection, having a video display diagonal exceeding 35.56 cm | 15% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | |
| Having a video display diagonal: | |||||
| 8540.11.10.30 | Not exceeding 39 cm[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.11.10.40 | Exceeding 39 cm but not exceeding 45 cm[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.11.10.50 | Exceeding 45 cm but not exceeding 50 cm[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.11.10.55 | Exceeding 50 cm but not exceeding 63 cm[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.11.10.85 | Exceeding 63 cm[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Non-high definition, non-projection, having a video display diagonal not exceeding 35.56 cm: | |||||
| 8540.11.24.01 | Having a video display diagonal not exceeding 34.29 cm[No.] | 7.5% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | Estimate → |
| 8540.11.28.01 | Other[No.] | 15% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | Estimate → |
| 8540.11.30.00 | High definition, having a video display diagonal exceeding 35.56 cm[No.] | 15% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | Estimate → |
| High definition, having a video display diagonal not exceeding 35.56 cm: | |||||
| 8540.11.44.01 | Having a video display diagonal not exceeding 34.29 cm[No.] | 7.5% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | Estimate → |
| 8540.11.48.01 | Other[No.] | 15% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | Estimate → |
| 8540.11.50.00 | Other[No.] | 15% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | Estimate → |
| 8540.12 | Monochrome: | ||||
| Television picture tubes having a straight line dimension across the faceplate greater than 29 cm but having no straight line dimension across the faceplate that exceeds 42 cm: | |||||
| 8540.12.10.00 | Non-high definition[No.] | 3.6% | Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | Estimate → |
| 8540.12.20.00 | High definition[No.] | 3.6% | Free (A,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | Estimate → |
| Other: | |||||
| 8540.12.50 | Non-high definition | 3.3% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | |
| 8540.12.50.40 | Projection[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.12.50.80 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.12.70.00 | High definition[No.] | 3.3% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 60% | Estimate → |
| 8540.20 | Television camera tubes; image converters and intensifiers; other photocathode tubes: | ||||
| 8540.20.20 | Cathode-ray tubes | 6% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | |
| 8540.20.20.40 | Color[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.20.20.80 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.20.40.00 | Other[No.] | 3.3% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8540.40.10 | Data/graphic display tubes, monochrome; data/graphic display tubes, color, with a phosphor dot screen pitch smaller than 0.4 mm | 3% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | |
| 8540.40.10.10 | Color[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.40.10.50 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.60.00 | Other cathode-ray tubes | 3% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | |
| Having a video display diagonal: | |||||
| 8540.60.00.20 | Not exceeding 30 cm[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.60.00.65 | Exceeding 30 cm but not exceeding 36 cm[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.60.00.80 | Exceeding 36 cm[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Microwave tubes (for example, magnetrons, klystrons, traveling wave tubes, carcinotrons), excluding grid-controlled tubes: | |||||
| 8540.71 | Magnetrons: | ||||
| 8540.71.20.00 | Modified for use as parts of microwave ovens[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| 8540.71.40.00 | Other[No.] | 3.7% | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8540.79 | Other: | ||||
| 8540.79.10.00 | Klystrons[No.] | 3.3% | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8540.79.20.00 | Other[No.] | 3.7% | Free (A+,AU,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| Other tubes: | |||||
| 8540.81.00.00 | Receiver or amplifier tubes[No.] | 4.2% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8540.89.00 | Other | 3.7% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | |
| 8540.89.00.20 | Gas and vapor electron tubes[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.89.00.40 | Diodes, triodes and tetrodes[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.89.00.60 | Light-sensing tubes[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| 8540.89.00.80 | Other[No.] | Estimate → | |||
| Parts: | |||||
| 8540.91 | Of cathode-ray tubes: | ||||
| 8540.91.15.00 | Front panel assemblies[No.] | 5.4% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL,JO,KR,MA,OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8540.91.20.00 | Deflection coils[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| 8540.91.50.00 | Other[kg] | 5.4% | Free (A+,AU,B,BH,CL,CO,D,E,IL, JO,KR,MA, OM,P,PA,PE,S,SG) | 35% | Estimate → |
| 8540.99 | Other: | ||||
| 8540.99.40.00 | Electron guns; radio frequency (RF) interaction structures for microwave tubes of subheadings 8540.71 through 8540.79, inclusive[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → | |
| 8540.99.80.00 | Other[No.] | Free | 35% | Estimate → |
44 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 8540.11.10 at the general rate of 15%, shipped by ocean, before any Chapter 99 tariffs:
| Base duty (15%) | $1500.00 |
| Merchandise Processing Fee (0.3464%, min $34.58) | $34.64 |
| Harbor Maintenance Fee (0.125%) | $12.50 |
| Duty and fees | $1547.14 |
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
- 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.
Frequently asked questions
What is the duty rate for HTS 8540?
Heading 8540 has 26 rate lines. The general (MFN) duty rates are 15% (5 lines), 3.3% (4 lines), Free (4 lines), 3.7% (3 lines). Products of free trade agreement partners may enter at the special rate, and Column 2 rates apply to countries without normal trade relations. Chapter 99 tariffs can be added on top: calculate the full amount.
Do Section 301, 232 or 201 tariffs apply to HTS 8540?
It depends on the 8- or 10-digit subheading, the country of origin, the entry date and, for Section 232, the metal content. These additional duties are listed in Chapter 99 of the HTS. The free duty calculator checks each program for a given code, origin and date and shows which apply and why.
What fees are added to an import under HTS 8540?
Formal entries pay the Merchandise Processing Fee of 0.3464% of value (minimum $34.58, maximum $670.86 in FY2027). Ocean shipments also pay the Harbor Maintenance Fee of 0.125% of value. See the import duty calculator for how they combine.