Baseball cards are a beloved collectible item for many sports fans and collectors. As physical commodities that are traded and collected, baseball cards have their own classification within international trade systems. Specifically, baseball cards fall under a certain heading within the Harmonized System trade code used by many countries worldwide.
The Harmonized System (HS) is an international nomenclature for the classification of products. It allows participating countries to classify traded goods on a common basis for customs purposes. Within the HS, baseball cards are classified under heading 9504, which covers “Articles for funfair, table or parlour games, including pintables, billiards, special tables for casino games and automatic bowling alley equipment.”
More specifically, baseball cards fall under HS subheading 9504.90, which is for “Other” articles not specifically mentioned that are used for games and sports. This subheading includes a variety of collectibles and memorabilia beyond just baseball cards. For tariff and import/export documentation purposes, baseball card shipments would be classified under 9504.90. Baseball cards do not have their own distinct 10-digit code within the HS system.
Some key aspects of classifying baseball cards under HS 9504.90 include:
This classification applies to both single baseball cards as well as packs, boxes and full sets of cards. It covers the physical cardboard items regardless of any content.
The classification does not depend on the specific players, teams, years or any other card attributes. All baseball cards are treated the same for tariff purposes.
Items like sticker albums designed for collecting and displaying baseball cards would also fall under this heading since they are accessories to the baseball card collecting activity.
Digital images or files of baseball cards would not be classified here, as the HS only covers physical goods. Digital baseball card files would be intangible electronically transmitted data.
Tariffs may apply to imported baseball card shipments depending on the origin country and destination country’s trade policies and agreements. Using the HS code ensures consistent classification globally.
For export purposes, listing baseball cards under 9504.90 helps confirm what types of items are being shipped and their intended non-commercial, collectibles purpose for customs.
While the HS was designed with international trade in mind, it also provides useful guidance for understanding how different countries may regulate or tax baseball cards domestically. Some examples include:
In the United States, baseball cards are generally not subject to federal sales tax since they are classified as non-taxable collectibles. States may have different policies though.
European Union member countries apply the same import duty rates to baseball cards entering from non-EU origins based on the 9504.90 classification.
Countries with value-added or goods and services taxes would assess those on retail baseball card purchases based on this HS heading rather than treating them differently.
Laws and restrictions around the shipment and trading of certain collectibles would logically extend to baseball cards as well thanks to this clear international goods classification.
The Harmonized System’s 9504.90 subheading provides simple yet consistent global guidance for how countries should classify and potentially regulate baseball cards for trade, taxation and other statutory purposes. While a small detail, it helps establish baseball cards as legitimate collectibles and commodities in government systems and international frameworks.
