A Schedule B number is a 10-digit number used to classify specific commodities on their export from the U.S.  This numeric number qualification of articles is required for the U.S. Government – Census Bureau to gather and report statistics on specific goods exported including: quantity/value, destination country and if the goods are U.S. or foreign origin.

Schedule B numbers are based on the Harmonized System for classifying goods (97 chapters grouped into 22 commodity groupings). Chapter 1-97 correspond to the international system and Chapter 98 is used for special classifications which apply only to U.S. exports.

Exports from the U.S. need to specify the Schedule B number and the value of those Schedule B items, except for certain types of export transactions – i.e. for items being exported that had previously been imported into the U.S.  The Schedule B number for those exports is 9801.10.0000 which qualifies items as having been previously imported into the U.S. for repair.

Export shipments over $2,500 and most exports of licensable commodities require submittal of export documentation to the U.S. Department of Commerce including qualification of the items being exported with assignment of applicable Schedule B number.  To determine the appropriate Schedule B number you can do a search on the U.S. Census Bureaus’ Schedule B Search Engine website  https://uscensus.prod.3ceonline.com.

An exporter may use the (HTSUS) Harmonized Tariff Schedules of the United States instead of the Schedule B numbers to report required export shipments of commodities. Schedule B numbers, however, cannot be used for import clearance (Customs entries).  For those companies engaged in U.S. imports using the HTSUS numbers for export shipments simplifies the export qualification of products.