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How to Start a New Tariff Classification

This guide shows you how to create a new tariff classification for your product.

If you prefer to watch a video tutorial, you can find it here in English and here in German.

You need to have a TariffPilot account to use it. If you don't have an account yet, you can sign up here.

1️⃣ Click on the New Classification Button in the TariffPilot Dashboard.​

New Classification

A new PilotMemo will be created, in which you have to enter a detailed product description. The more details you provide, the better the classification will be. You can also attach up to 3 documents to the PilotMemo, or remove a document you already added. Choose whether the PilotMemo is for export or import classification — this is pre-filled with your tenant's default direction if one is set (see Tenant Settings) — and select the Tariff System it should be classified against: EU/DE, CH or US (CH and US are marked as beta). For the US tariff you can additionally enter the country of origin: many US additional duties depend on it, and without it they can only be evaluated as conditional.

2️⃣ Click on the Proceed to Product Description Button to Let TariffPilot Analyze the Product.​

The TariffPilot tries to identify the good. If you are not satisfied with the results, you can use the web search to find more specific information about the product or simply add more details. In the conversation with TariffPilot you can also refine the goods description and attach up to 3 files to a message, for example product images or datasheets.

Product Description

3️⃣ Click on the Proceed Button to Start the Classification Process.​

Classification Process

For the EU/DE tariff the EZT Online Database will be used to classify the product. The TariffPilot will search for 3 proposals for position candidates and explain them in detail if they are relevant or not.

4️⃣ Align with BTIs or Rulings​

BTis

The alignment step depends on the selected tariff system. For the EU/DE tariff TariffPilot searches the BTI databank and suggests three BTIs, explains them and argues for or against the original analysis. For the CH and US tariffs it searches customs rulings instead and suggests matching rulings the same way. TariffPilot gives the user a summary and asks, whether the user wants to keep the original code or take the new code based on the BTI or ruling.

5️⃣ Align with AI Training​

If your tenant has AI Training cases, TariffPilot searches your training database for up to 10 previously validated cases with a similar product description and lists them for comparison. Click Select on a matching case to link it to the current proposal as the case it was decided against. This step is optional — you can proceed without selecting a case, and can remove a selection again later from the summary page.

6️⃣ Review Additional Measures (US Tariff Only)​

For the US tariff, TariffPilot additionally checks, based on the tariff number and the country of origin, whether trade policy additional measures (additional duties) apply. The check distinguishes between applies and conditional; you can approve an applicable measure to keep it as an additional duty, or revoke an approval again. The same check also runs for a selected ruling or training sample.

7️⃣ Summarize the Classification​

Summary

On the summary page TariffPilot shows an overview of the classification process as well as the result, including the AI-generated customs-legal goods description (long and short form, in German and English) and, if you selected one, the linked AI Training case (Database Decision, with a link back to the original case). The user can export the process as a combined PDF in English or German, give feedback, or correct the process and type in the correct code.

In addition to the classification itself, the summary also lists the following regulatory outputs (for the EU/DE tariff system):

  • CBAM Relevance — whether the goods are covered by the EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism.
  • EUDR Relevance — whether the goods are relevant to the EU Deforestation Regulation, including the relevant ex-code and heading to check against Annex I where applicable.
  • Dual-Use Correlation Table — the mapped dual-use control number (Nummer) and tariff footnote.
  • KN Revision — if a customs code was replaced or deleted by a later version of the Combined Nomenclature, this is indicated on the summary.

These are shown for information; they do not block the classification result.

For the CH tariff the summary shows the Swiss tariff number (8-digit) with its statistical control code instead of the KN/TARIC codes. For the US tariff it shows the 8- or 10-digit US HTSUS number, the country of origin, and the reviewed additional measures; the EU-specific outputs (CBAM, EUDR, Dual-Use, KN Revision) do not apply there.