HS Code for Dates
Dates are classified under HTSUS subheading 0804.10, and two practical factors drive the line: whether the dates are whole, and for whole dates the size of the pack and whether the pits have been removed. Whole dates in packs of 4.6 kg or less carry a specific rate per kilogram, bulk whole dates carry lower specific rates, and cut or chopped dates carry a much higher ad valorem rate. Prepared dates, date paste and dried fruit mixes move to chapter 20 or to 0813. Confirming the form and the packing is the first step in exploring the most appropriate code.
HTS Codes for Dates
| HTS Code | Description | Duty Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 0804.10.20.90 | Dates, whole, in units of not more than 4.6 kg (other than certified organic) Whole dates, with or without pits, in retail packs or boxes weighing 4.6 kg or less | 13.2¢/kg |
| 0804.10.20.10 | Dates, whole, in units of not more than 4.6 kg, certified organic Certified organic whole dates in packs of 4.6 kg or less | 13.2¢/kg |
| 0804.10.40.00 | Dates, whole, in larger units, with pits Whole dates with pits in bulk packing over 4.6 kg | 1¢/kg |
| 0804.10.60.00 | Dates, whole, in larger units, with pits removed Whole pitted dates in bulk packing over 4.6 kg | 2.8¢/kg |
| 0804.10.80.00 | Dates, fresh or dried, other than whole Diced, chopped or otherwise cut dates, not further prepared | 29.8% |
| 2008.99.25.00 | Dates, otherwise prepared or preserved Stuffed, coated, sweetened or otherwise prepared dates | 22.4% |
| 2007.99.65.35 | Other fruit pastes and purees, cooked preparations Cooked date paste or puree, whether or not sweetened | 10% |
| 0813.50.00.20 | Mixtures of dried fruits, containing only fruit Dried fruit mixes that include dates alongside other dried fruits | 14% |
How to Approach Classification for Dates
Dates sit in heading 0804 of the HTSUS, which covers dates, figs, pineapples, avocados, guavas, mangoes and mangosteens, fresh or dried. Subheading 0804.10 is dedicated to dates and is organized first by whether the dates are whole (with or without pits) or in another form.
Whole dates then split by packing. Whole dates packed in units weighing 4.6 kg or less, including the immediate container, point toward 0804.10.20, with separate statistical lines for certified organic and other dates. Whole dates in larger units split again by pits: dates with pits point toward 0804.10.40, and dates with the pits removed toward 0804.10.60. The weight is measured with the immediate container, so a carton of small consumer boxes and a single bulk carton can point toward different lines.
Dates that are no longer whole, such as diced or chopped dates, point toward the residual line at 0804.10.80, which carries a much higher ad valorem rate than the whole-date lines. This makes the cut versus whole question the single biggest driver of the estimated duty for dates.
Once dates are prepared beyond drying and cutting, other headings apply. Stuffed, coated, sweetened or otherwise prepared dates point toward 2008.99.25, cooked date paste or puree toward the fruit pastes and purees provisions in 2007.99, and mixed dried fruit containing dates toward 0813.50. A practical sequence is to confirm the form (whole, cut or prepared), then the unit weight, then whether the pits are removed.
Duty Rate Overview
General duty rates for dates vary sharply with form and packing. Whole dates in units of 4.6 kg or less carry around 13.2¢/kg, while whole dates in larger units carry around 1¢/kg with pits or 2.8¢/kg with pits removed. Dates that are cut or chopped carry a much higher ad valorem rate around 29.8%, prepared dates around 22.4%, cooked fruit pastes around 10% and dried fruit mixtures around 14%. Preferential rates under free trade agreements or programs such as the Generalized System of Preferences may reduce or eliminate duties for qualifying origins.
These are general (MFN) rates only. Additional duties under Section 301 or IEEPA-based measures may apply depending on origin, and dates are also subject to FDA food facility registration and prior notice, with fresh dates potentially subject to USDA APHIS admissibility requirements. These figures are estimates for general planning purposes only.