Frequently Asked Questions

An HS (Harmonized System) code is the number customs authorities worldwide use to identify what a product is — every international shipment needs one. Without it, shipments can be delayed, returned, or hit with unexpected duties. Shopify reads these codes to calculate duties at checkout and pre-fill customs forms.

Canadian HS codes (10-digit, CBSA format) and US HTS codes (10-digit, CBP format) are included on every plan, even Free. Chinese export codes (8-digit) are available when enabled in Settings. EU HS/CN suggestions are included on every plan. Both CA and US codes are generated together in a single click by default.

Install the app, open it from your Shopify admin, and click "Get HS Code" next to any product. To classify your whole catalog at once, click "Classify All" in the top right — both CA and US codes are generated in one pass.

Yes — use the mode selector at the top of the dashboard to choose Canadian + US (default), Canadian only, US only, or CA+US+CN. All modes are available on every plan, and you can change the setting anytime in Settings.

Canadian and US codes land in the right heading 85–92% of the time for typical e-commerce products, and Chapter 61 and 62 (clothing) is our strongest category. Every result includes a confidence score so you can see how sure the classifier is. For high-value or regulated products, we always suggest a quick check with a licensed broker.

Each code gets its own confidence score — 90%+ (green) is a strong match, 70–89% (amber) is worth a second look for high-value goods, and below 70% (red) means a broker check is a good idea. The table always shows the lowest score across all active countries, so you're seeing the most cautious signal, not the most optimistic.

GRI stands for General Rules of Interpretation — the official WCO framework that governs how every product worldwide is classified. After each classification, the app shows exactly which rules were applied and why, so the reasoning is visible and auditable. That paper trail is useful if customs ever questions a code.

Every result includes up to 3 alternative codes, each with its own confidence score and a plain-English explanation of when it applies — for example, if your item is women's rather than men's, or woven rather than knitted. Click "Use this code" to switch to any alternative instantly.

Before classifying, the app automatically reads material details from your product title and description — things like "100% cotton", "genuine leather", or "stainless steel". Material is the single most important factor in HS classification for textiles and physical goods, so catching it upfront makes a real difference in accuracy.

After each classification, the app checks whether the chapter matches your other similar products — if 10 similar items are in Chapter 61 and a new one lands in Chapter 62, you'll get a warning. It's a useful safety net for errors that only become obvious when you look at a group of products together.

The first 6 digits (the international standard) are 90–95% accurate, since those are the same worldwide. Digits 7–8 (Chinese national subheadings) sit at 60–75% due to limited English-language reference data, so CN confidence is capped at 85% to be honest about that gap. Always verify CN codes with your freight forwarder before filing.

Yes — click "View Details" on any product, then "Correct Code" to enter the right HS code. Corrections help the classifier get similar products right going forward. If you've opted into data sharing, your corrections also help improve results for other merchants anonymously.

Yes — customs authorities in both Canada and the US can and do penalize incorrect classifications. The classifier is 85–92% accurate for typical e-commerce products, but classifications are not guaranteed and legal responsibility rests with the importer or exporter. For high-value goods, regulated items, or anything with complex materials, please verify with a licensed customs broker.

No — tariff rates are for planning only, not compliance. The 2026 trade environment is unusually volatile; rates can shift with court rulings or executive orders with very little notice, and there may be a lag before we catch up. Always verify current rates at hts.usitc.gov (US) or cbsa-asfc.gc.ca (Canada) before making compliance decisions.

We watch official sources daily — USITC, CBP, and USTR — and update rates in our database when changes are confirmed. If your products are affected by a rate change, you'll get a notification.

The Free plan gives you 20 classifications per month with CA + US + CN HS codes, EU HS/CN suggestions, GRI-aligned reasoning, duty rates (CA, US, CN), bulk classify, and CSV export & import. No credit card required.

Starter is $19/month for 250 classifications, Growth is $49/month for 2,500, and Pro is $99/month for 10,000. Paid plans include a 7-day free trial. All paid plans include CA + US + CN codes, EU suggestions, GRI reasoning, duty rates, bulk classify, and CSV export & import. Pro adds priority support.

Each time you classify a product counts as one credit — and re-classifying after a title or description update counts again. Opening a previously classified product without making changes pulls from cache and doesn't use a credit.

Your limit resets every 30 days from your billing cycle start. If you need more before the reset, you can upgrade from the billing page — upgrades take effect immediately.

Codes save to your Shopify product metafields under the trade namespace: Canadian codes to trade.hs_code, US codes to trade.us_hts_code, and confidence to trade.confidence. Shopify Markets and most third-party duty calculation apps read directly from these standard metafields.

Yes — Shopify Markets reads HS codes directly from the standard product metafields we write to. Classify your products first, and Shopify Markets will have the codes it needs to calculate duties accurately at checkout.

Click "Classify All" and the classifier works through your catalog one product at a time. Products that already have a classification are skipped unless their title or description has changed. You can cancel the run at any time.

Yes — click "Export CSV" to download a file with product titles, CA codes, US codes, CN codes (if enabled), EU suggestions, confidence scores, and GRI reasoning. Handy for sharing with a customs broker or keeping your own records.

We store product titles, descriptions (truncated to 600 characters), assigned HS codes, confidence scores, and GRI reasoning — nothing else. Customer data, order data, pricing, and financial information are never stored.

By default, anonymized classification data from your store is used to improve accuracy for all merchants — your shop identity is never attached to it. To opt out, go to Settings > Data & Privacy and toggle off "Share anonymized classification data." The change takes effect immediately.

All classification data in our database is deleted when you uninstall, per our GDPR policy. HS codes already written to your Shopify product metafields stay in Shopify — those live in your Shopify account, not ours.

Product titles and descriptions are sent to Anthropic's API for classification — Anthropic does not train on API data by default. No customer data, order data, or financial information is ever sent outside our system.

Email support@j-stars.ca and we'll get back to you within 24 hours on business days. For billing, all charges appear on your Shopify invoice and can be managed from Shopify Admin > Settings > Billing.

Check the alternative classifications first — the correct code is often already listed there with an explanation of when it applies. If not, use "Correct Code" to enter the right code manually. For complex or regulated products, a quick check with a customs broker is the fastest path to certainty.

No — the classifier is a helpful starting point, not a guarantee. Accuracy is typically 85–92% for common e-commerce products, but legal responsibility for correct customs declarations always rests with the importer or exporter. For high-value shipments, regulated goods, or anything complex, verify with a licensed customs broker.

Upgrade from the Plans & Billing page in the app — it takes effect immediately. For anything else, email support@j-stars.ca.

We don't endorse specific brokers, but we genuinely recommend working with one for high-value shipments, regulated products (food, cosmetics, electronics with FCC requirements), or anything where you're unsure. In Canada you can find licensed brokers at cscb.ca; in the US, at ncbfaa.org.

The classifier is a fast, accurate starting point — not a licensed customs broker or substitute for professional compliance advice. It's right 85–92% of the time for typical e-commerce products, with GRI reasoning so you can see why every decision was made. For legal compliance, always verify with a qualified professional; we're a tool to make that job faster, not to replace it.