Schedule B
/ˈskɛdʒuːl ˈbiː/
A Schedule B number is the 10-digit U.S. Census Bureau code used to classify goods you export. To find one, search the Census Bureau's free Schedule B search engine, or start from your product's HTS import code: the first six digits are the same international Harmonized System subheading, but digits 7–10 are built independently and often differ.
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In Detail
Schedule B is administered by the U.S. Census Bureau's Foreign Trade Division, not by CBP. When a U.S. exporter files Electronic Export Information (EEI) in the Automated Export System (AES), they report the Schedule B code for the exported commodity. This data compiles U.S. trade statistics and supports export control enforcement under EAR, ITAR, and other regimes.
Because the first six digits of Schedule B and the HTSUS are identical (both come from the international HS), they are easy to confuse. A Schedule B code and an HTS code will usually match at the 6-digit level, but the 7–10 digit subdivisions are built separately for each system. Under the Foreign Trade Regulations (15 CFR 30.6), an exporter may report either the Schedule B number or the 10-digit HTSUSA import number in an EEI filing, with limited exceptions. The reverse is not true: a Schedule B number is never valid on a CBP entry summary.
For most goods, importers and exporters can find the Schedule B equivalent of an HTS code using the Census Bureau's Schedule B search tool, which provides a concordance. The Census Bureau's Foreign Trade office offers guidance on Schedule B classification, and CBP handles HTSUS import classification questions separately.
Classification Significance
The import/export distinction is fundamental. An HTS code determines duties owed to CBP on entry; a Schedule B code determines export statistics reported to Census. Conflating the two is a common compliance error, particularly for companies that both import and export the same products. Import classification under the HTSUS is the domain of CBP and the GRI; export classification under Schedule B is Census Bureau territory with different rules and enforcement bodies.
How Kanon Handles This
Kanon classifies HTS import codes today; Schedule B export classification isn't built yet. The two systems share the same GRI-rooted structure through the first six digits, so it's a natural extension of the corpus Kanon already maintains, and real demand will decide when it ships. If a Schedule B lookup built on the same deterministic, audit-defensible engine would help you, join the early-access list and you'll be notified when it launches.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is the official Schedule B search engine?
The U.S. Census Bureau publishes a free Schedule B search tool on its website (linked under Primary Sources below). You can search by keyword or browse by chapter. It is the authoritative source for Schedule B numbers.
Is a Schedule B number the same as an HTS code?
Not exactly. Both share the same first six digits (the international HS subheading), but digits 7–10 are set separately: Schedule B by the Census Bureau for exports, the HTSUS by the USITC for imports. They often differ past the sixth digit.
Can I use my HTS code instead of a Schedule B number when exporting?
In most cases, yes. The Foreign Trade Regulations let exporters report either the Schedule B number or the 10-digit HTSUSA number in the EEI filing in AES, with limited exceptions. You cannot do the reverse and use a Schedule B number on an import entry.
Do I need a Schedule B number for every export?
You need one when an EEI filing is required, generally for shipments valued over $2,500 per Schedule B number or when an export license is required. Lower-value shipments are often exempt from EEI filing, but some carriers and foreign customs authorities still ask for the code.