Compare approaches
Stop researching the same products
over and over
Most importers classify products by searching government databases, emailing brokers, and maintaining spreadsheets. ImportPilot replaces that with a structured workflow that produces ranked candidates, rationale, and ongoing monitoring.
The problem
Manual classification workflows are slow, fragile, and invisible
Re-research every time
You spend an hour searching hts.usitc.gov, scanning heading descriptions, checking notes, and piecing together a code. Next quarter you'll do it again for the same product — because the reasoning wasn't saved anywhere.
No rationale on file
Your broker emails back a code with no explanation. If CBP questions it, you can't explain why that code was chosen. The reasoning is in someone's head, not in your system.
Blind to changes
Tariff rates change, Section 301 lists update, new rulings reinterpret headings. You find out when you get a penalty notice, not when the change happens.
How ImportPilot works differently
Guided, not guessed. Transparent, not opaque. Monitored, not forgotten.
Guided intake, not a blank search box
ImportPilot asks the specific questions that customs classification requires — material, construction, use, country of origin — in the order GRI rules demand. You answer in plain language.
Ranked candidates, not a single guess
You see the top HTS candidates with confidence levels, rationale for each, and a full duty breakdown including Section 301 and 232 overlays. You decide which code fits.
Ongoing monitoring, not classify-and-forget
Save products to your catalog. ImportPilot watches tariff data sources and alerts you when changes may affect your classifications. No more finding out after the fact.
Side by side
Compare approaches
| Capability | Manual / Spreadsheet | One-shot lookup tools | ImportPilot |
|---|---|---|---|
| Guided product intake | |||
| Ranked candidates (not just one code) | |||
| Rationale for every candidate | |||
| Full duty stack (base + 301 + 232) | |||
| Saved product catalog | |||
| Ongoing source monitoring + alerts | |||
| CSV bulk import / export | |||
| Shopify CSV with HS codes | |||
| Broker intake report export | |||
| 10-digit HTS code | |||
| CBP ruling citations |
"One-shot lookup tools" refers to services that take a product description and return a single code without guided intake or ongoing monitoring.
Sample output
See a sample classification result
This is what a real classification looks like in ImportPilot. No signup required to inspect the output.
Women's Cotton T-Shirt
Cotton (100%) · Origin: Vietnam · Value: $8.50
6109.10.00
T-shirts, singlets, tank tops and similar garments, knitted or crocheted, of cotton
Rationale
GRI 1 resolves via heading 6109: product is a knitted cotton t-shirt. Subheading .10 for cotton content exceeding 50% by weight.
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Frequently asked questions
How does this compare to using a customs broker?
ImportPilot handles the research and initial classification that you'd normally do before contacting a broker. For high-stakes shipments, you should still validate important classifications with a licensed customs broker. ImportPilot makes that conversation more productive by giving you a starting point with rationale.
Is this more accurate than free lookup tools?
Free lookup tools typically match a product name to a code without asking follow-up questions. ImportPilot's guided intake asks the specific questions that GRI rules require — material, construction, use, country — which produces more targeted results. Independent benchmarks show one-shot tools achieve roughly 44% accuracy at the 10-digit level, while guided approaches reach 85-90%.
What if I already have classifications in a spreadsheet?
Import your existing product catalog via CSV. ImportPilot can re-classify products and compare against your existing codes. You'll see where classifications agree and where there may be discrepancies worth reviewing.
Does the monitoring actually work?
ImportPilot checks official tariff data sources (HTS schedule, CBP CROSS rulings, Section 301/232 actions) every 12 hours. When a change is detected that may affect one of your saved products, you receive an alert. This catches the tariff changes that most importers only find out about after the fact.
Why ranked candidates instead of just one code?
Tariff classification is inherently ambiguous — reasonable professionals can disagree on the correct code for the same product. By showing you the top candidates with confidence levels and rationale, ImportPilot lets you make an informed decision rather than blindly trusting a single answer.