To find a GST classification, describe exactly what you supply, decide whether it is goods or a service, then use the GST Portal’s Search HSN Code service to find and check a candidate. Goods use an HSN code; services use the Service Classification Code field, commonly called SAC. A search suggestion is not a product-specific ruling, and the correct code depends on the actual supply.
Are you classifying goods or a service?
Start by identifying what is actually supplied. The GST Portal’s registration guidance says goods or commodities should be entered in the Goods tab with an HSN Code, while services should be entered in the Services tab with a Service Classification Code. Other GST materials commonly call the service classification a SAC code.
For a product, note what it is, what it does, and its material or composition when relevant. For a service, describe the activity delivered rather than relying only on a business name or a broad label.
How to find a candidate HSN or SAC code
- Write a precise description. Include the product’s function and relevant composition, or the actual activity performed for a service.
- Open the GST Portal’s Search HSN Code service. Search by a known code or choose a description search. For a description search, select goods or services.
- Try an accurate trade, commercial, or technical description. GSTN’s search guidance describes using these kinds of descriptions and returning nearby suggestions. The GST Portal registration guide illustrates description searches with “cotton” for goods and “other building” for a service.
- Compare each suggested description with your supply. Check that it describes what you actually sell or perform; a partial name match or a nearby search result is not enough.
- Check the current classification material before using the code. Confirm the relevant entry and any applicable tariff or notification material, then check the code against the GST Portal workflow for the registration or return you are completing.
How to choose between similar search results
When several candidates appear, compare their official descriptions with the nature and function of your supply and the level of detail in the classification hierarchy. Search-result proximity alone does not establish that a code applies. A generic trade name may cover products or services that are classified differently.
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If the available descriptions leave more than one plausible classification, get advice from a qualified GST practitioner before using a code for a consequential filing. The search facility helps locate candidates; it does not decide an item-specific classification for you.
What HSN detail does GSTR-1 require?
GSTN’s Table 12 advisory describes Phase 3 of HSN reporting as applying from the May 2025 return period. In that advisory, the required digit length depends on the taxpayer’s aggregate annual turnover (AATO) in the preceding financial year:
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| Preceding-financial-year AATO | HSN reporting length in the Phase 3 advisory | Selection method described |
|---|---|---|
| Up to ₹5 crore | 4 digits | Choose the HSN from the dropdown; manual entry is disallowed in the described phase. |
| Above ₹5 crore | 6 digits | Choose the HSN from the dropdown; manual entry is disallowed in the described phase. |
The same GSTN advisory describes separate B2B and B2C tabs and a downloadable Excel list of HSN and SAC codes with descriptions. These requirements are the ones stated for Phase 3 in the advisory; check the live GST Portal and current instructions for the return period you are filing, since later amendments or circumstances may affect what applies.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What to check before registration or filing
- Use the goods or services classification field that matches the supply.
- Confirm the code description against the actual item or activity, not just its trade name.
- Check the current reporting digit requirement and selection workflow for the relevant registration or return period.
- Consult current official classification materials and applicable notifications if the candidate remains uncertain. GST-linked code and rate masters can be updated; IRIS IRP release notes, for example, record updates to those masters.
No exact HSN or SAC code, or tax rate, can be identified without the specific product or service and its relevant facts.
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