HS codes and the 12-digit GTIP in Türkiye
How Türkiye extends the six-digit HS code to a 12-digit tariff code (GTIP), and what a supplier can do to help a Turkish buyer classify the goods correctly.
3 min read
For information only. This content is for general information and is not a customs declaration or professional advice. For a specific shipment, consult a licensed Turkish customs broker.
From HS to GTIP
Every shipment entering Türkiye is declared under a tariff code called GTIP (Gümrük Tarife İstatistik Pozisyonu). It is the Turkish counterpart of the commodity code you already use for export paperwork, only longer.
The first six digits are the Harmonized System code maintained by the World Customs Organization, so they mean the same thing in Türkiye as in your own country. Türkiye then adds six more digits of its own to separate products that need different duties, measures or statistics.
| Digits | Level | Who defines it |
|---|---|---|
| 1-2 | Chapter | Harmonized System (international) |
| 1-4 | Heading | Harmonized System (international) |
| 1-6 | Subheading | Harmonized System (international) |
| 7-8 | Tariff subdivision | Turkish tariff schedule, closely aligned with the EU's eight-digit nomenclature |
| 9-12 | National detail | Turkish tariff schedule (statistics and specific measures) |
Why the full code matters to your buyer
Duty rates, additional duties, trade-defence measures, surveillance and document requirements in Türkiye are attached to the GTIP. Two products that share the same six-digit HS code can end up with different charges once the Turkish digits are added.
The importer of record is responsible for the code on the customs declaration. An incorrect code can lead to extra duty being collected later, penalties and delays, so Turkish buyers often ask suppliers for detailed product information before the first shipment.
How a supplier can help
- Put your six-digit HS code on the commercial invoice, but do not present a longer code from another country's tariff as the Turkish one.
- Describe what the product is, what it is made of and what it does, rather than only its trade name or model number.
- Share datasheets, material composition and photos; for sets and kits, explain which parts are supplied together.
- Tell your buyer when a product changes in a way that could affect classification, such as a new material or function.
When the classification is uncertain
Turkish customs can issue a Binding Tariff Information decision (BTB) for specific goods on request. It gives the importer the administration's view in advance and is useful for new or borderline products. The application is made by the operator in Türkiye, so the supplier's role is to provide complete technical information.
On ithal360 you can open any code in the English tariff pages to see the current duties, their effective dates and their legal basis. Tariff descriptions are shown in the official Turkish wording.
Check it on ithal360
Sources
Home pages of the official Turkish institutions. Refer to these sources for the current and binding texts (mostly in Turkish).
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