Harmonized System
U.S. imports of Imports for Religious, Educational, Scientific & Other Institutions (HS 981000) totaled $18.7M in August 2026, imported from 79 countries.
Imports for Religious, Educational, Scientific & Other Institutions imports of $18.7M in August 2026 ran 14% below the year-to-date monthly average of $21.8M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataQualifying nonprofit religious, educational, and scientific institutions can import a broad range of goods duty-free under this heading, provided the articles meet the specific use conditions attached to each of the nineteen tariff lines. Distinct provisions cover items as varied as stained glass windows over a specified size threshold (9810001000), scientific instruments not manufactured in the US for nonprofit use (9810006000), wild animals and birds for exhibition (9810007000), and prayer shawls and religious headwear (9810009000). Classification under the correct line requires careful matching of the article's description and the institution's qualifying status, and importers should retain documentation of nonprofit standing and intended use to support CBP review.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
808 import shipments a month
CBP generally expects evidence of the institution's nonprofit or tax-exempt status (such as an IRS determination letter), a description of the article's intended use, and confirmation that the goods will be used exclusively for the qualifying institutional purpose. Some lines — particularly those for scientific instruments — also require a showing that no comparable article is manufactured in the United States.
The importer must demonstrate that the specific instrument or apparatus is not produced domestically in sufficient commercial quantities. CBP may require a certification or a market survey. If a US manufacturer produces a comparable instrument, the duty-free provision may be denied even if the imported model has minor specification differences.
Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 9810
Subheading 981000 · $18.7M of $18.7M
Trade Directory
List your company under HS 981000 — Imports for Religious, Educational, Scientific & Other Institutions, so the companies trading it can find you. Be the first supplier listed.
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
Imports
Imports
$18.7MYoY · free account
Low of 8 reported months · imports
Low · free accountThrough August 2026 · imports 8 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
customs district
entry
rate provision · imports
100.0% enters free of duty; duty collected equals 0.00% of imports for consumption.