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HSChapter 97
U.S. imports of postage & revenue stamps, first-day covers, and postal stationery (HS 970400) totaled $984K in July 2026, traded with 56 countries.
Importers of Postage & Revenue Stamps, First-Day Covers, and Postal Stationery paid $39K in duties in July 2026 — an effective duty rate of 9.5% on $414K in dutiable value, based on actual customs collections rather than the published tariff schedule. Postage & Revenue Stamps, First-Day Covers, and Postal Stationery imports of $984K in July 2026 ran 60% below the year-to-date monthly average of $2.5M.
Last updated: July 2026 dataUsed postage and revenue stamps, stamp-postmarks, first-day covers, and stamped postal stationery that are no longer current issue are philatelic collectibles classified under a single tariff line (9704000000) and generally enter duty-free. Switzerland and Canada are the leading sources of US imports in this category — Switzerland reflecting its role as a global philatelic trading hub and home to major auction houses, Canada reflecting cross-border collector activity. Classification requires that the stamps be used, or if unused, that they are not of current or new issue; mint stamps of current issue are excluded and would be classified elsewhere. Importers and dealers should retain auction records, catalog references, or dealer invoices to document the non-current status of unused material.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
98 shipments/mo
CBP looks at whether the stamp is still being sold by the issuing postal authority as valid postage. Stamps that have been demonetized, withdrawn from sale, or superseded by new issues generally qualify. Importers can support this with catalog references (e.g., Scott or Michel catalog listings), dealer invoices, or documentation from the issuing country's postal authority.
Yes. Revenue stamps, stamp-postmarks, and fiscal stamps used for tax or duty purposes are explicitly included in this heading alongside postage stamps, provided they meet the used or non-current-issue requirement. The same documentation standards apply.
Subheading 1 of 1 in heading 9704
Subheading 970400 · $984K of $984K
HS10 import codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule.
| Code | Description | Import Value | Effective Tariff % | Dutiable Share | Duty Collected |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9704000000 | Postage or Revenue Stamps, Firstday Covers | $984K | 4.00% | 42.04% | $39K |
HS10 export codes under this HS6 parent, each with its own page. Source: U.S. Schedule B export classification.
| Code | Description | Export Value |
|---|---|---|
| 9704000000 | Postage or Revenue Stamps, Firstday Covers | $791K |
Import lines come from the U.S. Harmonized Tariff Schedule and export lines from Schedule B. The two are numbered by different agencies, so the same 10-digit code can appear in both tables describing a different product.
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ImportsExports
Imports
$984KYoY · Pro
Exports
$791KYoY · Pro
12-mo low · imports
YoY · ProThrough July 2026. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · July 2026
origin
Switzerland and United Kingdom together supply 68% of it.
customs district
destination
entry
rate provision · imports
58.0% enters free of duty; the effective duty rate is 4.00%.