How much import duty for Chapter 90 “Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, Measuring, Checking, Precision, Medical or Surgical Instruments and Apparatus; Parts and Accessories Thereof”? Rates and import regulations for 323 tariff lines

Q: What taxes apply when importing Chapter 90 goods into Taiwan?

There are generally three charges: Customs duty: for ad valorem tariff lines, dutiable value × rate; for specific-duty tariff lines, calculated by quantity or weight (imports from mainland China generally apply Column 1).Business tax: levied on the dutiable value plus customs duty, collected by Customs on the government's behalf (Value-added and Non-value-added Business Tax Act Article 20 and Article 41); goods also subject to commodity tax or tobacco and alcohol tax have those amounts added to the tax base as well.Trade Promotion Service Fee: the statutory cap is 4.25 per 10,000 of the goods' value (Foreign Trade Act Article 21); it is currently charged at 4 per 10,000 of the dutiable value, and waived when the amount payable does not exceed NT$100.Small-value imports have a separate duty exemption threshold — see the next question.

Quick answer: How much duty for Chapter 90?

Chapter 90 “Optical, Photographic, Cinematographic, Measuring, Checking, Precision, Medical or Surgical Instruments and Apparatus; Parts and Accessories Thereof” has 323 tariff lines; the most common Column 1 rate is 0%.Of these, 232 tariff lines are 0% (71.8%), and the highest ad valorem rate is 10%.113 tariff lines carry an import regulation code; the most common is 504 (93 tariff lines).On import, business tax is also levied on the dutiable value plus customs duty (and commodity tax, tobacco and alcohol tax, etc., where applicable); see the FAQ below for the small-value duty exemption. The actual amount payable is subject to Customs' final determination.

How are tariff rates distributed across Chapter 90's tariff lines?

0% 232
Over 0% to 5% 80
Over 5% to 10% 11
Over 10% 0
Specific duty or other calculation method 0

Calculated from each tariff line's Column 1 rate, 323 tariff lines in total. Source: HowBridge Tariff Database (synced with Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance tariff data), compiled 2026-09-16.

What import regulation codes commonly appear in Chapter 90?

Import regulation codes are marked on the tariff line and indicate inspection, quarantine, permit, or mainland China import controls that may need to be handled before import. A code may apply only to some of the goods under that tariff line — click into the tariff line for the full description. A tariff line with no code means import is permitted and no permit is required from a trade-control standpoint, but this does not mean the goods are exempt from inspection, quarantine, or duty.

504 Importation of medical devices for human use must be handled according to the following regulations: (1) A p… 93 tariff lines

MW0 Importation of Mainland China products is prohibited. 28 tariff lines

581 Approval from the Nuclear Safety Commission is required. 12 tariff lines

MP1 Importation of Mainland China products in this category is conditionally permitted. 8 tariff lines

C02 Some of the commodities under this item subject to legal import inspection announced by the Bureau of Standa… 6 tariff lines

602 Imported controlled telecommunications radio-frequency devices 3 tariff lines

MW0 does not mean nothing can be shipped at all. MW0 = import from mainland China is prohibited. Exception: small quantities of mainland Chinese goods in Chapters 25–97 may be imported without an import permit if the whole declaration is within CIF NT$32,000 and each single product is within 24 pieces (40 kg if it cannot be counted; a single product is identified by its model number, or by the line item on the declaration if there is no model number, and may not be split by size, specification or colour; stone under heading 6802 and tiles under heading 6907 must meet both 24 pieces and 40 kg). Electric motorcycles, electric bicycles and their controllers (tariff lines 8711.60.10, 8711.60.20 and 8543.70.99.50) are excluded, and Chapters 1–24 do not qualify. Inspection, quarantine and other import requirements must still be met separately. This does not mean the goods are duty-free.

This chapter has 6 tariff lines marked C01 or C02, which are subject to mandatory import inspection by the Bureau of Standards, Metrology and Inspection (BSMI). For how to determine whether inspection applies and whether there is a personal-use exemption threshold, see the BSMI Commodity Inspection Guide.

What tariff lines are in Chapter 90?

9001 光纖及光纖束；光纖傳輸纜，第８５４４節所列者除外；偏光性材料所製之片及板；任何材料所製之光學用透鏡（含隱形眼鏡）、稜鏡、反射鏡及其他光學元件之未經裝配者，未經光學加工之玻璃元件除外

9002 任何材料所製之光學透鏡、稜鏡、反射鏡及其他光學元件，業經裝配為儀器或器具之零件或配件者，未經光學加工之玻璃元件除外

9003 眼鏡、護目鏡或類似品用框、架及其零件

9004 眼鏡、護目鏡及類似品，供矯正目力、保護眼睛或其他用途者

9005 雙眼及單眼望遠鏡、其他光學望遠鏡及其架座；其他天文儀器及其架座，但不包括無線電、天文儀器

9006 照相機（電影攝影機除外）；照相用閃光器及閃光燈泡，第８５３９節之放電燈泡除外

9007 電影攝影機及放映機，不論是否附有錄音或聲音重放器具

9008 影像放映機（電影用除外）；照相（電影用除外）放大器及縮影器

9010 本章未列名之照相（包括電影）冲印室用器具及設備；負片顯示器；放映用銀幕

9011 複式光學顯微鏡，包括顯微照相、顯微攝影或顯微放映用者

9012 光學顯微鏡以外之顯微鏡；繞射器具

9013 雷射，雷射二極體除外；本章未列名之其他光學用具及儀器

9014 定向羅盤；其他航行儀器及用具

9015 水路、海洋、水文、氣象或地球物理測量（包括照相測量）用儀器及用具（不包括羅盤）；測距儀器

9016 天平，感量為五公毫或更精密者，不論附有砝碼與否

9017 繪圖、標示或數學計算儀器（例如︰製圖機、縮放機、分度器、繪圖器、計算尺、計算盤）；本章未列名之手用測長儀器（例如︰量桿及捲尺、測微計、測徑器）

9018 內科、外科、牙科或獸醫用儀器及用具，包括醫學插圖器、其他電氣醫療器具及測定目力儀器

9019 機械治療用具；理療按摩器具；心理性向測驗器具；臭氧治療器、氧氣治療器、噴霧治療器、人工呼吸器或其他治療用呼吸器具

9020 其他呼吸用具及防毒面具，不包括未具有機械零件或可更換過濾器之保護面具

9021 整形用具，包括拐杖、外科手術帶及脫腸帶；夾護板及其他接骨用具；人造身體各部分替代品；助聽器及其他配帶用具或植入體內供彌補缺陷或殘廢用之其他用具

9022 Χ光或阿爾法（α）、貝他（β）、伽瑪（γ）或其他離子之放射線器具，不論是否供內科、外科、牙科或獸醫用，包括放射照相或放射治療器具、Χ光管及其他Χ光產生器、高壓發生器、控制面板及控制檯、銀幕、檢驗檯、椅及類似品

9023 供示範（如︰教育或展示）用儀器、器具及模型，不適於其他用途者

9024 供試驗（或測試）材料（例如︰金屬、木材、紡織物、紙張、塑膠）之硬度、強度、耐壓度、彈性或其他機械性能之機械及用具

9025 液體比重計及類似浮動儀器、溫度計、高溫計、氣壓計、濕度計及雙管溫度計，有無記錄裝置者均在內，上列任何儀器之聯合裝置

9026 供計量或檢查液體或氣體之流量、液位、壓力或其他可變因素之儀器及器具（例如︰流量計、液位計、壓力計、熱度計），不包括第９０１４、９０１５、９０２８或９０３２節之儀器及器具

9027 理化分析用儀器及器具（例如︰偏光計、折射計、分光計、氣體或煙之分析器具）；計量或檢查粘性、多孔性、膨脹性、表面張力及類似性能之儀器及器具；計量或檢查熱量、音量或光（包括曝光計）之儀器及器具；理化分析用切片機

This chapter has more than 250 tariff lines; use the tariff search for the rest

What's the difference between Column 1, Column 2, and Column 3 tariff rates?

General Rule 2 of the Customs Import Tariff divides rates into 3 columns: Column 1 applies to imports from World Trade Organization members or from countries or regions with reciprocal treatment toward Taiwan; Column 2 applies only to “specific” imports in two situations: specific goods from certain least-developed or developing countries or regions, or specific goods from countries or regions that have signed a free trade agreement or economic cooperation agreement with Taiwan; goods that do not qualify for either of the first two columns are subject to Column 3. Where both Column 1 and Column 2 could apply, the lower rate is used. Mainland China is a World Trade Organization member and generally falls under Column 1; Column 2 applies to mainland China only for goods on the ECFA Early Harvest list.

A tariff book and rate table spread open on a desk, with a magnifying glass and a box awaiting customs clearance nearby — A tariff line's rate must be read together with the applicable column and any import regulations.

The chapter and tariff-line pages on this site display Column 1 rates. Column 2 marks eligible countries in the tariff table using country codes, for example “Duty-free (PA,GT,NI,SV,HN,NZ,SG)”; the codes are only labels in the tariff table, and some of the underlying agreements have been suspended or terminated (e.g., Nicaragua, El Salvador, Honduras) — actual eligibility is subject to Customs Administration announcements. Miscellaneous items in postal parcels have separate rules: when the dutiable value exceeds the duty-free threshold, a 5% rate applies, except for tobacco, alcohol, and goods subject to a tariff rate quota; however, if a single item or items under the same tariff line total more than NT$2,000, they are not treated as miscellaneous items and are instead taxed at each tariff line's own rate (General Rule 5; Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Postal Parcels, Articles 8 and 9). This 5% rule only covers postal parcels and passengers' goods; express shipments are calculated by each tariff line's rate.

Frequently Asked Questions

What taxes apply when importing Chapter 90 goods into Taiwan?

There are generally three charges:

Customs duty: for ad valorem tariff lines, dutiable value × rate; for specific-duty tariff lines, calculated by quantity or weight (imports from mainland China generally apply Column 1).
Business tax: levied on the dutiable value plus customs duty, collected by Customs on the government's behalf (Value-added and Non-value-added Business Tax Act Article 20 and Article 41); goods also subject to commodity tax or tobacco and alcohol tax have those amounts added to the tax base as well.
Trade Promotion Service Fee: the statutory cap is 4.25 per 10,000 of the goods' value (Foreign Trade Act Article 21); it is currently charged at 4 per 10,000 of the dutiable value, and waived when the amount payable does not exceed NT$100.

Small-value imports have a separate duty exemption threshold — see the next question.

Is there a duty exemption threshold for small-value imports? How are amounts over the threshold taxed?

Yes. If a single shipment's dutiable value is NT$2,000 or less, it is exempt from customs duty and from the business tax and commodity tax that Customs collects on the government's behalf, except for tobacco, alcohol, and agricultural products subject to a tariff rate quota (Ministry of Finance Announcement Tai-Cai-Guan-Zi No. 1061018778 dated September 7, ROC year 106 (2017); for postal parcels, see also Article 7 of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Postal Parcels). Three things to note:

If the same taxpayer receives duty-free release more than 6 times within the same half-year period (January–June or July–December), imports after that point in the period are no longer duty-exempt (Ministry of Finance Order Tai-Cai-Guan-Zi No. 1061011007 dated May 26, ROC year 106 (2017)).
A single express shipment may not be split and declared separately (Article 14 of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Air Express Cargo).
When a postal parcel exceeds the threshold, the entire parcel is taxed in full, not just the amount over the threshold (Article 8 of the Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Postal Parcels).

How many of Chapter 90's tariff lines carry a 0% duty rate?

Of this chapter's 323 tariff lines, 232 have a Column 1 rate of 0%, or 71.8%. A 0% rate only means customs duty is zero: business tax generally still applies on import (see the previous question for the small-value exemption), and any import regulations on the tariff line (inspection, quarantine, permit documents) are not waived because of it.

Can Chapter 90 goods be shipped from mainland China to Taiwan?

You need to check line by line. This chapter has 28 tariff lines marked MW0 (import of mainland China goods not permitted), but MW0 does not mean nothing can be shipped at all. MW0 = import from mainland China is prohibited. Exception: small quantities of mainland Chinese goods in Chapters 25–97 may be imported without an import permit if the whole declaration is within CIF NT$32,000 and each single product is within 24 pieces (40 kg if it cannot be counted; a single product is identified by its model number, or by the line item on the declaration if there is no model number, and may not be split by size, specification or colour; stone under heading 6802 and tiles under heading 6907 must meet both 24 pieces and 40 kg). Electric motorcycles, electric bicycles and their controllers (tariff lines 8711.60.10, 8711.60.20 and 8543.70.99.50) are excluded, and Chapters 1–24 do not qualify. Inspection, quarantine and other import requirements must still be met separately. This does not mean the goods are duty-free.Another 8 tariff lines carry MP1 (conditional import of mainland China goods permitted), which requires meeting the requirements in the International Trade Administration's Compilation Table of Conditionally Permitted Mainland China Goods and Import Management Regulations.

Within the same chapter, how do I confirm which tariff line my item falls under?

Under the General Rules for the Interpretation of the Customs Import Tariff, section and chapter titles are for reference only — classification is determined by the tariff line description and the section and chapter notes (Rule 1). If the description and notes do not settle it, then unfinished goods and mixtures (Rule 2), the more specific description, essential character, or classification under the last heading in order (Rule 3), and the most akin heading (Rule 4) apply in turn, with containers and packaging governed separately by Rule 5; when narrowing down to an “item” level, Rule 6 compares only items at the same level. If still uncertain, the taxpayer or their agent may apply to Customs for a binding tariff ruling before the goods are imported, and Customs will respond in writing (Customs Act Article 21); when the goods actually arriving match the ruling, Customs must classify them under the ruled tariff line, except where the applicant provided incorrect or false information (Regulations Governing the Advance Ruling on Tariff Classification of Imported Goods, Article 10).

Where does this page's legal basis and data come from?

Customs Act Article 3: Except as otherwise provided in the Customs Act, the levy of customs duty and the classification of imported and exported goods are governed by the Customs Import Tariff, which is separately enacted and promulgated through the legislative process.
Customs Import Tariff (last amended, per the National Laws & Regulations Database, on January 28, ROC year 115 (2026)): General Rule 2 on the three rate columns, General Rule 5 on miscellaneous postal items, and Interpretation Rules 1 through 6.
Customs Act Article 21 and the Regulations Governing the Advance Ruling on Tariff Classification of Imported Goods: applying for a binding tariff ruling before import.
Value-added and Non-value-added Business Tax Act Article 20: business tax on imported goods is calculated on the dutiable value plus import duty; Article 41: business tax on imported goods is collected by Customs on the government's behalf.
Regulations Governing Customs Clearance of Postal Parcels, Articles 7, 8, 9, 11, and 12: NT$2,000 duty exemption, full taxation when exceeded, the definition of miscellaneous items, combined calculation for parcels from the same sender to the same recipient arriving on the same date, and loss of the exemption after more than 6 uses in a half-year period.
Ministry of Economic Affairs Announcement Jing-Mao-Zi No. 11104603570 dated August 19, ROC year 111 (2022): rules on permit-free import of small quantities of mainland China goods; Announcement Jing-Mao-Zi No. 111046035701 of the same date: excluded goods items.
Ministry of Finance Announcement Tai-Cai-Guan-Zi No. 1061018778 dated September 7, ROC year 106 (2017): duty exemption for shipments with a dutiable value of NT$2,000 or less; Ministry of Finance Order Tai-Cai-Guan-Zi No. 1061011007 dated May 26, ROC year 106 (2017): exemption no longer applies after more than 6 duty-free releases in a half-year period.
Customs Administration, Ministry of Finance, General Explanation of the Combined Volume of the Republic of China Customs Import Tariff and Classification of Import and Export Commodities, ROC year 112 (2023) edition: 21 sections, 97 chapters (Chapter 77 reserved), Chapter 98 added outside the HS structure, and the 8-digit tariff number plus 10-digit trade management and statistics classification, plus 1 check digit.
International Trade Administration, Ministry of Economic Affairs, Table of Import Regulation Codes: a blank import regulation field means “permitted (no permit required)”.

Usage limitation: The statistics on this page are compiled by the HowBridge Tariff Database for reference only; tariff line classification, applicable rates, and import regulations are subject to announcements from the Customs Administration (Ministry of Finance) and the International Trade Administration (Ministry of Economic Affairs), and to Customs' final determination. This page does not constitute a case-specific tariff classification opinion.

Sources for this section

Primary government and academic sources:

Government notice 我國採行HS制度(國際商品統一分類制度)介紹 web.customs.gov.tw
Official manual 國際商品統一分類制度（HS）註解（中文版） web.customs.gov.tw
Regulation Regulations Governing the Implementation of Advance Tariff Classification Rulings for Imported Goods law-out.mof.gov.tw — See these regulations for applying to customs for an advance tariff classification ruling before import, response deadlines, review procedures and extended applicability after a customs change.
Official manual (GC473)貨品輸出入規定查詢 / (GC411)稅則稅率查詢 portal.sw.nat.gov.tw
Thesis A study on tariff classification and declaration practice for imported goods in Taiwan tdr.lib.ntu.edu.tw — Master's thesis: Chen, En-Pai, “Tariff Classification and Declaration Practices for Imported Goods in Taiwan,” examines additional assessments caused by incorrect tariff codes, conflicts among customs, taxpayers and brokers, and advance classification rulings.
Journal article 關稅合作理事會稅則分類法研究 nccur.lib.nccu.edu.tw

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