A code is only as good as the reasoning behind it
The commodity code you choose drives your duty rate, your free trade agreement eligibility, and whether measures like CBAM or anti-dumping duty apply. Get it wrong and you risk overpaid or underpaid duty, back-duty demands going back four years, HMRC penalties of around £2,500 per incorrect code, and shipments held at the border. The best checkers do not just hand you a number, they show the reasoning so you can be confident, and keep a record so you can defend it. Want to model the cost impact of a code? Try our import duty calculator.
TTExplore by TariffTel
TTExplore is a purpose-built fast commodity code checker. Describe the product and it returns fast code suggestions, with confidence indicator so you make the judgement on when to dig deeper and when to move fast. It is the quickest way to get an informed answer, and a natural first stop before you commit to one of our plans.
Pros
- Fast AI-assisted suggestions
- Reasoning and WCO notes shown
- Built for UK & EU classification
- Upgrade path to a verified code
Cons
- A guided suggestion, not a formally verified ruling on its own
- For high-risk codes, pair with TTVerified
TTVerified by TariffTel
When the code will be declared to HMRC and accuracy is non-negotiable, TTVerified is the platform to use. It pairs AI-assisted classification with human expert verification, captures supplier data, and records a complete, HMRC-defensible audit trail for every code, with UK and EU coverage and ERP integration. For large catalogues, TariffTel Managed Services lets our experts run it all for you.
Pros
- Expert-verified, fast codes - 99% accuracy
- Full HMRC-defensible audit trail
- Supplier engagement & ERP integration
- ISO 27001 certified
Cons
- A full platform, more than you need for a single one-off lookup
- Best suited to ongoing, at-scale classification
UK Trade Tariff (gov.uk)
The free UK Trade Tariff on gov.uk is the authoritative source for UK commodity codes, duty rates and measures. It is the definitive reference, but it is manual: you navigate the chapters, headings and notes yourself and interpret them, which takes knowledge and time, especially for complex products.
Pros
- Free and authoritative
- Official duty rates and measures
- The definitive UK reference
Cons
- Manual: no AI or guided reasoning
- Slow for complex products
- Requires classification knowledge
Generic AI tools / ChatGPT
General-purpose AI assistants can help you orient quickly and explain classification concepts in plain English. But they are not built for customs: they do not provide an audit trail, do not connect to live tariff data, and can be confidently wrong. Useful for a first sketch, never for the code you actually declare.
Pros
- Fast and conversational
- Good for explaining concepts
Cons
- No defensibility or audit trail
- Can be confidently wrong
- Not connected to live tariff data
Customs broker
A customs broker brings human expertise and can handle declarations alongside classification. If you use one, ask for the justification behind each code, the headings, notes and rules applied, so you have a record to fall back on. Brokers vary in classification depth, and turnaround and cost depend on the relationship.
Pros
- Human expertise and judgement
- Can handle declarations too
Cons
- Justification not always documented unless you ask
- Cost and turnaround vary
- Classification depth varies by broker
Quick comparison
| Tool | Speed | Reasoning shown | Audit trail | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TTExplore | Fast | ✓ | Via TTVerified | Paid |
| TTVerified | Fast, verified | ✓ | ✓ | Paid |
| UK Trade Tariff (gov.uk) | Manual | You interpret | — | Free |
| Generic AI / ChatGPT | Fast | Unverified | — | Free / Paid |
| Customs broker | Varies | On request | On request | Paid |
Ticks reflect capabilities TariffTel confirms for its own products. Other entries describe the general nature of each option. Comparison based on publicly available information as of 2026; verify current competitor features directly. See the full TariffTel product range.
Commodity code checkers, answered
Check a code, then make it defensible
Start with TTExplore for a fast, reasoned suggestion, then move to TTVerified or Managed Services when you need the verified code and a full audit trail.