HS Code 4819.20

Folding cartons & boxes of paperboard

Import duty, VAT & classification for South African importers

General customs duty 10%
Import VAT 15%
HS heading 4819.20
Statistical unit kg

HS code 4819.20 covers Folding cartons & boxes of paperboard — for example folding cartons, printed packaging boxes. South Africa applies an indicative general customs duty of 10%, on top of which 15% import VAT is charged.

Worked example: landed cost on R100,000 of goods

Customs value (CIF)R100,000
Customs duty (10%)R10,000
Import VAT (15% on ATV)R18,000
Estimated landed costR128,000

VAT is charged on the Added Tax Value (customs value + 10% upliftment for non-SACU imports + duties). Figures exclude clearing, freight and any anti-dumping/safeguard duty. For an exact, all-in figure use the Duty & VAT Calculator.

Where HS 4819.20 sits in the tariff

Classification is decided at heading level first. Heading 4819 is “Cartons, boxes, cases, bags and the like, of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or fibres; box files, letter trays and the like, of paper or paperboard, of a kind used in offices, shops or the like”. If your product is closer to one of the neighbouring subheadings below, that line — and its duty rate — is the one that applies.

  • 4819.10 Paper and paperboard; cartons, boxes and cases, of corrugated paper or paperboard 10% duty
  • 4819.20 Paper and paperboard; folding cartons, boxes and cases, of non-corrugated paper or paperboard — this page
  • 4819.30 Paper and paperboard; sacks and bags of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or fibres, having a base of a width of 40cm or more
  • 4819.40 Paper and paperboard; sacks and bags, including cones, of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or fibres, having a base width less than 40cm
  • 4819.50 Paper and paperboard; packing containers, including record sleeves, of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or fibres, n.e.c. in heading no. 4819
  • 4819.60 Paper and paperboard; box files, letter trays, storage boxes and similar articles, used in offices, shops or the like of paper, paperboard, cellulose wadding or webs of cellulose fibres

Harmonised System HS 2022 nomenclature. See the whole of Chapter 48 →

Calculate full landed cost Check anti-dumping & permits Find a clearing agent

Watch HS 4819.20 for changes

Duty rates, anti-dumping measures and permit rules change by Government Gazette. We’ll email you if this code’s status shifts.

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Data current as of 2026-08-06. Indicative general (MFN) rate — real duty can differ at 8-digit level, under trade agreements (SADC, EU-EPA) and by Government Gazette. This is guidance, not a tariff determination under s47(9) of the Customs & Excise Act, 1964. Verify against the current SARS Tariff Book.

4802.56 Printing & writing paper (cut sheets) 10% duty + 15% VAT 4818.10 Toilet paper 20% duty + 15% VAT 4819.10 Corrugated cartons, boxes & paper packaging 10% duty + 15% VAT 4820.10 Notebooks, registers & exercise books 15% duty + 15% VAT

Frequently asked questions

What is the import duty on folding cartons & boxes of paperboard in South Africa?

HS code 4819.20 (Folding cartons & boxes of paperboard) attracts an indicative general customs duty of 10% in South Africa, plus 15% import VAT charged on the Added Tax Value. Verify the exact rate in the current SARS Tariff Book.

What is the HS code for folding cartons?

The Harmonised System heading for folding cartons & boxes of paperboard is 4819.20. South Africa uses an 8-digit tariff line based on this heading — confirm the precise 8-digit code in the SARS Tariff Book before importing.