Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsUse the GST Portal’s Search HSN Code service to find a possible HSN or SAC classification, then verify that classification against the current CBIC rate schedule and applicable notifications. A search result is a starting point, not a final tax decision: the actual supply, notification conditions and transaction details can change the result.
What to check before searching
Write down what is actually being supplied. For a product, note its material, function, form and packaging, along with any relevant transaction details. For a service, describe the work performed rather than relying only on a marketing name. A precise trade description makes it easier to identify a potentially relevant HSN or SAC entry.
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GSTN says the portal search can use common-parlance or trade descriptions, including partial descriptions. That helps locate candidates; it does not establish that a candidate classification legally fits your supply.
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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minuteDriver Scan →Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →How to use the GST Portal’s “Search HSN Code” service
- Open the service: go to GST Portal Home > Services > User services > Search HSN Code. GSTN says the functionality is available both before and after login and covers goods and services. See the GSTN advisory on the revamped Search HSN Code functionality.
- Choose how to search: search by HSN/SAC if you already have a code, or select Description and enter the product or service’s trade description.
- Review the complete result: check that the full technical description—not just a similar keyword—matches the actual product or work performed. If several entries look plausible, compare their descriptions with the supply’s characteristics.
- Record the likely code and description: use them to find the corresponding entry in CBIC’s rate schedule. The portal’s registration guidance also describes looking up codes by name or code for goods and services: GST registration guide.
Verify the GST rate, exemptions and conditions
Look up the matching goods or services entry in CBIC’s GST Goods and Services Rates material, then check the relevant current rate notification and any amendment or corrigendum. The CBIC Central Tax (Rate) notifications index is an official place to review those notifications. A rate table or older summary may not reflect later changes.
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Read the whole entry and its conditions. An exemption or a particular rate may depend on details specified in a notification; finding a similar description is not enough to assume those conditions are met. Check the official material as it stands on the date of the transaction.
Check the transaction, not only the item
The classification and rate are only part of the question of whether GST applies to a particular supply. The CGST Act sets out the levy framework and rules for composite and mixed supplies. Whether the transaction is a supply under the applicable law, how goods and services are bundled, and whether the transaction is intra-State or inter-State can all matter. The applicable treatment may involve CGST and SGST for an intra-State supply or IGST for an inter-State supply. See the CGST Act, 2017.
For a package combining multiple items or services, do not assume that each component can be assessed in isolation. Check whether the composite- or mixed-supply rules and any relevant notification apply to the transaction as made.
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Use the right meaning of “GST-free”
Nil-rated, exempted and non-GST supplies are distinct categories in GST Portal outward-supply reporting; they should not be collapsed into one label. The GSTR-1 guidance identifies them separately. If you are classifying a supply for reporting, use the category that matches its legal treatment rather than simply calling it “GST-free.” See GSTN’s GSTR-1 guidance.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.When to get case-specific help
Ask a qualified Indian tax professional or seek an appropriate official clarification if two classifications remain plausible, a notification has conditions you are unsure how to apply, or the supply bundles goods and services. The portal lookup helps identify codes and descriptions; it should not be treated as a binding ruling on your specific facts.
For businesses that check recurring supplies, GSTN’s e-Invoice System guidance shows that invoice item details include HSN/SAC and GST-rate fields. Those fields support invoicing; filling them in does not by itself resolve a difficult classification question.
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