Kuwait moved to a 12-digit customs tariff in 2025, and the most common classification error we see starts on the supplier's own paperwork.
"Just 5% duty" sounds simple — until the code is wrong
Kuwait runs a 12-digit tariff now: the international 6-digit HS code, a 2-digit GCC extension, then 4 national digits. Most importers copy the code straight off the supplier's commercial invoice. That code was written for the exporting country's system — not Kuwait's national breakdown.
What goes wrong at Bayan
When the declared code doesn't match what the goods actually are, three things tend to happen:
- The duty rate can be wrong. Some categories sit outside the standard rate entirely.
- The declaration gets queued for inspection instead of clearing on the fast channel.
- An underpayment can come back as a retroactive assessment after release. The container clears, then the bill follows.
The fix is unglamorous
Verify the full 12-digit classification against the Kuwait tariff *before* the declaration is filed — not after a query lands. A code that's right to 6 digits but wrong on the last 4 still triggers a hold.
Send us your packing list and supplier invoice before the vessel arrives. We'll confirm the classification while there's still time to correct it: qafxpress.com/rfq.html