Velvet guide
Velvet Fabric HSN Code and GST Classification
Buyers often ask for the HSN code for velvet. There isn't a single one. Velvet is a pile fabric, and the classification turns on two things: whether the pile is knitted or woven, and which fibre predominates. Knitted pile fabrics fall under heading 6001 in Chapter 60; woven pile fabrics fall under 5801 in Chapter 58. This guide explains the split, the eight-digit codes in the Indian tariff, and what documents need to say.
Knitted pile velvet: heading 6001
Chapter 60 covers knitted and crocheted fabrics. Heading 6001 covers pile fabrics, including long pile and terry fabrics, knitted or crocheted. A great deal of the polyester velvet made in India is warp-knitted, which puts it here. The six-digit subheadings split first by construction and then by fibre: 6001.10 for long pile; 6001.21, 6001.22 and 6001.29 for looped pile of cotton, man-made fibres and other textile materials; then 6001.91, 6001.92 and 6001.99 for other pile fabrics on the same fibre split. India's tariff extends these to eight digits, for example 60012100, 60012200 and 60012900.
Woven pile velvet: heading 5801
Chapter 58 covers special woven fabrics. Heading 5801 covers woven pile fabrics and chenille fabrics, other than those of heading 5802 or 5806. Traditional woven velvet, velveteen and corduroy sit here. The subheadings separate wool and fine animal hair (5801.10), cotton (5801.21 to 5801.27) and man-made fibres (5801.31 to 5801.37), then split by construction: uncut weft pile, cut corduroy, other weft pile, chenille and warp pile. Silk velvet and other materials go to 5801.90. If your velvet is woven on a loom rather than knitted, 6001 is simply the wrong heading.
Deciding knitted or woven, and which fibre
Two checks settle most cases. First, stretch the fabric across its width: a warp-knitted velvet gives and recovers, a woven velvet does not. Second, take the fibre content by weight. Under Section XI Note 2, a mixed-fibre fabric is classified as if made wholly of the fibre predominating by weight, so a velvet with one fibre in the pile and another in the ground needs a stated percentage split. One exception worth flagging: flock fabrics, where short fibres are bonded to a base with adhesive, are not pile fabrics of 5801 or 6001 and are usually classified in Chapter 59.
Why the code matters on invoices and at customs
The HSN drives GST reporting in India, the duty line at import, and export benefit schedules, which are keyed to tariff codes. Under GST, the number of HSN digits you must show on a tax invoice and in GSTR-1 depends on your aggregate turnover, and those thresholds have been revised more than once — check the rule that applies to you now. A wrong code is not only a paperwork problem: it can mean the wrong duty, a held consignment, or a rejected claim.
What an importer should get on the documents
Ask the mill to put the following on the commercial invoice: the HSN or HS code, the construction (knitted or woven pile), fibre composition by percentage, width in inches or centimetres, weight in GSM, and the quantity in metres. The packing list should show the number of thans (rolls) and metres per roll, since velvet is usually supplied by the than or by the metre. Add a certificate of origin if you intend to claim a preferential rate, and an azo-free dye declaration where your market asks for one. Manufacturers who export regularly, Shailesh Velvet Industries included, keep this detail on file — ask before shipment rather than after.
Rates change, so verify before you quote
Do not treat any rate you read online as current. GST slabs for textiles have been revised and re-proposed several times, and import duty depends on the tariff line, the country of origin, and any trade agreement in force on the date of clearance. Confirm the rate against the CBIC tariff and current GST notifications, or through your customs broker, on the day you file. Advance classification opinions can also be obtained where a line is genuinely unclear. Rates move; the classification logic above generally does not.
Frequently asked questions
What is the HSN code for velvet fabric?
There is no single code. Knitted pile velvet is classified under heading 6001, with eight-digit lines such as 60012100, 60012200 and 60012900. Woven pile velvet, velveteen and corduroy fall under heading 5801.
What is the difference between HSN 6001 and 5801?
6001 sits in Chapter 60 and covers knitted or crocheted pile fabrics. 5801 sits in Chapter 58 and covers woven pile and chenille fabrics. The deciding factor is how the ground is made, not the look.
What GST rate applies to velvet fabric?
Rates for textile fabrics have been revised and re-proposed several times, so no figure quoted in an article stays reliable. Check the current GST notification for your HSN line, or confirm with your accountant, before invoicing.
How many HSN digits must appear on a GST invoice?
It depends on aggregate turnover, and the thresholds have changed since HSN reporting was tightened in 2021. Larger taxpayers report six digits, smaller ones four for B2B supplies. Verify the rule currently in force.
