HSN Code
HSN Code 4901 — Printed Books
HSN heading 4901 covers printed books and similar printed matter — but not frequent periodicals or children's picture books, coded elsewhere.
4901 covers printed books and similar printed matter — brochures, leaflets, and bound printed material generally. It's a distinct category from other printing-industry products in the same chapter: newspapers and frequently-published periodicals have their own heading, and so do certain categories of children's books.
The frequency of publication is actually part of what separates a "book" from a "newspaper/periodical" in this classification — newspapers, journals, and periodicals appearing more than four times a week are classified under a different heading (4902) from books and less-frequent publications.
Children's picture, drawing, or colouring books are also carved out into their own heading (4903), separate from ordinary printed books, since the tariff treats them as a distinct product category.
What's included
- Printed books (fiction, non-fiction, textbooks, reference)
- Brochures and leaflets
- Printed maps and charts (in book/bound form)
Commonly confused — classified elsewhere
- Newspapers, journals and periodicals appearing more than 4 times a week — 4902
- Children's picture, drawing, or colouring books — 4903
- Notebooks, registers, and other stationery — 4820
Confirm the exact digit-level code and GST rate
- Go to the GST portal's HSN/SAC search page and pick the "HSN Code" tab.
- Search using "4901" or the description above.
- Match your exact product or service to its precise 6–8 digit line.
- Check the GST rate shown there — it's tied to the exact line, not the 4-digit heading, and can change.
Frequently asked questions
Are newspapers classified the same as books under 4901?
No — newspapers, journals, and periodicals published more than four times a week have their own heading (4902), separate from books and less-frequent printed matter under 4901.
Do children's colouring books count as "printed books" under 4901?
No — children's picture, drawing, and colouring books have their own dedicated heading (4903), distinct from ordinary printed books.
Is the GST treatment the same for all products under 4901?
This tool doesn't state a rate against the heading — different categories of printed matter can be treated differently under GST, and the rules can change. Confirm the current treatment for your specific product on the GST portal.