HSN codes for kirana products — how to find the right one
HSN codes group products into GST tax categories. Here's how to look up the code for any kirana product in 60 seconds, plus example codes for common staples.
6 May 2026 · 3 min read · Bikri team
An HSN code (Harmonized System of Nomenclature) is the 6–8 digit number that GST uses to classify a product into a tax category. Every product on a GST invoice needs one. For most kirana products, the right HSN code is fixed by what the product is (instant noodles, bread, sugar) — not by which brand makes it. Maggi and any other instant noodles share the same code; Coca-Cola and Thums Up share the same code.
This post covers how to look up the code yourself in 60 seconds, plus the codes for the kirana staples shop owners ask about most. Codes update periodically — always verify on the CBIC portal before issuing a GST invoice.
How to look up an HSN code in 60 seconds
- Open the CBIC HSN search at cbic-gst.gov.in.
- Type the product's plain English name (e.g. "noodles," "biscuits," "tea") into the search.
- Pick the row that matches the most specific description. The HSN code appears in the leftmost column.
- Note the GST rate alongside it — the same product can sit in different tax slabs depending on packaging or processing (loose vs branded, sweetened vs unsweetened, etc.).
That's it. The portal is the source of truth. Any HSN code in a blog post (including this one) is a snapshot — the portal is where you settle disputes.
Example HSN codes for common kirana staples
A starter list to anchor the typical kirana inventory. Treat these as illustrative, not authoritative — confirm on the CBIC portal before invoicing, especially for branded vs unbranded variants which sometimes split across rates.
- Common salt (for human consumption) — chapter 2501
- Wheat flour (atta), unbranded — chapter 1101
- Sugar, refined — chapter 1701
- Milk, plain (not flavoured) — chapter 0401
- Tea, packaged — chapter 0902
- Bread (other than rusks/toast) — chapter 1905
- Instant noodles (Maggi, Yippee, Top Ramen, etc.) — chapter 1902
- Carbonated soft drinks (Coca-Cola, Thums Up, Sprite, etc.) — chapter 2202
- Soaps and detergents — chapter 3401–3402
- Toothpaste — chapter 3306
GST rates on these vary across 0%, 5%, 12%, and 18% slabs depending on classification details (branded/unbranded, packaging size, processing). Don't memorise the rates — let the CBIC portal resolve them per product.
Why getting the HSN code right matters
If your shop is GST-registered, the HSN code goes on every invoice. Three things go wrong if it's incorrect:
- Wrong tax rate charged. A product classified into the wrong category can be taxed at 5% when it should be 12%, or vice versa. Either direction creates a problem at filing time.
- Input tax credit mismatches. Your B2B customers can't reconcile the GST you charged them with the GST they're claiming back.
- Audit flags. GST returns aggregate by HSN. Inconsistent codes across similar products on different invoices look suspicious to GST officers.
For most small kirana shops, this is a once-per-product setup task — get the codes right when you're entering a product into your billing system, and the per-sale work is automatic afterwards.
If you're not sure whether your shop even needs to register for GST in the first place, start with our overview on GST for kirana shops. And if you have, the post on whether GST is mandatory below ₹40 lakh clarifies when registration becomes non-optional.