The spices hsn code for most kitchen spices is in Chapter 9: 0904 for pepper and chilli, 0908 for cardamom, 0909 for jeera and dhania, and 0910 for turmeric, ginger and mixed masalas, and they all carry GST at 5%. The rate is the same whether you sell them whole, crushed or ground, loose or in a branded pouch.
Fresh turmeric and fresh ginger that have not been processed are nil rated. Hing is the odd one out, since it sits under gums and resins. This page lists the codes, shows a kirana style invoice line and explains the mix-ups with sauces and pickles. For other groceries see the food items hub.
Spices: codes and GST rates
Item / HSN / GST- Black pepper, whole or ground5%Kali mirch
- Red chilli, dried, whole or powder5%Lal mirch and chilli powder
- Cinnamon (dalchini)5%Bark and flowers
- Cloves (laung)5%Whole cloves and stems
- Cardamom, small and large (elaichi)5%Nutmeg and mace in the same heading
- Cumin (jeera), coriander (dhania), fennel (saunf)5%Seed quality for sowing is nil
- Turmeric powder and dried turmeric5%Haldi other than fresh
- Fresh turmeric and fresh gingerNilNot processed
- Garam masala and other mixed spices5%Blends of two or more spices
- Compounded asafoetida (hing)5%Under gums and resins, not Chapter 9
Quick facts
Chapter
9: coffee, tea, mate and spicesGST rate
5% (2.5% CGST + 2.5% SGST)Nil items
Fresh ginger, fresh turmeric, seeds for sowingRate before the reform
5% for most spicesDigits to print
4 digits up to Rs 5 crore turnover, 6 aboveCommon wrong code
2103 (sauces and condiments) for dry masala blends
Spices hsn code list for the masala shelf
| Spice | HSN | GST |
|---|---|---|
| Black pepper (kali mirch) | 0904 11 | 5% |
| Chilli powder, red chilli | 0904 21 or 0904 22 | 5% |
| Cinnamon (dalchini) | 0906 | 5% |
| Cloves (laung) | 0907 | 5% |
| Nutmeg, mace (jaiphal, javitri) | 0908 11 to 0908 22 | 5% |
| Cardamom (elaichi) | 0908 31 or 0908 32 | 5% |
| Coriander seeds (dhania) | 0909 21 or 0909 22 | 5% |
| Cumin seeds (jeera) | 0909 31 or 0909 32 | 5% |
| Fennel (saunf) | 0909 61 | 5% |
| Dried ginger (sonth) | 0910 12 | 5% |
| Turmeric powder (haldi) | 0910 30 | 5% |
| Saffron (kesar) | 0910 20 | 5% |
| Garam masala, curry powder | 0910 91 | 5% |
| Methi seeds and other spices | 0910 99 | 5% |
Turmeric powder hsn code and the fresh root rule
Turmeric is heading 0910 30. Fresh turmeric that is not processed has its own nil entry at 0910 30 10, the same as fresh ginger at 0910 11 10. Once the root is dried, boiled, sliced or powdered, it is processed, and the 5% entry applies. A farmer or trader selling raw haldi from the field charges no GST; a mill selling turmeric powder charges 5%.
Chilli powder hsn code and black pepper
Heading 0904 covers both pepper of the Piper family and dried fruits of the Capsicum family, which means red chillies. Whole dried chillies are 0904 21 and crushed or ground chilli powder is 0904 22. Black pepper whole is 0904 11 and ground pepper 0904 12. All are 5%. Green chillies sold fresh are vegetables under Chapter 7 and nil rated; see fruits and vegetables.
Masala hsn code: blends and ready mixes
A dry blend of two or more spices, such as garam masala, chaat masala, sambar powder or meat masala, is a mixture under 0910 91 at 5%. If the product turns into a paste, sauce or wet condiment, it moves to 2103 under sauces and condiments, which is covered on the pickles, sauces and jams page. Packaging does not change the rate: a 50 gram branded pouch and a 25 kg sack of jeera are both 5%.
Jeera, cardamom and seeds for sowing
Cumin, coriander, fennel and anise seeds are heading 0909 at 5%. The same seeds of seed quality, sold for sowing, are nil under the seeds entry. Cardamom (small green elaichi 0908 31, large black cardamom 0908 32) is 5%. Seeds for sowing in general are on the seeds page.
Writing spices on a kirana bill
Example from a wholesale bill: Jeera, 30 kg bag, HSN 0909 31, 10 bags, taxable value Rs 75,000. CGST 2.5% Rs 1,875. SGST 2.5% Rs 1,875. Total Rs 78,750.
A shop with turnover up to Rs 5 crore may print just 0909 on a business invoice, but a 6 digit code helps the buyer match it. Since nearly every spice is 5%, one tax line can cover a mixed lot as long as each item has its own HSN in the item list.
Hing hsn code and pan masala
Compounded asafoetida, sold as hing, is classified under 1301 with natural gums and resins, at 5%. Pan masala is not a spice for GST: it is a separate demerit item at 40%, explained on the tobacco and pan masala page.
The spice codes on this page reflect the general position in the present rate schedule. Processing, packing and blends can change the code, so read the live entry on the GST portal and ask a GST practitioner or chartered accountant if a product sits between two headings.
Frequently asked questions
How much GST is charged on spices?
Most spices, whole or ground, are taxed at 5%. Fresh ginger and fresh turmeric that are not processed are nil rated.
What is the turmeric powder hsn code?
Turmeric powder is 0910 30 at 5%. Fresh, unprocessed turmeric is 0910 30 10 and nil rated.
What is the chilli powder hsn code?
Ground red chilli is 0904 22 and whole dried chilli 0904 21. Both are 5%.
What is the cardamom hsn code and gst rate?
Small cardamom is 0908 31 and large cardamom 0908 32, taxed at 5%.
What is the hsn code for garam masala?
Garam masala and other dry spice mixtures fall under 0910 91 at 5%.