Commercial Invoice
A commercial invoice is an important customs declaration document used in international shipping for import and export clearance. Customs officials use commercial invoices to determine the value of a shipment and the amount of import duties and taxes owed.
Commercial invoices contain vital shipment information, such as:
- Where it was manufactured/originated from
- Supplier/manufacturer name and address
- Name and address of the buyer
- The quantity and value of each item
- A complete description of what the product is
- Date and terms of the sale
If you have to fill out a commercial invoice as part of the shipping process, then it pays to research the specific country to which shipments are sent. While many countries accept commercial invoices from other countries, some require shippers to submit specific versions of these forms. For this reason, be sure to find country-specific information from a reliable source on the destination country’s requirements.
Commercial invoices are legally recognized contracts between a buyer and a seller, serving as proof of sale.