Commercial invoice template for customs
Customs uses the commercial invoice to classify and value a shipment. This template records the exporter and consignee, importer of record, HS codes, country of origin, Incoterms, packages, weights, the air waybill or bill of lading and the reason for export.
No sign-up, no watermark. Made in your browser; nothing is uploaded.
Free trial: 1 run of Invoice Generator every day. After that, 2 credits per run.
What this template includes
- Your business name, address and contact details
- Customer name and address
- Document number and issue date
- Importer of record (if different)
- Country of origin
- Incoterms
- Reason for export
- AWB / B/L #
- Port of loading / discharge
- Packages
- Gross / net weight
- Line items with qty, unit value and amount
- Tax, discounts, amount paid and balance due
Describing goods so customs accepts them
Write what the item is, what it is made of and what it is for, not a marketing name. "Handwoven cotton rug, 4 x 6 ft" clears faster than "Artisan rug". The HS code goes in its own column.
What US customs expects
US regulations (19 CFR 141.86) list what an import invoice must show, including the parties, a detailed description, quantities, unit and total values, the currency and the country of origin. The template covers those fields; your broker may ask for more.
Questions
Is a commercial invoice the same as a proforma?
No. A proforma is sent before shipment as an offer or a request for payment; the commercial invoice travels with the goods and states the actual transaction value customs will use.
Do samples need a commercial invoice?
Usually yes, even when nothing was paid. Declare a realistic value and state "sample, no commercial value" as the reason for export if that is true.
Who signs the declaration?
The exporter or its authorised representative. The template includes a sample declaration in the notes that you can edit to the wording your carrier requires.