Who this is for
Exporters, importers, manufacturers selling overseas, dropshippers with international suppliers, small e-commerce businesses fulfilling cross-border orders, and freight forwarders.
Why a commercial invoice is different
A commercial invoice is a customs document, not just a payment request. It tells customs authorities at both origin and destination what's in the shipment, where it came from, and how to classify it for duties and taxes. Get any of this wrong and the shipment sits at the border.
Required fields
HS / HTS code. The Harmonized System code classifies the goods. 6 digits is the international minimum; 10 digits for the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule. Look up your code at the US ITC HTS portal or your country's equivalent before shipping.
Country of origin (COO). Where the goods were manufactured, not where they were shipped from. Used for duty calculation and free-trade agreement eligibility.
INCOTERMS. The contractually agreed responsibility split for shipping, insurance, duties, and risk transfer. Common choices: FOB (Free On Board — seller's responsibility ends at port of loading), CIF (Cost, Insurance, Freight — seller covers to port of destination), DDP (Delivered Duty Paid — seller handles everything, including duties).
Gross and net weights. In kilograms, for the entire shipment. Used by carriers for billing and by customs for verification.
Port of loading and port of discharge. Match these to your Bill of Lading.
Common pitfalls
- Undervaluing goods to reduce duty. Common temptation, illegal in every country with a customs authority. Penalties dwarf the duty savings.
- Vague descriptions. "Goods" or "samples" fails customs review. Be specific: material, quantity, intended use, brand.
- Wrong INCOTERMS. Picking the wrong term transfers risk you didn't intend. Stick to the 2020 INCOTERMS set; don't invent variants.
How to use this template
- Open the commercial invoice template.
- Replace the product line with the actual product, HS code, COO, quantity, unit price.
- Fill the Notes field with INCOTERMS, weights, and port info.
- Confirm the destination country's import regulations are met.
- Download the PDF and include three copies with the shipment.