3/28/22, 9:00 AM Commercial Invoice Sample | export.

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Basic Guide to Exporting

Commercial Invoice Sample

An example of a Commercial Invoice and when it should be used. This article is part of the U.S.

Commercial Service's "A Basic Guide to Exporting".

Last Published: 3/14/2017

A bill for the goods from the seller to the buyer. Many governments use commercial
invoices to determine the true value of goods when assessing customs duties.
Governments that use the commercial invoice to control imports will often specify the
invoice’s form, content, and number of copies; language to be used; and other
characteristics.  Below is a sample invoice:

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COMMERCIAL INVOICE-INSTRUCTIONS

1 SELLER - Name and address of principal party responsible for effecting export from
the Unites States.  The Exporter as named on the exporter license (if applicable.

2. SOLD TO - The name and address of the person/company to whom the goods are
shipped to for the designated end use, or to the party so designated on the export
license.

3. SHIP TO - If different than Sold To)The intermediate consignee – that is the name and
address of the party who effects delivery of the merchandise to the ultimate consignee,
or the party so named on the export license of the forwarding agent. The name and 
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address of the duly authorized forwarder acting as agent for the exporter.

4. INVOICE NUMBER – Invoice number assigned by the exporter.

5. CUSTOMER REFERENCE NUMBER – Oversees customer’s reference number.

6. TERMS OF SALE – Delivery and terms of sale agreement.

7. TERMS OF PAYMENT – Terms, conditions, and currency of settlement as agreed

upon by the vendor and purchaser per the pro forma invoice, customer purchase order
and/or the letter of credit.

8. CURRENCY OF SETTLEMENT – Currency agreed upon between seller and buyer as

payment.

9.  MODE OF SHIPMENT – Indicate air, ocean, and surface.

10. QUANTITY – Record total number of units per description line. 

11. DESCRIPTION – Provide full description of items shipped, the type of container,
(carton, box, etc.) the gross weight per container, and the quantity and unit of measure of
the merchandise.

12. UNIT OF MEASURE – Record total net weight and total gross weight in kilograms (1
kilogram = 2.2 pounds) per description line.

13. UNIT PRICE - Record the unit price of the merchandise per unit of measure.

14. TOTAL PRICE – Calculate the extended value of the line. 

 
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15. TOTAL COMMERCIAL VALUE – Total value of the invoice.  

16. PACKAGE MARKS – Record in this field and on each package number (for example,
“1 of 7,””3 of 7”) shippers company name, country of origin (e.g., Made in USA),
destination port of entry, package weight in kilograms, package size (length x width x
height) and shipper’s control number (optional).

17. MISCELLANEOUS CHARGES – Charges (packing, insurance, etc. Record any

miscellaneous charges that are to be paid by customer, such as export transportation,
insurance, export packaging inland freight to peer, etc.).

18. CERTIFICATIONS – Any certifications or declarations required of the shipper

regarding any information recorded on the commercial invoice.  

COMMERCIAL INVOICE (BASIC_GUIDE_TO_EXPORTING__KAVTRADE_TOPICSCOMMERCIAL+INVOICE)

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