What is a commercial invoice and how do I fill it in?

A commercial invoice is a contract of sale or a transaction of sorts between the shipper and the receiver. It provides key information for customs to clear your goods and determine any government charges such as duties and taxes. 

Every international shipment, except most document shipments, must have a commercial invoice, preferably printed on paper with a company letterhead. Alternatively, you can use Electronic Trade Documents (ETD) to upload or create your commercial invoice electronically, so you don’t need to print it off (please note this feature is country permitting).

The information on the invoice must be in English and include company details such as the address, contact details and tax number. The shipper will also need to include the same details about the receiver. 

Other details to include:

• Reason for export 
• Shipping date and airway bill/order number
• Incoterms®
• Goods description
• Quantity of goods per item
• HS code
• Declared value of goods per item
• Insurance costs 
• Country of origin
• Weight

Finally, you must sign it and include your position within the company.

See here for more information and a downloadable commercial invoice template.