How to Fill Out a Commercial Invoice for Customs (Field by Field)
Most customs delays are invoice problems: vague descriptions, missing origin, values that don't match the payment. Ten careful minutes here saves days at the port.
Descriptions that clear
"Electronics" gets flagged; "wireless routers, HS 8517.62, 200 units" clears. Describe what the item is, what it's made of, and what it's for — specific enough that an officer who's never seen your product understands it.
Values, currency, origin
Unit value × quantity per line, currency stated once and unambiguous, and country of origin (where goods were made — not shipped from). Undervaluing to cut duties is the fastest route to seizure and penalties.
Incoterms and consistency
The Incoterm tells customs what your declared value includes (freight? insurance?). Whatever you declare must match the payment trail and packing list — mismatches trigger inspections.
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