Commercial Invoice

The seller’s account of the transaction: what was sold, to whom, in what quantity, on what terms, at what price.

It does more work than any other trade document. It is the demand for payment, the basis on which customs value is normally established, and the document customs compares against the goods and the declaration. Inconsistency between invoice, packing list and declaration is one of the commonest triggers for examination and delay.

Requirements vary by destination - some countries mandate particular statements, languages or certifications - so a form acceptable in one market may be rejected in another.