Consumer Invoice, Customs Invoice

Consumer Invoice

A Customer Invoice is a binding settlement of outstanding amounts. An invoice is normally created after confirmation that goods have been shipped, or after a service has been performed. An invoice can also result from corrections to claims or from credit memos for a customer.

It contains information such as invoice amount, customer details, supplier details, and terms of payment.

When used in foreign trade, a commercial invoice is a customs document. It is used as a customs declaration provided by the person or corporation that is exporting an item across international borders. Although there is no standard format, the document must include a few specific pieces of information such as the parties involved in the shipping transaction, the goods being transported, the country of manufacture, and the Harmonized System codes for those goods. A commercial invoice must often include a statement certifying that the invoice is true, and a signature.

A commercial invoice is used to calculate tariffs, international commercial terms (like the Cost in a CIF) and is commonly used for customs purposes.

Commercial invoices in European countries are not normally for payment. The definitive invoice for payment usually has only the words “invoice”. This invoice can also be used as a commercial invoice if additional information is disclosed.

Customs Invoice

A customs invoice is a document that travels with your parcel, and contains information about the items inside your parcel. The customs invoice is required for customs clearance, and your shipment can’t leave the country without one. If you are sending a parcel to a country outside of the EU, you must fill out a customs invoice which specifically details every item you are exporting.

Most of us have flown into another country and had our bags searched as we pass through security at both the source and destination airports. With parcels, a similar procedure is carried out.

A customs invoice is vital, as without it your parcel will not be exported by any courier. We cover everything you need to know about filling out your customs invoice below. Before your package is even collected by the courier, all the data you entered on your invoice will be sent to the courier’s pre-clearance team who send the data on to the country you are shipping the goods to. Once the destination country has accepted the data, the courier can load the shipments on the flights and begin to export them. This is called pre-clearance and is a necessary part of import procedure.

Once your parcel has been loaded into the plane (presuming it is being shipped via air), it will then make its way to the destination country you have chosen. Once it arrives to the port at the other side, all the cargo will be unloaded and will make its way to the customs authority for customs clearance.

Your courier has an agreement with the customs authority in the nation you are shipping to. This means that they are trusted to follow the customs procedures, and must adhere to the import rules and regulations. It is crucial that this kind of relationship exists between the courier and the customs authority as it speeds up what would otherwise be a lengthy process.

It is worth noting that documents are the only items that do not need a customs invoice when they are shipped to or from the EU. However, shipments weighing more than 2.5kg in weight will be cleared as goods and will require customs clearance, and a customs invoice to be created.

Customs Invoice

• Collection address
• Delivery address
• A Summarised Goods description
• Total Shipment Value
• Tax Status of the receiver
• The reason for export
• Country of manufacture
• Declaration statement
• Itemised goods description
• Itemised value for each item in the parcel