Commercial invoice
A commercial invoice is the seller's invoice for goods crossing a border, listing what they are, their value, quantity, origin, buyer and seller. Customs authorities on both sides use it to classify the goods and assess duties and taxes.
The commercial invoice is the core document of any cross-border entry. U.S. regulations (19 CFR 141.86) set what it must show, including a full description of the goods, quantities, the price paid, the currency, the country of origin, and the parties. Canada accepts a commercial invoice with the equivalent information or its own Canada Customs Invoice. In Mexico, the invoice data feeds the pedimento and, for exports, the CFDI.
The invoice value is the starting point for customs value, which drives duties and taxes, so an invoice that understates value or describes goods vaguely is a compliance problem, not only a delay.
What this means when you move freight
Brokers rarely create the invoice, but a missing or wrong one is one of the most common reasons a truck waits at the border. Before dispatch, confirm the shipper has sent the invoice to both customs brokers and that the description, piece count and weight match the bill of lading. A mismatch between the invoice and what is on the trailer is what triggers holds and inspections.
Put the vocabulary to work
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