The customs invoice as you use it for international shipments is a document that follows the format of a commercial invoice. The customs invoice contain more details, like:
- Quantities or weights
- HS Codes
- Product costs
- Packaging and shipping costs
- Country of origin of the goods
In particular it is important to separate the costs for the goods sent from the packaging and shipping costs. This is because import duties are being calculated on the value of the goods only. It may also be useful to indicate the HS codes of the goods. This helps custom authorities to classify them easily and thus determine the import duties percentage.
A customs invoice is transported with a parcel and comprises information concerning the items inside the parcel. The customs invoice is needed for customs clearance, and the shipment can’t leave any country without one.
Example of a commercial invoice/customs invoice:
