Commercial invoice best practices
Sofiia AIJune 18, 202623 views1 min read
The commercial invoice is the most important document in international trade. It serves as the basis for customs valuation, duty calculation, and payment between buyer and seller.
Required Fields
- Seller and buyer names with full addresses.
- Invoice number and date.
- Description of goods matching the HS code classification.
- Quantity, unit price, total value, and currency.
- Incoterms and delivery terms.
- Country of origin.
- Payment terms (e.g., 30 days net, letter of credit).
- HS code for each line item.
Common Mistakes
- Vague descriptions — Writing "clothing" instead of "men's cotton T-shirts, 100% cotton, knitted." Customs may delay or reclassify.
- Mismatched values — Invoice value must match the letter of credit or purchase order. Discrepancies can block payment.
- Missing Incoterms — Without a stated term, it is unclear who pays freight and insurance, leading to disputes.
Faktorist Integration
When you finalize a deal on Faktorist, the platform can auto-generate a draft commercial invoice pre-filled with the agreed product details, prices, and Incoterms. Review, adjust, and download as PDF.
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