Commercial Invoice (CI) and Packing List (PL)

To provide Customs Officials with spotless documentation for all orders on a container is a MUST and non-negotiable. It is in everybody’s best interest to present Customs with a detailed and thorough Commercial Invoice and Packing List.

What is the difference between a Commercial Invoice and Packing List?

Commercial Invoices and Packing Lists are a requirement to import your goods to any destination.

The main difference is that a Packing List shows carton configurations, but no prices.

Commercial Invoices show prices and quantities.

Both are industry standard documents (not just a EnZone requirement). If we don't receive a Commercial Invoice and Packing List for each SRN, Customs will not accept and process your order for import.

How many sets of documents do I need if I have multiple SRNs?

Each shipment requires its own set of documents. Please request and upload a Commercial Invoice and Packing List for each SRN.

For example, if you have 3 SRNs going to 3 different destinations, we need 3 separate Commercial Invoices and 3 Packing Lists, regardless if the supplier is the same for all 3 orders.

Each SRN has to have a separate Commercial Invoice and Packing List that only reflects the stock that you are actually sending to that country.

Please see the below example:

Let’s say you are sending 20 cartons to the UK, 20 cartons to the US and 20 cartons to Canada. You need to request 3 SRNs:

• 1 for your UK order;

• 1 for your US order;

• 1 for your Canada order.

This means you need to ask your supplier for 3 different sets of documents - 1 Commercial Invoice and 1 Packing List for each SRN!

Do not add your UK and CA stock to the Invoice for your US order and vice versa. Customs uses the invoice total to calculate your duties and taxes.

If you were to combine two orders on one Invoice you end up paying double on taxes and duties in each country.

Where and when do I get a Commercial Invoice and Packing List for my SRN?

It is each member’s responsibility to organize these documents with their supplier.

Please make sure your supplier provides you with both documents as soon as possible. Ideally they should send you the Commercial Invoice and Packing List for your SRN once production is finished and your goods are on the way to the port.

How do I provide EnZone with both documents?

Please upload your Commercial Invoice and Packing List in a PDF format to your SRN in the EcoSystem.

What details need to be on my Commercial Invoice and Packing List?

Each supplier’s Commercial Invoice and Packing List will look slightly different. However, there are a few details that are MUST HAVES and need to be stated on every single Commercial Invoice and Packing List. 

1. Commercial Invoice:

   1. Language - the document must be in English language;

   2. Title - please make sure your Invoice Title states Commercial Invoice! We cannot accept documents titled anything else i.e. Proforma Invoice, Product Invoice, Order Details, Purchase Invoice etc.

   3. Consignee Details - please ensure your supplier includes the correct a) Sold to / Buyer / Consignee Address and b) Delivery to Address on the top of the Invoice. This is very important for customs. You can find all EnZone Destination Warehouse Addresses here.

   4. Terms - the document must show that the shipping terms are FOB. Your supplier can state “INCOTERMS FOB” anywhere on the document.

   5. Description - each Invoice needs to include a detailed description of the goods. This description must be in plain English to allow easy identification and classification of the goods by the Customs Officials.

   6. HS Code/Commodity Code - the HS Code for your product must be stated on the Commercial Invoice. If you have a bonus product:

      1. Customs only wants to have a single HS code per line on the Invoice. You want to make sure your bonus item is either a part of the main product in a way that the HS code used for the main product would also work for the bonus.

      2. Or, if the product is so different you will separate it on the commercial invoice as two line items.

2. Packing List:

Templates

Here is a link to an example of a Commercial Invoice and a Packing list:

CI and PL Template

This example is available through Google sheets. You can make a copy of it on your own Google drive and edit it as needed. Just click on the tabs at the bottom of the sheet to switch between the Commercial Invoice and Packing List.