Printable Version Importers risk clearing delays if import documentation rules are not followed strictly

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) regulations contain specific provisions regarding the content of commercial invoices for all commodities entering the US. In the event that any required information is missing or incomplete, shipment release may be delayed due to our inability to determine the proper tariff classification and process the entry correctly.

In general, all invoices for US imports must contain the following information:

• The name and address of the seller
• The name and address of the purchaser
  • A detailed description of all articles included in the shipment, including:
    (a)  the name (description) by which each article is known
    (b)  its grade or quality
    (c)  the marks, numbers or symbols under which it is sold or packaged
• The quantities concerned (in appropriate weights or measures)
• The purchase price of each item in the currency of purchase
• All shipment charges
• All discounts
• The country of origin

All invoices must be in English, or translated into English, and must be accompanied by a packing list showing the contents of each package.

Certain commodities, including bearings, footwear, gloves, hats, wearing apparel, machine parts and machine tools, printed matter, textile fibre products, watches and watch movements, also require additional product specification information. 

US importers and their suppliers should therefore carefully review all documentation for US-destined shipments to ensure they contain complete and accurate information in order to prevent clearance delays.

For complete details concerning general invoice requirements and the particular requirements for specific commodities contained in the CBP regulations 19 CFR 141.86-89, click on http://www.gpoaccess.gov/cfr/index.html 

For further information on Importing to the US, Ch. 10-12, click on http://www.cbp.gov/xp/cgov/trade/basic_trade/