Commercial Invoice

What it's about
The Commercial Invoice is the basic statement of the seller to the buyer for goods shipped; it ideally represents a complete record of the business transaction between the exporter and the importer with regard to the goods sold. It is used as one of the primary documents in the collection process and is the main document used by customs officials for control, valuation and duty determination. It is also a document of content; it must fully identify the shipment as well as serve as the basis in preparing all other documents covering the shipment. All data contained in the invoice must conform to the particular entry requirements of the country to which the goods are being shipped.

FedEx Express^® shipments: required for most nondocument commodities. You must submit one signed original and two copies.
FedEx International Ground^® shipments: required for all shipments to Canada — one signed original and four copies. For multiple-piece shipments to a single recipient, only one complete set is needed.

For shipments to Canada, if you prefer to select your own broker rather than use our new brokerage-inclusive service, you will need to include your broker’s name and contact information on the Commercial Invoice. If a customs broker is not identified on the Commercial Invoice, we may assign FedEx Trade Networks as the customs broker to clear the shipment, and we will bill the recipient for the clearance entry fee, duties and taxes, and other applicable surcharges. If the recipient refuses to pay the charges, they will be charged to you.

What's required on it
If you want to print a Commercial Invoice and complete it by hand, you can download the form for FedEx Ground shipments from U.S. to Canada, or download the form for FedEx Express shipments. You may also use business or personal stationery for your Commercial Invoice, as long as you include all the following required information:

The shipper’s complete information: Contact name, company name, complete address and tax identification number. The recipient’s complete information: Contact name, company name, complete address and phone number. The buyer’s information (the person to whom the goods are sold by the seller) if different from the recipient: Contact name, company name, complete address and phone number. The shipment tracking number, air waybill number or bar-code label number. An accurate description of the contents in your shipment that includes the following details: What the product is What material the product is made of What the product’s Schedule B or HTS code is What the product’s intended use is What the product’s country of manufacture is What the product’s parts or serial numbers are (if applicable)
What the product’s quantity and unit of measure are What the product’s value is, per unit and in total Once you’ve checked that all the information on your Commercial Invoice is accurate and consistent with all other shipping documents, sign and date it.

Don’t forget, you can use the FedEx Document Preparation Center on FedEx^® Global Trade Manager to complete the Commercial Invoices for both your FedEx Express and FedEx Ground^® international shipments.