Verify your commercial invoice meets all U.S. Customs and Border Protection requirements before your shipment ships. Catch errors, missing fields, and compliance issues in seconds.
Check My Invoice Free →U.S. Customs and Border Protection requires specific information on every commercial invoice for imported goods. Missing or incorrect information is one of the leading causes of shipment holds, examinations, and delays. Under 19 CFR Part 141, the commercial invoice must contain the following information:
Full legal name and address of the seller/shipper. Must match the party actually selling the goods.
Full legal name and U.S. address of the buyer/consignee who will take possession of the goods.
If goods are shipped to a notify party, their name and address must appear on the invoice.
Required for certain entry types. Missing or incorrect IRS numbers can cause entry rejection.
Date the invoice was issued. CBP flags invoices dated more than 90 days before arrival.
Unique invoice reference number. Must match the invoice number on the entry documents.
Where goods were loaded and where they will be unloaded. Required for routing verification.
The agreed delivery terms (e.g. FOB, CIF, DAP). Affects customs value calculation and duty amounts.
Specific description of each item — not generic terms like "parts" or "goods". Must be sufficient for CBP to identify and classify the merchandise.
Where each item was manufactured or substantially transformed. Critical for duty rate and Section 301 determination.
Number of units and the unit of measure (pieces, kilograms, meters, etc.) for each line item.
Price per unit and total value for each line item in the invoice currency. Must reflect the actual transaction value.
Full 10-digit HTSUS code for each line item. Not legally required on the invoice but strongly recommended for accurate entry filing.
The currency of the transaction. CBP converts foreign currency values using the weekly published exchange rate.
Extended value (quantity × unit price) for each line item. CBP verifies arithmetic on all invoices.
If included in the price, freight and insurance must be shown separately so CBP can determine the dutiable value.
Grand total of all line items plus any additional charges. Must reconcile with the sum of line items.
Any discounts, rebates, or commissions must be disclosed — they may affect the dutiable value determination.
Descriptions like "machine parts," "electronic components," or "plastic goods" give CBP officers no basis for classification. They almost always trigger a request for more information or a physical examination.
Using 6-digit HS codes instead of full 10-digit HTSUS codes, or omitting HTS codes entirely. This forces CBP to classify the goods themselves — a process that often results in delays and may not favor the importer.
Country of origin determines the applicable duty rate, whether Section 301 tariffs apply, and whether any trade restrictions or sanctions apply. Missing country of origin information is a critical compliance failure.
Invoice values that appear below market value raise immediate red flags with CBP. This includes "assist" arrangements where the buyer provides tools or materials to the manufacturer — these must be added to the customs value.
Incoterms determine the dutiable customs value. Missing or incorrect incoterms can lead to incorrect duty calculations and CBP queries about what is included in the stated price.
Invoices dated in the future (common with pre-dated documents) or more than 90 days old raise authenticity concerns with CBP and may require explanation or a new invoice.
CBP verifies the math on every invoice. Line items that don't add up to the stated total, or unit prices that don't multiply correctly to the extended value, will trigger a query or examination.
Incomplete exporter or importer addresses, missing postal codes, or party names that don't match the entry documents are common triggers for CBP queries and can delay release of goods.
Upload your Commercial Invoice as PDF, PNG, or JPG. Our system reads every field and line item automatically.
Every CBP requirement is verified — party information, descriptions, values, HTS codes, incoterms, dates, and more.
Receive a prioritized list of issues with specific fix instructions — Critical, Warning, and Info — plus a compliance score.
Upload your commercial invoice and get an instant CBP compliance report — missing fields, incorrect values, HTS issues, and everything CBP will look for when your shipment arrives.
Check My Invoice Free →More Free Import Compliance Tools: After checking your invoice, use our free HTS checker to validate classifications, our import duty calculator to estimate duties, or our customs risk detection guide to understand common CBP holds.