Key takeaways
Fill, sign, and submit Lynden Commercial Invoice from any browser — or have AI generate a custom version in seconds. No installs, no printing, no back-and-forth.
- A Commercial Invoice is a document used to declare the value and details of goods for customs clearance and duty assessment.
- Exporters or shippers are responsible for preparing the invoice, while importers must ensure it is presented to customs officials.
- The document must include detailed merchandise descriptions, quantities, purchase prices, itemized charges, and the country of origin.
- The seller, shipper, or an authorized agent must sign the invoice to verify the accuracy of the provided trade data.
- This documentation is typically filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection within 10 working days after the time of entry.
- Inaccurate information or failure to submit the invoice may result in shipment delays, merchandise seizure, or monetary penalties.
What is Lynden Commercial Invoice?
Commercial Invoice is a commercial document used by importers and exporters to declare the value and specific details of goods for customs clearance, duty assessment, and compliance with trade regulations. It serves as an international trade invoice, providing essential data to ensure that merchandise moving across borders meets all legal requirements. The document identifies the seller and purchaser, specifies the time and place of purchase, and designates the port of entry to which the merchandise is destined for processing.
This document captures a detailed description of the merchandise, including the names of items, their grade or quality, and any marks or symbols used by the manufacturer. It also records quantities in weights and measures, the purchase price in the currency used for the transaction, and itemized charges such as freight, insurance, and packing costs. Additionally, it lists the country of origin and any rebates or bounties accruing upon exportation, ensuring that authorities have a complete record of the transaction's value.
Issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).
Who needs the Lynden Commercial Invoice — and who doesn't
Not everyone files Lynden Commercial Invoice. The checklist below tells you whether it applies to your situation — and points you to the right alternative if it doesn't.
You need this Lynden Commercial Invoice if…
- you are importing commercial merchandise into the United States and must provide documentation to U.S. Customs and Border Protection
- you are an exporter or shipper responsible for preparing the necessary paperwork for international shipments
- you need to declare the value, quantity, and origin of goods to facilitate customs clearance and duty assessment
You do not need this Lynden Commercial Invoice if…
- the merchandise is valued at $2,500 or less and the production of the document is considered impracticable
- the shipment consists of bona fide gifts from a foreign country to an individual in the United States with a value of $100 or less
- you are transporting specific household effects, personal effects, tools of trade, or samples as defined by federal regulations
Why you need the Lynden Commercial Invoice
Why people fill out Lynden Commercial Invoice, and what tends to go wrong when they don't.
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Facilitate Customs Clearance Providing a detailed description of merchandise and weights ensures U.S. Customs and Border Protection can process shipments, preventing delays for importers of commercial merchandise at the designated port of entry.
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Accurate Duty Assessment Recording the purchase price and itemized charges, such as insurance and freight, allows for the calculation of duties and taxes as required for the declaration of imported goods to customs.
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Ensure Legal Compliance Accurately reporting the country of origin and parties involved helps avoid monetary penalties, merchandise seizures, or delays in customs clearance under trade regulations for fraud, gross negligence, or negligence.
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Manage Documents Digitally You can fill, complete, and sign the Commercial Invoice using pdfFiller. This tool also allows you to share your document with others by link, email, or fax once finished.
Lynden Commercial Invoice vs. similar documents
Lynden Commercial Invoice gets mixed up with similar documents more than most. Here's how to tell them apart, and what filing the wrong one actually costs.
| Comparison criteria | Commercial Invoice | Pro Forma Invoice | CBP Form 7501, Entry Summary |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purpose | Declare value and details for customs clearance. | Preliminary invoice for estimated value and details. | Official declaration for duty and tax assessment. |
| When to use | Importing commercial merchandise into the U.S. | Commercial invoice unavailable at entry time. | Declaring imported goods to CBP. |
| Signatures required | Seller, shipper, or authorized agent. | Not specified. | Not specified. |
| Filing | Within 10 working days after entry. | Used when commercial invoice is unavailable. | Official declaration of imported goods. |
| Governing reference | 19 U.S.C. § 1481 | 19 CFR § 141.81 | 19 CFR § 141.61 |
What each section of Lynden Commercial Invoice means
Every section explained — what it's asking, the records you'll need on hand, and the mistakes that most often cause a rejection or follow-up request.
| Destination Port of Entry | Identify the specific port of entry where the merchandise is destined to arrive for customs processing in the United States. |
|---|---|
| Transaction Parties and Details | Provide the time and place of purchase along with the names of the seller, purchaser, and the actual consignee if different from the purchaser. |
| Detailed Merchandise Description | Enter the name, grade, and quality of each item, including trade marks, symbols, and the marks and numbers found on the shipping packages. |
| Item Weights and Measures | Specify the exact quantities for every item listed on the invoice using the appropriate weights and measures for the merchandise. |
| Unit Purchase Price | Record the purchase price for each item in the shipment, ensuring the value is stated in the currency used for the purchase. |
| Itemized Shipping Charges | List all charges including freight, insurance, and packing costs, plus any expenses incurred bringing goods from the export port to the delivery place. |
| Export Rebates and Bounties | Disclose any rebate, drawback, or bounty that accrues upon the exportation of the merchandise listed on the commercial invoice. |
| Merchandise Country of Origin | Declare the specific country of origin where the merchandise was produced, manufactured, or grown prior to exportation. |
| Production Goods and Services | Report any goods or services provided for production, such as tools, dies, or engineering work, that were not included in the invoice price. |
| Authorized Signature | The invoice must be signed by the seller, the shipper, or an authorized agent representing the seller or shipper. |
How to fill out Lynden Commercial Invoice using pdfFiller
A walkthrough from the first field to the signature line. With your records in front of you, most people finish in under ten minutes.
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Open the Document Click Get Form to open the Commercial Invoice in the pdfFiller editor to begin preparing your shipper invoice form for international trade and customs clearance.
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Identify Port and Parties Click the designated text fields to type the destined port of entry, then provide contact information for the seller, purchaser, and actual consignee involved in the shipment.
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Detail the Merchandise Use the editor to enter a detailed description of each item, including trade names, grades, quality marks, and the specific numbers or symbols printed on the shipping packages.
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Specify Quantities and Price Fill in the weights and measures for every item listed on the export invoice pdf, and input the purchase price for each unit in the transaction's currency.
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Itemize Charges and Origin List all charges like freight, insurance, and packing costs, then select or type the country of origin and any rebates or bounties accruing upon the merchandise exportation.
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Note Additional Goods Document any goods or services furnished for production, such as tools or engineering work, that were not included in the original invoice price to ensure full compliance.
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Apply Your Signature Use the Sign tool to add a legally binding e-signature as the shipper or authorized agent, confirming the accuracy of the data before completing the document.
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Secure and Share Once finished, save your document in pdfFiller’s secure encrypted storage and send or share the completed invoice by link, email, or fax directly from the platform.
Required disclosures & attachments
The fields Lynden Commercial Invoice won't be accepted without — and the disclosures filers most often miss.
Deadlines, key dates & penalties for Lynden Commercial Invoice
When Lynden Commercial Invoice is due, what late filing actually costs, and how to request more time if you need it.
| Filing Deadline | The commercial invoice, as part of the entry summary documentation, must typically be filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) within 10 working days after the time of entry. |
|---|---|
| Penalties for Non-Compliance | Failure to provide a commercial invoice or providing false or inaccurate information can result in delays in customs clearance, seizure of merchandise, or monetary penalties under 19 U.S.C. § 1592 for fraud, gross negligence, or negligence. |
Related content
The forms, guides, and worksheets most filers reach for alongside Lynden Commercial Invoice.
Key terms used in Lynden Commercial Invoice
A one-sentence glossary of the Lynden Commercial Invoice terms and concepts you'll see throughout this guide.
- Port of Entry
- The specific location where the merchandise is destined to enter the United States.
- Consignee
- The party who is the actual recipient of the goods, if they are someone other than the purchaser.
- Itemized Charges
- A list of costs for freight, insurance, commissions, and packing not already included in the purchase price.
- Country of Origin
- The specific country where the merchandise originated.
- Assists
- Goods or services, such as dies or engineering work, provided for production but not included in the invoice price.
- Rebate
- Any refund or bounty that accrues upon the exportation of the merchandise.
Frequently asked questions about Lynden Commercial Invoice
Quick answers to the questions we hear most often about completing the Lynden Commercial Invoice.
A Commercial Invoice is a document used to declare the value and details of goods being imported or exported for customs clearance and duty assessment. It provides customs officials with essential information, such as merchandise descriptions and quantities, to verify compliance with trade laws and calculate applicable duties and taxes.
Exporters or shippers are responsible for preparing the Commercial Invoice, which must be signed by the seller, shipper, or an authorized agent. Importers must then ensure this document is presented to U.S. Customs and Border Protection to facilitate the legal entry of commercial merchandise into the United States.
The Commercial Invoice must typically be filed with U.S. Customs and Border Protection within 10 working days after the time of entry. It is submitted as part of the entry summary documentation to ensure the shipment is processed through customs in accordance with federal trade regulations.
The invoice must include a detailed description of the merchandise, its country of origin, quantities in weights or measures, and the purchase price. It also requires itemized charges such as freight and insurance, as well as information on any rebates, drawbacks, or goods and services furnished for production.
Exemptions include shipments valued at $2,500 or less where producing an invoice is impracticable and bona fide gifts not exceeding $100 in value. Certain personal effects, household goods, tools of trade, and samples may also be exempt from these requirements as specified under federal customs regulations.
Providing false or inaccurate information can result in delays in customs clearance, seizure of the merchandise, or significant monetary penalties for negligence or fraud. These penalties are enforced under federal law to ensure that all imported goods are correctly valued and that all applicable duties are paid.
You can use pdfFiller to fill out, edit, and add a legally binding e-signature to a Commercial Invoice directly in your web browser. The platform also allows you to securely store your documents in encrypted storage and share them via link or email to streamline your international shipping documentation.
