What is an invoice and packing list?

The success of any international business that buys and sells goods depends heavily on accurately completing accompanying documents. Proper documentation is vital for carriers with large cargo turnovers that travel long distances and pass through customs points. Even minor errors in the seller's details or inaccuracies in numbers, dates, and names can cause cargo transportation delays and significant financial losses.

An invoice is a document with all information about the exported goods, terms of delivery, and information about the sender and recipient. An invoice is one of the most important purchase and customs clearance documents.

The following information should be listed in every invoice:

• date of shipment;
• the exporter's address and full name;
• the recipient's address and name. If the recipient and the importer are different persons, then the importer's name must also be indicated;
• the product origin (the country of manufacturing);
• the country from which the goods are exported;
• the country to which the goods are exported;
• contract number;
• each product name and price;
• the date of filling out the document;
• signature of the seller and carrier;
• payment details (bank details, account number, payment terms, full legal name, address and SWIFT code of the banking institution, coordination's account number;
• recipient's details,
• a stamp.

If there is an error in the invoice, it may cause delays in customs clearance.

A packing list is a document that accompanies a shipment and lists the contents of each box and pallet separately.

There is no standard format for a packing list, and each company creates its own form. A packing list is used in addition to an invoice, mainly when multiple goods are shipped. While the content of both documents is almost identical, the difference is that a packing list does not include the cost of the products being shipped.

Dear friends, we hope you are careful when filling out important documents. We wish you all the best and want you to know that help is always available. We are here to assist you with any document, including customs service.