Commercial Invoice
Create commercial invoices for export shipments with consignee, port and incoterm details.
In short
A commercial invoice is the export invoice that accompanies goods shipped out of India. Customs, the buyer's bank and the freight forwarder rely on it for buyer and consignee details, ports of loading and discharge, Incoterms, country of origin, IEC and LUT numbers, and the value of goods. VyaparKit's commercial invoice generator produces this document as a PDF with all export fields in place.
Create a Commercial Invoice in under a minute
Sign in once with Google or email. Your business name, GSTIN, logo, bank details and saved customers fill in automatically. Download a PDF or share a link on WhatsApp. 5 invoices a month are free, forever.
- ✓Beautiful PDF with your logo and details
- ✓GST calculated automatically where applicable
- ✓Saved customers, vendors and items, so no retyping
- ✓Share link with WhatsApp button and UPI QR
- ✓Converts to related documents in one click
About the commercial invoice tool
When a garment exporter in Tiruppur or a spice trader in Kochi ships goods abroad, the commercial invoice is the primary document customs uses to assess the consignment and the document the overseas buyer's bank uses to release payment. It carries information a domestic invoice does not: the consignee if different from the buyer, ports, the Incoterm agreed (FOB, CIF, DAP and so on), the exporter's IEC and the LUT or bond number under which the export is made without payment of IGST.
Exporters often maintain a Word template and edit it for each shipment, which is how port names, Incoterms and LUT numbers from an old shipment end up on a new one. A mismatch between the commercial invoice, packing list and shipping bill delays clearance. VyaparKit's commercial invoice has dedicated fields for Consignee, Country of origin, Country of destination, Port of loading, Port of discharge, Incoterms, IEC code and LUT / bond number, numbered in its own CI series with a Payment due date.
From a finished commercial invoice you can create a packing list that carries the same consignee and shipping details, and a payment receipt when the remittance arrives. The invoice posts to the buyer's ledger so you can see what is outstanding. A free account includes 5 invoices a month.
How to prepare an export commercial invoice
- 1
Enter the buyer and consignee
In the Buyer box add the overseas buyer with full address. Fill Consignee (if different), for example when goods go to the buyer's warehouse or agent.
- 2
Fill the shipment fields
Enter Country of origin, Country of destination, Port of loading, Port of discharge and pick the Incoterms from EXW, FOB, CIF, CFR, DAP or DDP.
- 3
Add IEC and LUT
Type your IEC code and the LUT / bond number under which you export without paying IGST. Set the Payment due date agreed with the buyer.
- 4
Add goods
Click Add line for each product with its HSN code, quantity, unit and rate. Add the shipping address, marks and any declaration in Notes and Terms & conditions.
- 5
Create and share
Click Create commercial, then Download PDF for the forwarder and bank. Use Create from this commercial to make the packing list.
What customs and banks expect on a commercial invoice
- Exporter name, address, GSTIN and IEC (Importer Exporter Code) issued by DGFT.
- Invoice number and date, plus the buyer's order or contract reference.
- Buyer (bill to) and consignee (ship to) names and addresses, and notify party if any.
- Country of origin and country of final destination.
- Port of loading, port of discharge and mode of transport.
- Incoterm agreed (FOB, CIF, DAP and so on) and the currency of the transaction.
- Description of goods with 8-digit HSN (ITC-HS) code, quantity, unit price and total value.
- LUT or bond number for export without payment of IGST, or the IGST amount if exporting with payment of tax.
- Declaration that the particulars are true, with authorised signature.
Who uses the commercial invoice
Garment exporter in Tiruppur
Ship t-shirts to a European retailer under FOB Chennai terms, with the buyer and their logistics agent as consignee.
Spice and food exporter in Kochi
Document country of origin and HSN for every lot so customs and the importing country's food authority can verify it.
Handicraft seller shipping to the US
A Jodhpur furniture exporter issues commercial invoices under LUT and tracks payment due dates against each buyer.
Engineering goods exporter with a letter of credit
The invoice must match the LC wording exactly; dedicated port and Incoterm fields keep every shipment consistent.
Commercial Invoice: frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between a commercial invoice and a tax invoice for exports?
- The commercial invoice is the customs and trade document with consignee, ports, Incoterms and IEC. Under GST, an export is still a supply, so exporters also need the invoice to satisfy Rule 46 and mention 'Supply meant for export under LUT without payment of IGST' or 'on payment of IGST'. Many exporters use one document for both purposes; check with your CA.
- Is GST charged on an export invoice?
- Exports are zero-rated under Section 16 of the IGST Act. You can export without paying IGST by filing a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) and quoting its number on the invoice, or pay IGST and claim a refund later. Either way the foreign buyer is not charged Indian GST. VyaparKit's commercial invoice has a field for the LUT number.
- Which Incoterm should I choose?
- Incoterms define who pays for freight, insurance and risk at each stage. FOB means you deliver on board the vessel at the Indian port and the buyer pays freight; CIF means you pay freight and insurance to the destination port; EXW means the buyer collects from your factory; DAP and DDP put more on the seller. Pick the one written in your contract or LC.
- Do I need an IEC to export from India?
- Yes. An Importer Exporter Code from DGFT is mandatory for every commercial export or import, and it must appear on the shipping bill and invoice. It is a 10-character code, usually the same as your PAN, obtained online. Services exporters need it to receive benefits but not for every remittance.
- How many digits of HSN code go on an export invoice?
- Customs works with the 8-digit ITC-HS classification, so print the full 8 digits on the commercial invoice and packing list even though GST allows 4 or 6 digits domestically. The HSN/SAC lookup can help you find the chapter and heading; confirm the last digits against the ITC-HS schedule.
- Can I show foreign currency on the commercial invoice?
- VyaparKit calculates totals in rupees. State the transaction currency, agreed unit prices and the exchange rate in the Notes or Terms & conditions section so the bank and customs can reconcile. For GST purposes the value is converted to INR at the customs exchange rate on the date of the shipping bill.
Guides from the blog
IEC guide: how to get an Import Export Code and make your first export
What an Import Export Code is, who needs one, the ₹500 DGFT application, documents, the April to June update, AD code, LUT and first-shipment paperwork.
Read the guide →
Tax invoice vs bill of supply vs proforma invoice: which one to issue and when
Understand the difference between a tax invoice, bill of supply and proforma invoice under GST, plus receipt vouchers, delivery challans and export invoices.
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