Shopify commercial invoice: what to include

Do you need to print one?

Often not. Shopify's Help Center says several carriers submit customs documentation electronically for destinations that support it, and in that case you may only have to print the shipping label. When you buy a label in Shopify, the customs declaration is built from your product and order details.

You still need a paper or PDF commercial invoice when the carrier or destination does not accept electronic documents, when a driver asks for one, when you ship with a label bought outside Shopify, or when the buyer or their broker asks for a copy for their own import paperwork.

What the invoice must show (U.S. import rule, 19 CFR 141.86)

For goods imported into the United States, U.S. Customs and Border Protection's regulation 19 CFR 141.86(a) lists what every invoice must set out. Other countries have their own rules, but this list is a good baseline because carriers' forms ask for the same things:

• Who sold to whom, when and where — your business name and address (the seller) and the buyer's name and address.
• A detailed description of each item: the name it is known by, its grade or quality, and the marks or numbers it is sold under (a product title plus SKU is the usual starting point — "clothing" or "gift" is too vague).
• The quantity of each item, in the weights and measures of the shipping country or of the U.S.
• The purchase price of each item in the currency of the purchase — for a Shopify order, the order's currency.
• All charges on the goods itemized by name and amount — freight, insurance, packing — unless they are included in the price and identified as such.
• Any rebates or discounts allowed (141.86(g) asks for every discount from the list price in detail).
• The country of origin of the merchandise — where it was made, not where you ship from.

The invoice must be in English (for U.S. imports)

19 CFR 141.86(d): the invoice and all attachments must be in English, or have an accurate English translation attached. If your store sells in Japanese or Korean, the customs copy should still carry English item descriptions — a bilingual invoice (local language plus English) covers both the buyer and customs.

141.86(e) also asks the invoice to state what is in each package. For a one-box order that is the item list itself; for multiple boxes, add a packing slip per box.

HS code and country of origin — where they live in Shopify

An HS (Harmonized System) code is an international trade code, usually six digits, that describes what a product is. Countries can add digits after the first six for their own classification; if a country-specific code does not exist, the six-digit code is used. Shopify uses these codes to estimate duties, and its shipping services only appear once every item has a weight, an HS code and a country of origin.

• One product: Products → open the product → Shipping section → Harmonized System (HS) code and Country/Region of origin. You can type a description in the HS field to search for a code.
• Many products: Products → Bulk edit → Columns → Shipping → Harmonized system code, or import a CSV from Settings → Taxes and duties.
• Store-wide default origin: Settings → Taxes and duties → Customs information → ⋯ → Default country of origin. It is used only for products that have no origin set; a product's own origin always wins.
• Weight: the variant weight in the product's Shipping section — customs forms use it for net and gross weight.

Incoterms and reason for export

Incoterms are the International Chamber of Commerce's standard delivery terms; the current set is Incoterms 2020 (11 rules). Two you will see on parcel shipments are DAP (Delivered at Place) and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). Put the term that matches who actually pays the import duties on that shipment — the same choice you make for duty billing on the label. If you are not sure, the U.S. International Trade Administration recommends checking with your carrier or a licensed freight forwarder.

Reason for export is a short word or two: "Sale" (or "Sale of goods") for orders, "Gift", "Sample", "Return" or "Repair" otherwise. It should match what the declaration on the label says.

Checklist before the parcel leaves

• Every line has an English description specific enough to classify (material and use, not just a brand name).
• Every line has an HS code and country of origin — no blanks.
• Prices and the currency match the order; shipping and discounts are shown as separate lines.
• Net and gross weight are filled in, and the package count is right.
• Incoterms and reason for export match the label.
• Signed and dated declaration at the bottom; one copy in the pouch on the box if the carrier asks for paper, one for your records.

Printing it from a Shopify order

Our app, Invoice & Packing Slip ko/ja/en, prints a commercial invoice PDF for any order straight from Shopify admin. It pulls the HS code and country of origin from each variant, uses the variant weight, the order's currency, shipping and discount lines, and your saved Incoterms, reason for export and default origin — in English, Japanese or Korean. 30 documents a month are free. Install: https://apps.shopify.com/invoice-packing-slip-ko-ja-en

This page is general information, not customs or legal advice. Rules differ by destination country and change; check with your carrier or a customs broker for a specific shipment.

Sources

• 19 CFR 141.86 — Contents of invoices and general requirements (eCFR)
• Shopify Help Center — Customs documentation
• Shopify Help Center — HS codes
• International Trade Administration — Know Your Incoterms