WHAT SHOULD BE THE CONTENTS OF COMMERCIAL INVOICE FOR ARTICLES IMPORTED INTO THE PHILIPPINES?

Invoice in General

Invoices are very common piece of a document that we may encounter daily, from groceries/shopping centers, seemingly almost every simple product up to the most complicated business climate transactions evidencing any product and/or services and always accompanied with receipts, whether in a form of hard or soft copies.

Invoices for Import and Export Transactions

In a usual state of a businessmen's mind, planning or having an endeavor of Import and Export activities, probably presumed that those usual invoices we frequently in hand are just perfectly the same as a requirement in terms of international transaction/s, nor don't have an idea that there's a law specifically stating the complete list of information/s of commercial invoice for all importations in the Philippines.

Invoices as the Law Provides

As provided by the Tariff and Customs Code of the Philippines, as amended, Commercial Invoice of articles imported in the Philippines should contain the following:
  1. The place where, the date when, and the person by whom and the person to whom the articles sold or agreed to be sold, or if to be imported otherwise that in pursuance of a purchase, the place from which shipped , the date when the person to whom and the person by whom they are shipped.
  2. The port of entry to which the articles are destined.
  3. A detailed description of the articles according to the terms of the heading of subheadings, if specifically mentioned in this code, otherwise the description must be in a sufficient detail to enable the articles to be identified both for tariff classification and statistical purposes, indicating their correct commodity description, in customary terms or commercial designation, including the grade or quality, numbers, marks or symbols under which they are sold by the seller or manufacturer, together with the marks and number of the packages in which the articles are packed.
  4. The quantities in the weights and measures of the country or place from which the articles are shipped, and in the weights and measures used in this code.
  5. The purchase price of each article in the currency of the purchase and in the unit of the quantity which the articles were bought and sold in the place of country of exportation, if the articles are shipped in pursuance of a purchase or an agreement to  purchase.
  6. If the articles are shipped otherwise than in pursuance of the purchase or an agreement to purchase, the value of each article in the unit of quantity in which the articles are usually bought and sold, and in the currency in which the transactions are usually made, or, in the absence of such value, the price in such currency which the manufacturer, seller, shipper or owner would have received, or was welling to received, for such articles if sold in the ordinary course of trade and the usual wholesale quantities in the country of exportation.
  7. All charges upon the articles itemized by name and amount when known to the seller or shipper; or all charges by name (e.g. commission, insurance, freight, cases, containers, coverings and cost of packing) included in invoice prices when the amount for such charges are unknown to the seller or shipper.
  8. All discounts, rebates, drawbacks and bounties separately itemized allowed upon the exportation of the articles, all internal and excise taxes applicable to the home market.
  9. The current transaction value or price of which same, like or similar articles is offered or for sale for exportation to the Philippines, on the date is invoice is prepared or the date of exportation.
Any other facts deemed necessary to a proper examination, appraisement and classification of the articles which the commissioner of Customs may require.

As you read this write-up, consider the time (year below) since if you just browse this 10 years later, then there maybe some amendment/s on the above given requirements.

Note: To double check your concern, it is highly recommended to continue browsing to make sure you're using the amended law or you may reach us thru sending your Questions "here" and let us know how we can help you with.

[Manila, Philippines | Updated: November 2013]