Shipping Tools & Developer Guide

How to Fill Out Your Commercial Invoice

When you send a parcel overseas, customs needs to know what's inside, what it's worth and where it was made. That information goes on your commercial invoice (also called a customs invoice or customs clearance form), and Interparcel builds it for you as you complete your order in the Shipping Manager.

This guide walks you through every field so your parcel clears customs smoothly and reaches your customer without hold-ups.

If you're sending a one-off parcel through our shipping calculator instead, head to our guide on how to send a parcel.

Good to know: Interparcel gives you the fields to enter this information and shows the ones your shipment could need, based on where you're sending, whether it's a business or consumer order, and the value of the goods. That takes care of the standard customs fields, but it doesn't cover everything. Some products need extra documentation to enter a country, like licences, certificates or permits, and that part is on you. Always check what your specific item and destination require, and attach any paperwork it needs before you ship. It's also worth checking our list of prohibited and restricted items before you send with us, so nothing gets held up.

On this page

Before You Start

It's worth checking the import and export requirements for your item and destination before you book, as some products and countries need extra paperwork.

To save time on every order, you can store recurring details like Country of Manufacture, Reason for Export and your ID numbers in your International Settings, and they'll fill in automatically.

Step 1: Complete the Details Section

Open an order to view the shipment details, then fill in the order-level information.

Populated Inventory
  • Description of Goods (required): A plain description of everything inside the parcel. Be specific.
  • Value of Goods (required): The total value of all items in the shipment. Customs uses this to work out duties and taxes.
  • Order Reference (optional): Your own reference for the order.

Step 2: Add Your Product Details

Click each product to open its details, then complete the fields below for every item you're sending.

Populated Inventory Populated Inventory
  • Number of parcels (required)
  • Quantity (required)
  • Description (required): Be as specific as you can, for example "Men's cotton t-shirt" rather than "clothing". A clear description helps confirm the right HS Code.
  • SKU (optional)
  • Price (required)
  • Country of Manufacture (required): Where the item was made, not where it's shipping from. You can automate this in your International Settings.
  • HS Code (required): The code that classifies your product for customs. Learn how to find the right HS Code here.

Sending to the US? US customs requires the full 10-digit HS Code, and Interparcel provides it automatically on US orders, so it's handled for you.

Click Save Changes when you're done.

Tip: You can export HS Codes from your store straight into your Interparcel Inventory, so they're picked up automatically whenever you ship that product.

Step 3: Choose Your Reason for Export

Select the reason that genuinely matches your shipment, such as sale, gift, sample, return or documents. You can set a default in your International Settings.

Populated Inventory

Sending to the US? The US has removed its low-value (de minimis) duty exemption, so all commercial shipments are now assessed for duty regardless of value, and declarations are checked closely. If you're selling to a US customer, declare the shipment as a sale, not a gift. Only genuine gifts qualify as gifts, and marking a sale as a gift to avoid charges can lead to delays, penalties or the parcel being returned.

Step 4: Add Any ID or Tax Numbers

Depending on where you're sending, Interparcel may ask for one or more identification numbers, such as an EORI, IOSS, VOEC, ABN or IRD number. These appear automatically when your shipment needs them, based on whether it's a B2C order (to a consumer) or a B2B order (to a business), and whether the value sits above or below the destination's threshold.

Populated Inventory

Each number does a specific job. Interparcel won't stop you booking if one is missing, so the responsibility sits with you to add the right one, because customs in the destination country can hold, delay or return the parcel, or bill your customer, when a required number isn't there. We cover each one, when it's needed and what happens if you leave it out, in our companion guide:

→ International Shipping Numbers Explained

Tip: Save your numbers once in your International Settings and they'll fill in automatically on future orders.

Note: Because these fields don't block your booking, it's worth double-checking them before you ship. Which number you're asked for depends on your destination and whether you're selling to a consumer or a business, which we explain just below.

Step 5: Choose Who Pays the Duties and Taxes

When you select your courier service, you decide who covers the duties and taxes: your customer on delivery (DDU), or you in advance (DDP). For the full breakdown of how these work, see our guide on DDP vs DDU shipping.

The options you'll see depend on the destination.

Sending to the EU:

  • DDU: Your customer pays any duties and taxes on delivery.
  • DDP: You prepay the duties and taxes so your customer pays nothing on arrival.
  • Sold via marketplace: Choose this when the sale went through a marketplace that collects and remits the VAT for you. The marketplace's IOSS is applied automatically, so you don't enter an IOSS number of your own.
  • I have my own IOSS: Choose this when you're IOSS-registered and shipping under your own IOSS number.

Sending anywhere else:

  • DDU: Your customer pays any duties and taxes on delivery.
  • DDP Guaranteed: Runs through Zonos, which guarantees the landed cost, so there are no surprise charges later. It costs a little more, and it's the safer choice when you want certainty.
  • DDP: You prepay the duties you already know apply. This suits experienced international sellers who know their costs won't change and that there won't be any extra landed costs.

Which services offer DDP: FedEx, UPS and Asendia. For some Asendia destinations, DDP is the only option, and you'll know because the DDU choice simply won't appear when you select that country.

What affects the charges: Duties and taxes are calculated from your HS Code, Shipment Value, Country of Manufacture, Reason for Export and the destination country's rules. Because these vary, the exact amount can differ from one parcel to the next.

Sending to the US via Australia Post? The clearance route makes a difference here. A DDP carrier service (FedEx, UPS or Asendia) handles the US customs entry for you, and you prepay the duties through the service. Australia Post works differently: US duties have to be prepaid before the parcel is released, so you'll need an active Zonos account set up. From 24 July 2026, US-bound parcels also need a 10-digit HS Code, which Interparcel provides automatically for US orders, so that side is taken care of.

B2C vs B2B: What You'll Need

The number Interparcel asks you for changes depending on whether you're selling to a consumer or a business, because customs treats the two differently.

B2C (business to consumer): You're selling to an individual. The number you're asked for is usually a consumer VAT or GST scheme number for the destination, such as an IOSS number for the EU (on orders up to €150) or a VOEC number for Norway (on goods up to NOK 3,000).

B2B (business to business): You're selling to another business. Here customs needs to identify the importing business, so you'll typically be asked for the receiving company's EORI number for the EU or UK, rather than a consumer scheme number.

That's why you might see one number field on one order and a different one on the next. Our International Shipping Numbers Explained guide breaks down exactly which number applies to which destination and situation.

Once your payment goes through, your commercial invoice and shipping label are ready to print. You'll also receive an email with all your documents, and you can reprint them anytime from My Orders under My Account.

To finish up:

  • Print three copies of the commercial invoice and attach them to your parcel. A document pouch works best.
  • Print one shipping label and stick it on the parcel.
  • Add any other paperwork your destination requires.

Related Guides

International Shipping Numbers Explained

Send International Orders

How to Set Up Your International Settings

Didn't Find What You're Looking For?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your integration or questions about how to send your order simply email us at shippingtools@interparcel.com.au, and we'll provide the assistance you need.