Who should issue commercial invoice?

Commercial invoice is a type of commercial document, which is used in international trade transactions.

Commercial invoice is used as an evidence of the transaction between the exporter and the importer.

So far on this website I have written couple of articles regarding usage of commercial invoices in foreign trade.

Some examples of the articles related to this topic are:


Today I would like to write about the issuer party of the commercial invoices.

A commercial invoice should be created by the seller or exporter. 

Generally commercial invoices printed on a company letterhead paper of the exporter. It is also signed and stamped by the same issuer company.

Who should authenticate the corrections or alterations on the commercial invoice?

Any alteration or correction on any of the shipping document must be authenticated by the issuer of the document.

For example, a correction on the bill of lading must be authenticated by the issuer of the bill of lading, who is generally carrier or named agent of the carrier.

Any correction on the invoice, likewise, should be authenticated by the issuer company, who is the exporter in most cases.

Important Note: Certified or legalized invoices should be authenticated by the certifying or legalizing entity, not by the beneficiary.                                                   Important Note: Any correction of data in a copy document need not be authenticated.

Letter of credit rules regarding the issuer of the invoices:

ISBP 745 states that, an invoice is to appear to have been issued by the beneficiary or, in the case of a transferred credit, the second beneficiary.

When the beneficiary or second beneficiary has changed its name and the credit mentions the former name, an invoice may be issued in the name of the new entity provided that it indicates “formerly known as (name of the beneficiary or second beneficiary)” or words of similar effect.