Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: commercial invoice template

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Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 02-15-2011, 10:06 AM:

Does anyone have a blank template? I need to include a commercial invoice to go through customs. Do I need to put my price or the price I sold it for? This is shipping through UPS or FedEx and the customer is paying duties and taxes, so I would rather it be the cheaper amount for him. It is 1 box that I need to insure for around 20k.

Thanks for any input,
Rick

Posted by David Favel (Member # 1125) on 02-15-2011, 07:04 PM:

Excell has an invoice macro

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-15-2011, 11:15 PM:

We ship internationally via UPS every now and then at our store. The paperwork is a pain in the butt. I have no international experience with FedEx but I assume it's basically the same.

- Be sure the invoice includes phone numbers for both you and the recipient.

- Be sure it lists everything in the box and its country of origin. (If it's an item with varying origin countries, such as a computer, list the country where the majority of the item is from.) If it's an item with accessories, such as a computer with power cord and software and etc., you can list it as just one item.

- If this is an item you're selling, I would list the selling price. If it was to go missing, it would be awful hard to change the price midstream.

- Put three copies of the invoice in an envelope, write DOCUMENTS on the envelope, and tape the envelope to the outside of the box, on the same side as the address label if possible. You don't need to seal the envelope but do tape it down securely on all four sides.

One other thing: If you ship it through a UPS Store they can probably print the invoices for you. We use the WorldShip program and it has that capability.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 02-16-2011, 10:00 AM:

Hi Richard, I deal with FedEx all the time.

Call 1800GOFEDEX and ask them to email you a blank commericial invoice. It is pretty straightforward to fill oout once you recieve it.

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 02-16-2011, 10:42 AM:

Also if the country you are sending it to is part of NAFTA then a NAFTA certificate of Origin is required

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 02-16-2011, 09:36 PM:

Richard,

Go to the UPS website and download their free software called Worldship. It is a business shipping software for UPS that will print up a commercial invoice for you when you put in the proper info. Of course, the best way is probably to go to a UPS store so they can do it for you. The software does have a learning curve to it and you will need a UPS account (also free to sign up for).

If you sign up for a UPS account or already have one, you most likely can do a commercial invoice right on the UPS website too. This is also cheaper than shipping through a UPS store (formerly Mailboxes Etc) because they are all franchisee owned. The franchisees put some hefty fees on their shipping costs to make their money. I shipped a few items overnight from Colorado back to our warehouse in Cleveland once at a UPS store and it cost me almost $400! We ship stuff like that all the time from our warehouse overnight using our UPS account number and it doesn't even cost half of that.

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 02-17-2011, 05:06 PM:

quote: Joshua Waaland
Go to the UPS website and download their free software called Worldship. It is a business shipping software for UPS that will print up a commercial invoice for you when you put in the proper info.

Correct me if I'm wrong here but I think WorldShip requires that you have a daily pickup account. Richard do you have one?

If so, and if you're still using the old "book" method, then yeah you should definitely go to WorldShip. Then your invoice troubles (and most of your other UPS hassles) will be over.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-25-2011, 09:58 AM:

Well, I went with USPS which I believe is also Fed Ex. Priority international, 10 business days. All paper work double checked and copies in boxes by shipping employee. Shipped late Oct. 1 package is in China, but shows they (attempted delivery)can't find customer. 2nd package somehow ended up in India at customs. Strange both boxes were sent at the same time and went from Indiana to Chicago (at different times!) but one went direct from Chicago to China and the other to India. USPS says it will take about a month to figure things out.

Luckily my friend in China says he can smooth things over with the amusement park. I was worried his job was compromised (He is one of my best friends).

This job sent up red flags for me. I had a theater in Egypt wire me $10,000 to my personal bank account and then the next week China wires me $30,000. I got notices from the IRS and was stopped and questioned in a small room by customs (U.S.) on both trips. I went to Egypt for a week, then home, then a day later to China for a month.

Rick "007" Hamilton

As I re-read this post a Question came to mind... When you work overseas and are paid in cash in their currency, do you have to report that as income in the States? It's profits that are spent there, no expenses reported (meals hotel travel occassional massage/escorts etc..) [Big Grin]

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 12-25-2011, 11:19 AM:

quote: Richard Hamilton
Well, I went with USPS which I believe is also Fed Ex.

FedEx isn't at all related to USPS. The former is a private shipping/logistics entity and a direct competitor to UPS.

quote: Richard Hamilton
As I re-read this post a Question came to mind... When you work overseas and are paid in cash in their currency, do you have to report that as income in the States? It's profits that are spent there, no expenses reported (meals hotel travel occassional massage/escorts etc..)

I'm pretty sure you have to report all income made while overseas.

Posted by Frank Cox (Member # 6258) on 12-25-2011, 11:52 AM:

Unlike almost every other country in the world, all US citizens are required to report their income and assets to the IRS regardless of where they are situated or where you, as the US citizen, reside.

Since the US government has its current financial problems, the IRS is cracking down on this and a lot of people (especially dual citizens) who were not aware of this before are in some pretty hot water. The penalty for not having reported a foreign bank account, for example, is something like 50% of the account balance with a minimum of $100,000.

And you can't renounce your US citizenship until and unless you pay up first.

This issue has been in the news in Canada lately because we apparently have a lot of dual Canadian/US citizens somehow, some of whom don't even realize that they are a dual citizen. So it's a hot issue.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-25-2011, 12:44 PM:

quote: Chris Slycord
FedEx isn't at all related to USPS

HMMM.. look here..USPS right hand side, Global Express Guaranteed, seems to have Fed Ex printed on the package.

From the USPS site:

Who delivers US Mail Internationally?

We have specific service providers for Global Express Guaranteed. For other mail classes, we do not keep a listing of other specific postal operators around the world.

Global Express Guaranteed service is the result of a strategic alliance with United States Postal Service and FedEx. FedEx provides the international transportation, commercial customs clearance, and delivery of every shipment while the Postal Service provides mailing labels and packaging to create the shipment, payment options, and acceptance of the shipment

Somehow related?

Rick (Postmaster General)

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 12-25-2011, 04:00 PM:

You learn something new everyday. Guess this shows you not to use FedEx either for international. [Smile]

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-25-2011, 05:52 PM:

quote: Chris Slycord
this shows you not to use FedEx either for international

This whole situation sucks. My friend in China set it up because of my ties in the industry. I debated checking the boxes as luggage or hand delivering them. It would have saved me alot of stress and liver abuse. There are 2 boxes named Wilson that are undelivered.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-25-2011, 06:28 PM:

You got to be kiddin...? You've been in this buisness all these years and don't use Quick Books??

Mark

Posted by Gordon McLeod (Member # 33) on 12-25-2011, 07:20 PM:

Canada Post uses FedEx on international overnight packages
As for forms they are available on line

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-26-2011, 10:12 AM:

Gordon,
I went with USPS because they were cheaper. I checked all the shipping companies and figured with USPS the boxes would be mixed in with the FedEx boxes on a FedEx plane. Oh well, lesson learned. As far as FedEx, their drivers just throw expensive stuff over a fence toss!

Rick

Posted by Mike Blakesley (Member # 26) on 12-26-2011, 01:29 PM:

USPS truly IS NOT related to FedEx. FedEx is a private company. The UPSPS hires them to do a few things like international deliveries, but they're still not related.

In a similar vein UPS delivers a lot of packakges to local USPS offices, which then deliver them to the receivers. Sounds clunky but it's more efficient than UPS sending their trucks all hither and yon while the Postal Service is going there anyway. (This is one reason why the Postal Service is losing money while UPS is growing.)

Posted by Michael Voiland (Member # 5386) on 12-26-2011, 02:51 PM:

I will just say this. Fedex is evil. Next day is delivered in the afternoon. United Pack and Smash might drop boxes but at least they arrive.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-27-2011, 08:16 AM:

quote: Mike Blakesley
USPS truly IS NOT related to FedEx

???

Then why did I fill out forms at the USPS office that have both logos on them? Maybe a botched up job at the printers office? [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 12-27-2011, 08:39 AM:

Because, like Mike said, the USPS hired FedEx to handle international stuff?

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-27-2011, 12:57 PM:

Things seem to work better comming in from China where as I recently purchased a tube amplifier via UPS Express saver in just two days. I thought it would be comming on the slow boat from China and was out of State when it showed up. No duty or taxes had to be paid.

In Rick's case Home Land Insecurity is thinking he is getting Drug Money transfers so it raises the red flags... High Time you become a legitimate buisness Rick... then you won't have this issue at all.

Mark

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-28-2011, 08:33 AM:

I guess an alliance is not a relationship

Global Express Guaranteed service is the result of a strategic alliance with United States Postal Service and FedEx. [Confused]

Anyway, I don't give a shit and don't want to argue [beer]

Mark, It's not drug money, it's hops and barley that I buy

[Big Grin]

.. As far as starting my own business, it's a long complicated story....ex wife, money, etc. My dads health, I take him to work every day, help him into his office, put on his robe (he's a judge) and then pick him up at various times depending on his case load. The good thing is, I have a key to the courthouse and can go in after hours and on weekends and take pictures. I thought of bringing in empty beer cans and liquor bottles and leaving them on the judges bench who made the decision during my divorce, but then I sobered up. He's actually a nice guy and has visited our house after my dad's health started getting bad.

Posted by Mark Gulbrandsen (Member # 72) on 12-28-2011, 09:58 AM:

Rick... I know it's not drug money but H.S. thinks it probably is... Those amounts raise all sorts of red flags when it lands in an individuals account. The rest is unfortunate but in owning a buisness there are ways around the EX...

Mark

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 12-29-2011, 10:28 PM:

quote: Michael Voiland
Fedex is evil. Next day is delivered in the afternoon.

Not if it is shipped "international" from a country that is not the United States. It is 10:30am or earlier.

Posted by Richard Hamilton (Member # 321) on 12-30-2011, 05:13 AM:

Mark, I'm just in a "funk" right now. I've done work at a couple different factories last year and after a 40 hour week, my paycheck would be $0.00, everything automatically sent to my ex. I recently got 2 different notices, one from the prosectors office saying I have a court date because of my arearages (even though I pay on time and usually a week in advance). The other notice was from the IRS because my ex filed taxes separatly during our divorce and I owe them about $40,000 and evidently the court says I owe about the same in back child support. I have no idea what I owe my parents, but it's probably close to $100,000. They'll never ask for payback but it still hangs over my head.

I should've stayed in China when I had the chance. Like I said, It's complicated right now. At least I have my kids this week [thumbsup]