Keep the goods and package details aligned
Prepare a clear description of the products, their quantities and the purpose of the shipment. List the seller or sender and the receiving party accurately. Ask how values should be recorded for your circumstances rather than making up a token amount.
A packing list helps identify how the goods are arranged into packages. Number the pieces and match those numbers to the contents, dimensions and weights. If the goods are repacked, update the information so it describes the shipment that will actually be handed over.
Review before sending documents
- Check names, addresses and contact information.
- Check product descriptions, quantities and package counts.
- Confirm values, currency and the basis of any charges with the responsible adviser.
- Make sure references identify the same shipment across documents.
- Ask whether additional permits, declarations or other documents are required.
Get the appropriate review
A commercial invoice and a packing list are not interchangeable. GOV.UK's export guidance explains invoice and documentation steps for exports; the requirements for a particular movement still need checking. Do not treat this guide as a completed customs declaration.
Keep approved document versions with the shipment reference. If a detail changes, tell the team before dispatch so the relevant documents can be corrected together.