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Trade Documentation

Proforma Invoice

Also known as: Pro Forma Invoice

A proforma invoice is a preliminary, good-faith quotation issued by a seller before a sale is finalized, laying out the description of the goods, the expected price, quantities, and terms of sale so the buyer can arrange financing, apply for import permits, or open a letter of credit. Although it looks like a commercial invoice, it is not a demand for payment and does not record a completed transaction; it commits the seller to the stated terms for a period and gives the buyer the information needed to proceed. Once the order is confirmed and shipped, the seller issues the definitive commercial invoice.

The JFS takeLicensed customs broker · Filer 82G

Fine for quoting, and a common source of trouble when it reaches an entry in place of a commercial invoice. If the transaction has happened, CBP wants the document recording what was actually paid.

Where it matters for compliance

  • Entry may proceed on a pro forma in limited circumstances, with the commercial invoice to follow.

Related terms

Commercial InvoiceThe commercial invoice is the seller's formal bill for the goods and the single most important document in the customs entry, since it establishes the transaction value on which duty is usually assessed.Letter of CreditA letter of credit is a written undertaking by a bank, issued at the request of a buyer, to pay a seller a defined amount provided the seller presents documents that strictly comply with the terms stated in the credit.

Reviewed by a licensed customs broker. Definitions are general information, not legal or customs advice for a particular shipment. Duty rates, tariff programs and agency requirements change frequently.