Commercial Invoice Declaration Wording: Certified Invoices, LUT and Origin Statements

An invoice declaration is a signed statement printed on the commercial invoice, usually just above the signature. Most export invoices carry at least one: the standard declaration that the price and particulars are true, the GST wording for exports under LUT, and sometimes an origin statement or a certification the letter of credit asks for. Each has fixed wording, and getting it wrong can cost a GST refund, a duty preference or an LC payment.

The declarations at a glance

1. The standard declaration

This is the line most commercial invoice templates end with. It tells customs that the invoice shows the real transaction value:

We declare that this invoice shows the actual price of the goods described and that all particulars are true and correct.

Put it above the authorised signatory's name, signature and company stamp. It isn't decoration: if the declared value turns out to be wrong, this signed line is what customs points to.

2. GST wording for exports from India

Under GST Rule 46, an export invoice must carry one of two endorsements, depending on whether you export under a Letter of Undertaking (LUT) or pay IGST and claim a refund:

• SUPPLY MEANT FOR EXPORT UNDER BOND OR LETTER OF UNDERTAKING WITHOUT PAYMENT OF INTEGRATED TAX
• SUPPLY MEANT FOR EXPORT ON PAYMENT OF INTEGRATED TAX

Many exporters add their LUT reference number and financial year next to the first line. Use the wording that matches how you actually exported: an IGST refund is processed from the shipping bill, so an invoice that says "under LUT" on a shipment where IGST was paid creates a mismatch. See export invoice under GST and LUT for the other mandatory fields.

3. Origin statements on the invoice

Some trade schemes let the exporter declare preferential origin on the invoice instead of getting a separate certificate. The EU's GSP, for example, uses a "statement on origin" from exporters registered in the REX system. The wording is fixed by the scheme and starts like this:

The exporter [REX number] of the products covered by this document declares that, except where otherwise clearly indicated, these products are of Indian preferential origin according to rules of origin of the Generalised System of Preferences of the European Union and that the origin criterion met is [criterion].

Copy the exact text from the scheme's own annex, not from an old invoice. Only make a preferential origin statement if the goods meet that scheme's rules of origin. A plain "Country of origin of goods: India" field is a different thing and is fine on any invoice. See preferential vs non-preferential certificate of origin.

4. Certified invoices under a letter of credit

A certified invoice is a commercial invoice that carries a signed certification the buyer or the LC asked for. When field 46A says something like "signed commercial invoice in 3 originals certifying that goods are as per proforma invoice no. EXP/112", the bank looks for that statement, in substance, on the invoice. Typical certifications:

• WE CERTIFY THAT THE GOODS ARE AS PER PROFORMA INVOICE NO. EXP/112 DATED 02.10.2026.
• WE CERTIFY THAT THE GOODS ARE OF INDIAN ORIGIN.
• WE CERTIFY THAT THIS INVOICE IS TRUE AND CORRECT.
• WE CERTIFY THAT THE GOODS ARE BRAND NEW AND MANUFACTURED IN 2026.

Under UCP 600 Article 18, a commercial invoice doesn't need to be signed unless the credit says so. When the LC says "signed" or asks for a certification, sign it. A missing certification is a discrepancy. See common LC discrepancies.

A certified invoice is not the same as a legalised one. Certification is your own signed statement. Legalisation means a chamber of commerce or the destination country's consulate stamps the invoice. See consular invoice.

5. "For account and risk of Messrs"

Older invoice layouts head the buyer box with "For account and risk of Messrs" followed by the buyer's name. It names the party for whose account the goods are shipped and who carries the risk in transit, as set by the Incoterm. It means the same as "Buyer" or "Bill to". Banks and customs don't require the phrase, but if the LC or the buyer's template uses it, keep it.

6. Free samples and no-charge replacements

Customs still needs a value for goods you don't charge for. State a realistic value and say clearly that nothing is payable:

No charge to customer. Value declared for customs purposes only.

Mistakes that cause problems

• Copying a declaration from an old template that no longer matches how you export (LUT vs IGST paid).
• Making a preferential origin statement for goods that don't meet the scheme's rules.
• Leaving out a certification the LC asked for, or paraphrasing it so it no longer says what 46A requires.
• An unsigned invoice when the LC calls for a signed one.
• Different declarations on different copies of the same invoice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a certified invoice?

A commercial invoice that carries a signed statement certifying something specific, such as the goods' origin or that they match a proforma invoice. LCs often ask for one in field 46A.

What declaration goes on an export invoice under LUT?

"Supply meant for export under bond or letter of undertaking without payment of integrated tax", as GST Rule 46 requires. Many exporters add the LUT reference number.

What does "for account and risk of Messrs" mean on an invoice?

It names the buyer: the party for whose account the goods are shipped and who bears the transit risk under the agreed Incoterm. It is an older way of writing "Buyer".

Does a commercial invoice need to be signed?

Under an LC, only if the credit says so (UCP 600 Article 18). In practice most exporters sign every export invoice, because customs and many buyers expect a signed declaration.

Is a certified invoice the same as a legalised invoice?

No. A certified invoice carries your own signed statement. A legalised invoice is stamped by a chamber of commerce or the importing country's consulate.

Declarations are easy to get wrong when every invoice starts from a copied file. Bilexor generates the commercial invoice from one shipment record, with the same buyer, goods and values as the packing list, so you add the declaration once and check it in one place. For the full layout, see the commercial invoice format for export. Informational only, not legal, tax or banking advice.