The proforma invoice is a type of document very commonly seen in international business practices that has complicated attributes and uses. This master`s thesis examined and analyzed the contractual attribute of the pro forma invoice from the point of view of being (real) and should be, i.e. whether a pro forma invoice is a contract and whether it should be a contract. Based on the current definitions of the pro forma invoice, we can conclude that a pro forma invoice can have three uses, namely to estimate the total cost of freight or the total cost, to apply for exchange and import permits, and to prepare and sign contracts, while the first two purposes of this document are traditional uses. In Chinese court decisions, we have several different answers to the question of whether a pro forma invoice is a contract, but we can conclude it in roughly three aspects, that is: it is a contract, it is proof of a contract, and it is not a contract. In U.S. court decisions, the views are equally complex, but proforma Invoice`s contractual attribute is sufficiently respected. And in China`s national criteria files, the word pro forma invoice is used for the second purpose, which is used for the purpose of applying for exchange and import permits. In some international conventions, Proforma Invoice is used with the word contract in coordinated positions. From the point of view of the tradition of international trade and the tradition of international trade and their non-governmental attributes, this living law, which is the use of the pro forma invoice as the preparation of contracts in the international trading company, must be respected, because it is a truly existing international commercial tradition.
And this thesis analyzed Proforma Invoice`s contract attribute from different points of view, including terms that do not make it contractual. The so-called contract attribute means that Proforma Invoice acts as an offer or acceptance in business, and this contractual attribute must be sufficiently respected in Chinese judicial practice. Pro forma invoices display a quote for a potential sale, import, or export of goods. These invoices are often used during negotiations to enumerate the terms of an offer so that the other party can agree on a counter-offer or respond with a counter-offer. The pro forma invoice is not a binding agreement and no payment is due until the parties have concluded a contract. Lenders, approval agencies and customs inspectors may request a pro forma invoice as proof of the validity of the upcoming transaction. Provide an estimated date for delivery of the goods. This may be an area because you may not know exactly how long it will take to get a line of credit or go through customs control.
For example, you can list a scheduled delivery window of six to eight weeks. This period may begin after the line of credit is signed or another conditional event. List all warranty conditions in this section of the invoice. Do you want to automate invoice processing? Learn more about Nanonets` automated invoice processing solution to streamline document management workflows! OR schedule a call to see the product in action. This invoice is issued after delivery or shipment of the goods. While before the sale of the goods, a pro forma invoice is sent and details such as quantity have not been confirmed. Commercial invoices are mainly used for international shipments and reflect the exact amount of shipment. It helps sellers ship the goods to the buyer with ease and efficiency. A commercial invoice serves as a shipping document used by customs in each port.
The invoice assists the customs authorities in collecting the appropriate duties, import fees and taxes. The information on the commercial invoice also ensures that customs officers have met the requirements for compliance with export regulations. Since pro forma invoices are not final sales invoices, they cannot be used for tax purposes or treated as VAT/GST invoices. This is because it does not correspond to the “checkpoint”, which is the time of delivery. The final sales invoice with the date of the transaction is the actual time of delivery and therefore the tax point for the VAT/GST claim. A pro forma invoice is very similar to the final sales invoice and contains the same details. They can be easily created with accounting or word processing software. Sellers who ship goods internationally also use them extensively. Customs laws in ports around the world require that the details of the goods shipped be easily accessible and visible. Therefore, to ensure fast customs clearance, pro forma invoices are useful for communicating details such as weight, value, taxes, shipping costs, delivery costs, etc. No. Orders are an official notification of an order and are the step that follows a pro forma invoice.
Once the order is accepted, there is a legally binding contract between the buyer and the seller. Pro forma is a Latin expression that means “as a matter of form”. In other words, it is a sophisticated way of saying “formality” or “in good faith.” Companies use pro forma invoices to essentially send a sample invoice to a buyer. It looks like an actual invoice and almost all of them have the same details as a traditional invoice, but that doesn`t mean the buyer is responsible for the payment. Nor does it mean that the seller has to ship the goods. A pro forma invoice is not the same as a final sales invoice and is not used for accounting purposes. The information provided in the invoice can be negotiated and modified, as opposed to a final and binding sales invoice. Rather, it is a quote and is not considered in accounts payable processes.
Therefore, it is not legally binding. This is just one example, and these steps and processes can change depending on the company`s relationship. For example, some companies may require a buyer to submit all or part of the order invoice before shipping begins, or a buyer may have a recurring order based on weight and understand that pro forma invoices change a bit based on the final cost attached to shipping. A pro forma invoice is a sales receipt that the seller sends to the buyer, especially for international orders. This document contains the order data and often also the bank details of the seller to make the payment. The pro forma invoice is different from a commercial invoice because the commercial invoice is issued by the seller after the goods have been loaded or shipped. After defining the terms of the purchase contract, the buyer places an order or a letter of credit. The seller must send a pro forma invoice indicating the details of the purchase contract. The letter of credit is based on the pro forma invoice sent by the seller. The pro forma invoice is similar to a document created by the seller to commit to selling the goods to the buyer. .