Proforma Invoice in the LC

proforma invoice

A Proforma Invoice (PI) is a must document for a Letter of Credit.

This document provides information regarding goods/services quantity, price, delivery, buyer and seller information, and other details.

A Proforma Invoice is issued by the seller to the buyer. It should provide sufficient information to the buyer to open the Letter of Credit.

PI is also required if the buyer needs an Import Permit (IP) for opening LC of any specific goods/services.

The bank uses this Proforma Invoice to get the seller (exporter) information and collect the credit report (as regulated by the Central bank).

Contents in PI

As I mentioned earlier, it should provide sufficient information to open the LC. These are the information that should be included in the PI:

  1. Seller information (Company name, address, contact)
  2. Buyer information (company name, address, contact)
  3. Proforma Invoice number
  4. Date (issue)
  5. Goods/service name/description
  6. Goods/service qty.
  7. Unit price
  8. Total price
  9. Delivery period
  10. Payment term
  11. Sales/price term
  12. Bank details of the seller
  13. Validity of PI
  14. HS code
  15. Country of origin
  16. Port of loading
  17. Port of discharge
  18. Tolerance

Additional information may be present. Proforma Invoice is issued on the letterhead of the seller and has their signature on it.

Example of Proforma Invoice

Here’s the one PI.

proforma invoice sample

The Proforma Invoice in the LC

In F45A (Description of Goods and/or Services) along with Goods description, the Proforma Invoice number and date are mentioned.

45a description of goods

Difference between Commercial Invoice and Proforma Invoice in LC

You already knew about PI. This is issued by the buyer before opening the LC.

Whereas a Commercial Invoice is another document that is issued after the shipment of goods. It’s a mandatory document for negotiation in the letter of credit. So it’s listed in 46A (Documents required).

Read also:  Field 43T Transhipment in Letter of Credit

The Proforma Invoice is based on the agreed qty. as per the contract. But in actuality, the shipment quantity may vary as there’s tolerance allowed in the LC.

In the Commercial Invoice, actual shipment qty. and value is mentioned.

Both Proforma Invoice and Commercial Invoice are presented but one cannot alter the other.

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