- Start by identifying shipment channel: postal, courier, express, freight, or marketplace label.
- If postal, check whether CN22 or CN23 may apply based on value, weight, item count, and destination.
- If courier, express, freight, or marketplace label, prepare commercial invoice data and carrier electronic customs fields.
- Collect item descriptions, quantity, value, currency, weight, origin, and HS code candidates before choosing the final draft.
- Use CN23 instead of CN22 when the postal parcel needs item-level detail or exceeds operator thresholds.
- Keep commercial invoice data available when the operator or destination requests supporting value or transaction data.
- Verify before filing or shipping because the same product can require different documents under different channels.
Guide
CN22 vs CN23 vs Commercial Invoice
Compare CN22, CN23, and commercial invoice document drafts for postal, courier, express, freight, value, weight, detail level, and ecommerce shipping workflows.
Answer Summary
Preparation checklist
CN22, CN23, and commercial invoice are different customs document drafts.
CN22 and CN23 are postal forms; commercial invoices are used broadly in carrier and commercial shipment workflows.
More than one document may be required depending on shipment value, carrier, destination, and product facts.
Required fields or decision table
Fields to prepare before the document draft
| Field or decision | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| CN22 | Simplified postal declaration that may apply to eligible lower-detail postal parcels. |
| CN23 | More detailed postal declaration that may apply when value, weight, item count, or destination rules require more data. |
| Commercial invoice | Transaction and customs-value document commonly used for courier, express, freight, marketplace, and sales shipment workflows. |
| Postal context | CN22/CN23 path; thresholds and detail level depend on postal operator and destination. |
| Courier/freight context | Commercial invoice path, often with electronic customs data and package records. |
| Value and weight | Higher value, heavier weight, or more item detail can shift the document requirement. |
| Detail level | CN23 and commercial invoices generally support more detailed item lines than CN22. |
| More than one document | Some shipments may need a commercial invoice plus postal or supporting documents, depending on operator rules. |
Step-by-step preparation
How to prepare the draft
Ecommerce example
How this looks in a seller workflow
A seller sends one small T-shirt by postal mail, a mixed order of mugs and bottles by express courier, and a multi-carton wholesale order by freight. The postal shipment may use CN22 if it fits the operator threshold or CN23 if more detail is required. The express courier and freight shipments typically use commercial invoice data. If a postal operator requests supporting invoice data for a higher-value parcel, more than one document may be needed.
Verification checklist
Review the record before it enters a shipment or filing workflow
Before a document draft is used, compare it against the order record, product catalog, carrier label, and any destination-specific instructions. The preparation checklist should confirm parties, shipment channel, item descriptions, value, currency, quantity, weight, origin, HS code candidate, and any package or reference fields.
What is required depends on shipment value, carrier, destination, and product facts, so a field that is optional in one postal or carrier workflow may be required in another. When a draft supports a repeated SKU, save the checked inputs with the product record so future shipments start from reviewed data.
Use the draft as a review artifact: it should make weak descriptions, missing origin, inconsistent values, and unsupported HS code candidates easy to spot before the parcel is handed to a postal operator, carrier, marketplace label flow, or freight team.
Common mistakes
What to avoid
- Treating CN22, CN23, and commercial invoice as interchangeable.
- Using postal forms for courier or freight shipments without checking the carrier workflow.
- Assuming CN22 applies only because the parcel is small.
- Assuming CN23 removes the need for all invoice data.
- Ignoring value, weight, item count, destination, and product facts.
- Preparing documents after label purchase instead of before shipping review.
Editorial
Editorial review note
Written by the TariffCatalog Editorial Team for ecommerce document preparation workflows. The page is designed as a preparation checklist, not a filing outcome.
Maintained by Ryan Cole, with review focused on ecommerce catalog, document, and source-check workflow clarity.
Document requirements may be required differently by carrier, destination, shipment value, and product facts. Use the methodology, sources, and corrections pages to understand how the page is maintained.
Official source note
References to verify
Use official sources, carrier guidance, postal operator rules, and destination requirements to verify before filing or shipping.
USITC HTS
Use this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
CBPUse this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
EU TARICUse this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
UK Trade TariffUse this official source when checking final classification, duty treatment, or customs requirements.
FAQ
Common questions
Is CN22 the same as a commercial invoice?
No. CN22 is a postal customs declaration for eligible postal parcels. A commercial invoice is a transaction and customs-value document used in many carrier and commercial workflows.
Is CN23 the same as a commercial invoice?
No. CN23 is a detailed postal customs declaration. It can contain item-level data, but it does not replace commercial invoice requirements in every case.
When should I use CN22?
CN22 may apply to eligible postal parcels when value, weight, item count, destination, and operator thresholds allow the shorter declaration. It does not always apply.
When should I use CN23?
CN23 may apply when a postal parcel needs more detail because of value, weight, item count, destination rules, or postal operator requirements.
When should I use a commercial invoice?
Use a commercial invoice when the shipment is handled by courier, express, freight, marketplace label, or a commercial sales workflow that requests invoice data.
Can more than one document be needed?
Yes. Some postal or higher-detail shipments may request supporting invoice data, and some carrier workflows may request packing lists or certificates in addition to a commercial invoice.
What details decide the document type?
Shipment channel, value, weight, destination, item count, product category, origin, and carrier workflow decide which document draft may be required.
What should I verify before shipping?
Verify shipment channel, value, weight, item details, origin, HS code candidates, and carrier or postal operator requirements before filing or shipping.
Disclaimer
TariffCatalog provides informational tools and preparation workflows only. Verify final classification, rates, document requirements, and filing treatment with official sources or licensed professionals.