Project Description
CARM
CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management. Everything you need to know on CARM in one place.
Canada’s Official System of Record for Importers
The new CARM system is now Canada’s official system for collecting duties and taxes, CARM will impact both large and small importers. Discover everything you need to know in our guide.
CARM System Updates
GHY appreciates the hard work of our team, partners, and CBSA in keeping Canada’s border running smoothly. We’re looking forward to everything going ‘green’ soon! Subscribe to our Important CARM Updates below.
CBSA has a 90-day period to fix these challenges.
- Non-Resident Importers (NRIs) may require a few weeks to get a Business Number (BN).
- Some guidelines are not clear enough for everyone.
- Notifications about financial security are confusing and annoying, even though there’s a 6-month grace period.
Many transactions will be completed in December due to integration problems.
- Some incorrect importer numbers are being used.
- Certain taxes and special rules aren’t working right.
- Mistakes in importer profiles are being fixed by CBSA.
Shipments are being released as usual, thanks to special procedures.
- Nothing to report
Navigate Quickly To:
- What is CARM?
- What is the CARM Client Portal?
- What is Delegation in CARM?
- What is Financial Security for CARM?
- What are the Payment Options in CARM?
- What is a Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD)?
- What is the difference between a CAD Correction vs. Adjustment in CARM?
What is CARM?
CARM stands for CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management. CARM will provide importers with online access to their trade information, account balances, duty and tax collection, direct payment solutions, and a myriad of trade tools that simplify their importing processes.
What is the CARM Client Portal?
The CARM Client Portal (CCP) is an online tool to transact with the CBSA. Registration will soon be mandatory and is necessary to gain access to the portal’s functionality as well as delegate access to your customs broker before Release 3 (R3), scheduled for October 21, 2024. Importers will be able to view their Statement of Account (SOA) with financial transactions, make credit card or pre-authorized payments, and submit appeals and rulings requests.
Learn more about How to Register in the CARM Client Portal below.
Pro-Tip (Pre-Registration)
Before you register, it is important to have answers to the following questions:
Is your legal entity’s information that is on file with Canada Customs accurate?
Verify details of your business such as legal name, address, and contact details by referring to recent correspondence from CBSA and/or the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
Who will serve as your main Business Account Manager (BAM)?
The BAM isn’t required to be a company executive/officer; instead, this position should be filled by someone who oversees your company’s trade data and CBSA transactions (payments).
Who will occupy the position of secondary account holder within your firm?
It’s advisable to appoint two BAMs for managing the CCP.
What is Delegation in CARM?
The delegation process will allow you to assign access to certain functions/roles within the CCP to external third parties/service providers e.g. customs broker(s) and internal employees. Those assigned will be granted the authority to manage the functions you choose, on your behalf.
Learn more about How to Delegate Authority in CARM to various assigned parties.
Pro-Tip (BAMs and PAMs)
Assign a primary customs broker to assist with your CARM account as your third-party Business Account Manager (BAM), and other active providers as third-party Program Account Manager(s) (PAMs). This will prevent duplicate activity in your account. User roles may be adjusted at any time by your company.
What is Financial Security for CARM?
Importers will be required to post financial security in October 21, 2024 with CARM’s final implementation – Release 3 (R3). Release Prior to Payment (RPP) security will become the responsibility of the importer after R3 is implemented.
Learn more about how to post security, your options and how to obtain a bond.
Pro-Tip (RPP/FSA)
Importers without posted financial security (come October 2024) and without enrolment in RPP will not be able to defer payments, resulting in the requirement to pay duties and taxes to the CBSA at the time of import in order to release their goods.
Further details can be found in the CBSA’s FAQs on Release Prior to Payment Program.
What are the Payment Options in CARM?
Businesses do not have to start paying duties and taxes directly to the CBSA with their registration in CARM, nor come it’s full implementation – Release 3 (R3) in October 2024. The payment options you have in place with your customs broker can continue e.g. broker-direct.
There are now two types of payment options.
- Importer Direct – importer pays duty and tax direct to CBSA through the CARM Client Portal.
- Broker Direct – broker pays duty and tax to CBSA on the importer’s behalf.
Learn more about your CARM Account and Payments below.
Pro-Tip (Billing and Payment)
As of Release 3, new billing cycles and payment due dates will be introduced. We outline these in ‘How to Make Payments‘.
What is a Commercial Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD)?
Starting October 21, 2024, the Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) will be introduced as the new standard for accounting for imported goods into Canada. This digital document will replace the current B3/B2 forms.
Learn more about the differences between a CAD vs. a B3.
What is the difference between a CAD Correction vs. Adjustment in CARM?
Changes to the the Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) can be made through corrections before the payment due date and adjustments after the payment due date.
Learn more about the differences in the correction period vs. the adjustment period, and how to correct or adjust a CAD.
CARM Testimonials
“I had the pleasure of collaborating with the GHY CARM team, and their guidance has proved invaluable. Their expertise regarding requirements for the Canadian government’s initiative ensured our company is well-prepared for upcoming changes. We’re grateful for such a knowledgeable partner.”
“Sarah, a big thank you for being on the call and providing your CARM expertise. Paul and I will want to stay in touch with you so we can get it right. And certainly, we want to bring the new assistant controller on and train them right away. I wish our other brokers were as open to meet and walk us through this thing.”
“Let me start with saying that the CARM Open Mic webinar was really helpful. I know it wasn’t the exact content that you intended (thank you CBSA…lol), it was still very impactful. Great job!”
CARM Updates
White Paper:
Getting on Board with CARM: How It Will Impact Your Supply Chain
Dive into this White Paper and learn everything you need to know about CARM. We unpack all the details as to why CBSA is making this monumental change, timelines you need to be aware of, why this matters to all importers, steps in setting up your CARM account, and how to minimize your compliance risk and maximize your business opportunities. This is a go-to for all importers and members of the trade community; an invaluable resource to guide you through one of the biggest changes that CBSA has ever made.
FAQs
We’re here to take the guesswork out of CARM compliance and make sure you’re on top of things. Read our answers to the most pressing questions that importers asked during our previous CARM webinars.
Webinars
We regularly host CBSA officials and trade industry experts to discuss CARM updates and questions. Get access to our previous webinar recordings and stay tuned for our upcoming events.
Open Mic on CARM
CARM In Effect: Navigate CBSA’s Biggest Change for Importers
CARM Webinar 1 – February 4, 2021
CARM Webinar 2 – March 17, 2021
