You must register with the Canadian governmental agency CARM by May 24, 2024 if you intend to ship to Canada

/

CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management)

Overview

CARM is a key CBSA (Canadian Border Services Agency aka Canada Customs) objective to modernize & streamline the process of importing commercial goods into Canada. CARM will transform the way Release Prior to Payment (“RPP”) security is provided.

CARM will substantially reduce CBSA’s administrative burden in managing RPP security and place the financial obligation of duties entering Canada to the Importer.

By May 2024, all Canadian-resident and non-resident BUSINESSES that import goods into Canada need to register on the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) CARM Client Portal.

Moreover, by using our services as a customs broker you must provide delegation of authority to continue to allow us to transact business on your behalf on the CARM Client Portal.

If you have already registered your business to CARM Client Portal, please disregard this email. If you haven’t, please, continue to read.

CARM is changing the border and how the Canadian Border Services Agency (CBSA) manages commercial goods being imported into Canada, and the CARM Client Portal is the new and only way for the trade community to communicate with the CBSA.

Through CARM, clients will have access to the CARM Client Portal to:

• Delegate authority to their customs broker to allow them to continue transacting on their behalf

• View transactions and account balances in real time

• Submit commercial accounting declarations and adjustments Post Financial Security to enroll for Release Prior to Payment

 

We strongly recommend that you register on the CARM portal by March 2024 to avoid the rush of importers trying to get this done in April prior to this becoming official in May 2024.

 

Links

See below for additional government website links that could be used to further explain the program and how to get your company setup.

CARM PORTAL link: https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/services/carm-gcra/menu-eng.html

CARM Client Support Helpdesk (CCSH)
Canada Border Services Agency

cbsa.carm_engagement-engagement_de_la_gcra.asfc@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca 
1-800-461-9999

 

STEP 1: CARM Client Portal (CCP) Registration Details

See attachments:

1.    CARM – Info Sheet – Registering a Business on the CARM Client Portal for NRI

2.    Client Support:  CBSA Help desk Contact information

 

Click the below link to view Registering a Business on CARM (attachment #1) on CBSA website.

Registering a Business on the CARM client Portal

 

Register for CARM now by clicking the link below.

Get started with CARM (cbsa-asfc.gc.ca)

 

STEP 2: Delegate Authority to Customs Broker – “Accurate Customs Brokers”

1.     From the CARM Portal Home Dashboard, choose “Manage My Business Relationships.”

2.     Designate access to “Accurate Customs Brokers” as your Customs Broker at the business or program account level.

3.     Set the Visibility Rules to control how much information Accurate Customs Brokers Forwarding can view or edit.

 

STEP 3:  Financial Security for Release Prior to Payment (RPP)

 

Changes to the Release Prior to Payment program

 

The Release Prior to Payment (RPP) program allows participants to obtain the release of goods from the CBSA before the final accounting and payment of duties and taxes.

 

When CARM becomes the official system of record, acquiring the privileges of the program will significantly change for importers. They will no longer be able to use their customs broker's RPP security to clear shipments before paying duties and taxes. Importers who want to participate in the RPP program will be required to post their own financial security. They will have the following options:

 

  • Option 1: a financial security instrument (bond) for 50% of their highest monthly accounts receivable (inclusive of GST) with a minimum financial security of $25,000 per import program (RM)

 

  • Option 2: cash deposit for 100% of their highest monthly accounts receivable (inclusive of GST)

 

The current RPP program will remain in effect until May 2024, at which point the new requirements are expected to take effect. In anticipation of these changes, the CBSA has developed the following plan to help importers transition to the new requirements, which will include instructions on how to:

 

  • calculate their security

  • post a bond

  • make a cash deposit

 

All importers registered before May 2024 will also be given an additional 180 days by CBSA to get their Financial Security options in place so it is very important to be registered before May.

 

Obtaining a Financial Security Bond

See attachment:   CARM – Bond Application

1.     If you would like our help to obtain a Financial Security Bond we will be offering that service.

2.     More information on requirements and rates for this service will be provided in the coming weeks but we have provided a copy of the bond document that would need to be completed.

3.     If you believe that your security requirements will fall at or below the minimum of $25,000 then you can complete the document and return to us so that we know your intention to use our service.

 

STEP 4:  Maintenance of Records – (Only applicable for Non-resident Imports located outside of North America)

See attachment: Maintenance Records Elsewhere Agreement

1.     Non-resident imports outside of North America are also required to complete the Maintain Records Elsewhere agreement.

2.     For more info on this see the following link: 

https://www.cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/publications/dm-md/d17/d17-1-21-eng.html