Submitted by KPMG

What is Happening?

To maintain and improve Canada’s competitive advantage on the global stage, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) is modernizing the way they do business and collaborate with the importing community. The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project will revolutionize the importation process for all importers, regardless of a company’s size or whether they pay duty and taxes on their imports to Canada.

How Does It Impact Me?

Does your company import into Canada?  Yes? Then your company is impacted.  Read on.

Release 1 will introduce the CARM Client Portal which will require all Canadian importers to do the following:

  • Set up and establish their account and grant the necessary access to their authorized third-party service providers; and
  • Select new options for online payments via credit card and pre-authorized debits.

Once registered, Canadian importers will also have access to new tools through the portal. Importers will be able to look up tariff classifications, retrieve previous import data and initiate and track ruling requests.  It is worth getting onto the CARM Client Portal as soon as possible.

What Does “Soon” Mean?

The CBSA CARM Client Portal is scheduled to open on a voluntary basis in Spring 2021 and be mandatory by Spring of 2022 for every Canadian commercial importer. 

Anything Else I Should Know?

Release 2 of CARM will be implemented in Spring 2022 and includes significant changes for importers – some of which will require advance preparation to avoid import clearance delays.  One significant change to be aware of is that CBSA’s current position is that come Spring 2022, all importers will be required to secure and post their own account security for the duty and GST they owe on importers.  Importers will no longer be able to use their customs brokers bonds. Failure to post or maintain the necessary amount of security with the CBSA will impede the importation of a company’s goods.

Have Questions or Need Help?

The KPMG Trade and Customs team would be happy to answer any questions you have regarding CARM on a complementary basis.  Contact a team member below for more information.

Ray Fischer, Senior Manager rayfischer@kpmg.ca – KPMG Trade and Customs, Windsor, Ontario

Jim Sutton, Senior Manager jamessutton@kpmg.ca  – KPMG Trade and Customs, Montreal, Quebec

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