August 11, 2023 – Earlier today, the CBSA released the statement below regarding the upcoming timelines for CARM Release 2 Implementation.
Please note that importers to Canada still need to sign up for the CARM Portal and obtain their own financial security to be eligible for RPP by May 2024.
Buckland recommends that our clients register for the CARM Portal as soon as possible to get familiar with the CARM Portal and to receive the communications that CBSA shares only through CARM notifications.
Message from CBSA – CARM Release 2 Implementation Update
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project is a significant undertaking by the CBSA and industry to modernize the collection of duties and taxes for goods imported into Canada. The initial phase of the project, launched in May 2021, allowed importers, brokers, and trade consultants to view their transactions and statements of account, request a ruling, and pay invoices with new electronic payment options.
Recognizing the investment and impact that CARM represents for industry and for the Government of Canada, we are taking a phased approach with it becoming the official system of record for the collection of duties and taxes for commercial goods imported into Canada.
In October 2023, the CARM Release 2 system will be available for selected industry partners who want to test their own internal systems, and for software service providers to continue to certify their software with CARM.
The proposed regulatory amendments continue on schedule with a planned coming-into-force date of May 2024, when CARM becomes the official system of record. Further enhancements are expected to become available in fall 2024. A forum will be established with key stakeholders to discuss implementation of this phased approach and application of regulations in support of CARM.
All commercial businesses who import goods into Canada need to register to the CARM Client Portal (CCP) before May 2024 to minimize border delays and benefit from the Release Prior to Payment (RPP) transition period.
Specifically, all importers who onboard the CCP prior to the coming-into-force date in May 2024 will be assigned RPP qualifying status for a 180 day transition period allowing them to adapt to this new model, while ensuring that border disruptions are mitigated. Commercial importers will still be able to obtain release prior to payment of duties and taxes during the transition period as they proceed to meet the requirement for financial security.
The CBSA is aware of the significant investment that CARM represents for industry and for the Government of Canada as a whole. Accordingly, we also wanted to take this opportunity to inform you that our intent is to publicly announce this latest CARM update via news release this week. At the same time, we will be posting more information on our website, which we encourage you to check out once available.
The Agency will continue to keep our Trade Chain Partners informed via communication through our working groups, webinars, social media, email distribution lists, and website.
Thank you for your continued engagement and support for CARM.
– CARM Engagement
We know that the changes coming with CARM can be overwhelming, but rest assured that Buckland will be working hand in hand with our customers to ensure that they have the information required to successfully transition into each release of CARM.
If you have questions or need assistance registering for the CARM Client Portal, we are here to help! Reach out to CARM@buckland.com for assistance from our team.