CBSA structured the CARM implementation in a series of releases.

The initial phase involved moving the existing ARL (Accounts Receivable Ledger) to a new and more robust data center. This phase had no direct impact on importers.

CARM Release 1:COMPLETED - May 25, 2021

• This release launched the CARM Client Portal (CCP), a self-service tool that will facilitate accounting and revenue management processes with the CBSA. The CARM Client Portal includes a business registration component and basic functionality across the platform. The platform allows you to view transactions and statements of account, request a ruling and pay invoices with new electronic payment options.

CARM Release 2:UPCOMING – SPRING 2022

• This upcoming release will expand the CARM Client Portal functionalities. The newly added features include electronic commercial accounting declarations with the ability to issue corrections and adjustments (that will replace the current forms in place), changes to release-prior-to-payment requirements for bonds, harmonized billing cycles, new offsetting options and electronic management of appeals and compliance actions. Come spring of 2022, importers must be enrolled on the CCP and have their financial security processes in place, otherwise shipments may be held at the border.

Reach out to our team of experts at CA006-carm.support@apcb.ca for guidance on how to prepare for this important change

The CARM Client Portal is now accessible to importers and customs brokers. Trade consultants currently submitting rulings on behalf of importers will also have access to the portal upon request to the CBSA.

With the roll-out of the CARM Client Portal (CCP), all importers will be required to register for access to the portal and participate in managing customs activities and profiles. Major functionalities include:

• Account management: importers are required to self-manage their profiles by delegating authority to their employees, brokers or other service providers, and allowing them to manage specific tasks in the portal.

  
  

• Make customs payments: Importers will now be required to make payments for duties and taxes to CBSA directly. Payments can be made by credit card, debit card, pre-authorized debit, Electronic fund transfer (EFT), or Electronic data interchange (EDI).

  
  

• Release prior to payment (RPP) bond: All importers will be required to post security to participate in the Release Prior to Payment (RPP) privilege program. Importers cannot use their customs broker’s RPP surety to clear shipments and receive release prior to payment privileges. As of the start of Release 2, importers must post security using one of the two options provided by CBSA. For more information on RPP, consult CARM Client Portal overview.

  
  It is the importers responsibility to review all security requirements and increase bond levels as needed to meet all import needs.
  

• Customs Accounting Declaration (CAD): A new feature offered with the CARM Release 2. CAD will serve as the digital document to account for imported goods into Canada, replacing the current Customs Coding (B3) and Request for Adjustment (B2) forms. Any corrections or adjustments made to a CAD will be recorded as a new version of the original declaration.
  • The CARM system will automatically calculate the duties and taxes based on the information provided by the client on the CAD. The CAD can be submitted, corrected or adjusted by the client using the CARM Client Portal or via Electronic Data Interchange (EDI).
  • For more information on CAD, visit the Client Portal overview.

  
  

• Customs Rulings: Importers can request and track the progress of rulings directly with CBSA via the portal.

  
  

• Classify good and estimate duties and taxes: A self-help tool is available to help importers identify the associated duties and taxes applicable based on the HS (Harmonized System Tariff) code for their imported commodity.

  
  

• Billing Cycles: Release 2 will also introduce new billing cycles and alignment of payment due dates for importers. CARM will affect the following billing cycles: High Value Shipments (HVS) / Low Value Shipments (LVS), Courier Low Value Shipments (CLVS), Continuous Transmission Commodities (CTC) and Customs Self-Assessment (CSA) Program.

Reach out to our team of experts at CA006-carm.support@apcb.ca for guidance on how to prepare for this important change

Prior to the launch of Release 2, all importers will be required to have registered and set up their account on the CARM Client Portal (CCP). This is mandatory for all importers and those who are not in compliance will encounter customs release delays.

This important change imposes new responsibilities for importers:

• This change requires a shift in the handling of trade information onto a new platform, CCP. The monitoring of Customs Declarations, as well as several other functions, will now be handled internally with the importer’s team.
• Importers will now be responsible for paying all duties and taxes to CBSA directly. Payment deadlines with CBSA, under CARM, may differ from your current payment timeline with your preferred broker.
• Commercial importers will be required to provide a security bond to CBSA as a guarantee for payment of duties and taxes. The bond amount is established based on the importer’s highest level of monthly duties, taxes, and CBSA fees (including GST) for a single month within their last 12-month history. An estimate is permitted for importers without a 12-month history.

Keep in mind this initiative is still in progress and as such this information is subject to change. Please be sure to visit our site and the CBSA site regularly for all important updates.

What will you be able to do through the CCP? Importers, and their delegates, will be able to manage several customs processes through the new platform.

Notable abilities include:

• Manage CBSA notices and monitor declarations
• View transactions and your monthly statement of account
• Issue payment for customs duties, taxes and other fees directly to CBSA
• Apply for, and track the progress of, customs rulings
• Apply for temporary import permits
• Utilize the new Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) function – including corrections and adjustments

Reach out to our team of experts at CA006-carm.support@apcb.ca for guidance on how to prepare for this important change

• Set up your CARM Client Portal account by using GCKey or a Sign-in Partner and link it to your business account.

  
  

• Create your business portal account (if you are the designated business account manager) and delegate authority to your employees, customs broker and trade consultants, as applicable.

  
  

• Prior to Release 2, ensure that you speak with your Customs Broker for assistance in obtaining a surety bond for Release Prior to Payment privileges.

  
  

• If you are equipped with your own customs software, used to transmit information to the CBSA electronically, be sure to make the necessary system changes. See the Electronic Commercial Client Requirements Document (Chapters 24 and 26) for further information.

  
  

• Familiarize yourself, and your delegates, with the publicly available application program interfaces that will allow you to interact and transact with the CBSA.

  
  

• Reach out to our team of experts at CA006-carm.support@apcb.ca for guidance on how to prepare for this important change

How to Open and Assign APCB as your Customs Broker on your CARM Portal

• CARM Homepage
• Features & Benefits of CARM
• How the trade community can prepare
• CARM Client Portal Homepage (CCP)
• CARM Introduction video
• CCP Onboarding Documentation
• CARM Video Tutorials
• GCKey – FAQ or Sign-in Partner Information
• Access the CARM Client Portal (CCP)

Reach out to our team of experts at CA006-carm.support@apcb.ca for guidance on how to prepare for this important change

• What has really changed for Release 1?
  The CARM Portal will not change daily transactions.  It will not impact releases at the border.  Release 1 is a visibility platform with the additional capabilities of classification tools and rulings.
• Who within my organization should be setting up the CARM PORTAL account?
  Most businesses will create a partnership between their Trade Compliance team and their Accounts Payable team.  Both teams are heavily impacted by the data contained in the portal.
• What is the difference of between a PAM and BAM?
  A BAM is a Business Account Manager and is responsible for all areas of a business within the portal.  A PAM is a Program Account Manager and is only responsible for a subset of the business as defined by the BAM.
• Do each BAM/PAM require a GCKey or can a company use one and share it?
  Each individual should have their own unique sign in credentials.  This allows for system traceability.
• How many BAM’s/PAM’s are we able to have?
  The CBSA recommends that businesses have at least two (2) Business Account Managers (BAMs).  Businesses can assign Program Account Managers (PAMs) as needed.
• Can a non-resident importer obtain a GCKey?
  Yes. For instructions on how to sign up for a GCKey, follow the user guide.
• Can a Broker pay on behalf of the clients?
  For Release 1, there are no changes to the payment process.  If a broker has been paying CBSA on behalf of its clients, the broker will continue to do.   Under Release 2, the CBSA has indicated their intent to have all importers pay the CBSA directly.
• Can an importer search for a Broker in the CARM login?
  Yes. For instructions on delegation of authority, follow the user guide.
• What is the minimum amount of a Bond that we can apply for?
  At present, the CBSA has indicated a minimum bond amount of $25,000.
• Do each of my Business Numbers require a bond?
  Yes. Every unique importer will require a minimum bond.
• What is the difference between a BN9 and a BN15?
  The BN15 is a 15-digit Business Number that uses the legal entity’s Unique 9-digit root character program identifier (identifying the government program for which the business is registered)\4-digit account number (an incremental number assigned to each account the business has within each program). The BN15’s structure identifies the business via the root and keeps track of the programs for which the business is registered via the various suffixes.
• How soon can I start setting up my CARM BOND ? Is a CARM BOND the same as a DUTY DIRECT BOND?
  You can set up a CARM Bond after the CBSA provides the final regulations or terms and conditions to the surety companies who will underwrite the proposed bonds.  At present, the only type of bond that a resident importer can obtain is a Duty bond.
• Will there still be HVS and LVS shipments?
  Yes.  There will still be high value and low value shipments, including CLVS – courier low value shipments.
• Where do I find the answers to the three questions posed during CARM portal registration process?
  Importers should look at their Statement of Account.  Importers should contact the CARM group to set up a Statement of Account.
• How does CARM impact the CBSA Canada Customs Coding Form (B3)?
  Under Release 2, the B3 will be replaced by the Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD).
• How does CARM impact CBSA refund and adjustment requests / Canada Customs Adjustment Request (B2)?
  The B2 or amendment process will be replaced at Release 2 by the CAD version control.
• Does the CARM portal allow importers to make electronic release requests for commercial import shipments, without the use of a broker/agent?
  No. The CARM portal does not have the functionality to transmit a release request. The portal pertains to the accounting/financial aspects of the clearance.
• My company contracts APCB to manage all my import transactions and pay CBSA on my behalf. What remains the same under CARM? What are the major changes under CARM? Will APCB still be my agent at the border?
  APCB will still be your agent at the border and submit all of the data necessary to clear and account for your imports. Under CARM, the importer will gain transactional visibility (Release 2) to your shipments at the border. Under CARM Release 2, the importer will be required to pay the CBSA directly through the portal.
• What is the new name and contact co-ordinates for CBSA CARM GROUP? (for inquiries & support)
  Importers can contact the CARM Client Support Helpdesk (CCSH) via their online web form or hotline.
• Is one Business Account Manager (BAM) enough?
  Importers should register more than one BAM for each importer account in their control. This redundancy provides vacation coverage and protects against unexpected absences.
• How long does it take to register for a GC Key?
  GC Key Registration is a process that takes most individuals less than 15 minutes.
• Which business number should I register?
  Ensure that you register each BN9 and RM extension that your organization imports under. Importers should validate their business numbers against recent B3 declarations.
• I have a complicated business name. What should I do?
  Many businesses are struggling with achieving an exact match to the CBSA’s database.  If an entity is registered with the CRA as “ABC Ltd.” but entered into the CARM portal as “ABC Ltd” the user would receive an error. Importers can check their GST registry using the CRA’s GST Registry Tool.
• How can I pass the transaction number validation question?
  The CARM registration portal auto selects the transaction number for total duties and taxes.  The value given cannot be a negative number. It will now accept 0.00. Companies who use multiple brokers to clear on their behalf may struggle with this data. Some companies have found that refreshing the screen or logging in an additional time has brought up a different transaction number.  This enables them to enter a correct value.
• Where can I find my last payment amount?
  Importers who are GST and/or duty direct can look this up in their internal records. This question is particularly challenging for companies that do not pay the CBSA directly (GST and/or Duty Direct). Importers that are struggling with the data element can reach out to the CBSA for support using the online form or call 1-800-461-9999 menu option #2 (CARM).
• Where can I find my statement of account balance?
  Importers who are not duty or GST direct may opt in to receive Daily notices (DNs) and Statement of Account (SOA) documents directly from the CBSA.  Importers can reach out to the CBSA for support using the online form or call 1-800-461-9999 menu option #2 (CARM)

Reach out to our team of experts at CA006-carm.support@apcb.ca for guidance on how to prepare for this important change