Modernizing the CBSA: an Electronic Service Designed to Help Importers

On May 25th, 2021, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) launched Phase One of its two phase attempt to modernize and streamline the process of importing commercial goods to Canada, thereby offering the country a competitive advantage on the global market.  With the launch of CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management, or “CARM”, brokers, importers, and trade consultants can now register an online account with the CARM Client Portal to view transactions and statements of account, request a ruling, track the progress of a ruling, pay invoices by electronic means, classify goods, and calculate duties and taxes.

            Phase Two is expected to launch in Spring, 2022; Phase Two will introduce “Electronic Commercial Accounting Declarations” with the ability for corrections and adjustments, changes to release-prior-to-payment requirements for bonds, harmonized billing cycles and the alignment of payment due dates for importers, and electronic appeals and compliance actions.

            What does this mean for anyone involved in the importation of commercial goods?  Instead of all the repeat steps and paperwork required in the past to pay for commercial goods to enter Canada, you can now log-in to your electronic account to do the same things faster. 

For more information on how to register an account with CARM, see: https://cbsa-asfc.gc.ca/prog/carm-gcra/menu-eng.html.