CARM: What all importers need to know about CARM

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CARM is here – and the cutover period starts October 4, 2024

CARM is here – and the cutover period starts October 4, 2024 - Route Newsletter: September 2024

Here’s what you need to know:

  • The CARM cutover period will take place from October 4 (4:00 pm ET) to October 21 (3:00 am ET). This is necessary for CBSA to transition from the old system to the new one.
  • The CARM Portal will be unavailable during the cutover period.
  • Importers need to register their company in the CARM Portal before October 4th.
  • Importers who haven’t registered in the CARM Portal or haven’t delegated authority to their customs broker will experience significant border delays starting October 4th.

For more details, please see Customs Notice 24-29: Preparing for the CARM October Implementation – Cutover Period.

Here’s what’s new with CARM:

  • A new Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) will be used instead of the current customs coding (B3) and request for adjustment (B2) forms.
  • Commercial invoice lines will no longer be consolidated as they are today with B3 lines. Instead, each commercial invoice line will require a separate declaration line on the CAD.
  • The CARM system will automatically calculate duties and taxes based on the information provided by the importer/broker on the CAD.
  • Importers/brokers can make changes to their CADs before and after the payment due date, creating a new digital version of the CAD.
  • Any corrections or adjustments made to a CAD will be recorded as a new version of the original declaration.
  • All versions of the CAD, including any adjustments and amendments, are recorded in the transaction history for audit purposes.

If you have any questions or need assistance with the registration process, please feel free to contact your Client Care representative or Mark Glionna, Vice President—Client Relations & Business Development.

Quick Tip #61
Understand why AMPS is so important

The Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS) was introduced by the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) effective October 7, 2002. The master penalty document outlines 181 contraventions and the responsibility for these contraventions has been downloaded to the Canadian importers and exporters.

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