Get ready for CARM – Register your business

In the March issue of Route we identified the 4 key aspects to registering for CARM (CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management).  All importers to Canada (whether resident or non-resident) must take certain steps – if not, they simply won’t be able to import into Canada once CARM Release 2 comes into effect (May/June 2022).

Universal Logistics will help our clients along the road to CARM to ensure a smooth transition.  The CARM initiative will be implemented in phases (or releases).  Release 1 is scheduled for May 25, 2021.

Here’s what you need to know to get ready…

Over the coming issues we will provide additional information on each of the 4 steps.  Today’s article focuses on registering your business in the CARM Client Portal.

In preparation for registering your company, internal identification of your BAM is the stepping stone to registering your account in the CARM Client Portal and must be determined before registration may occur, as the individual who registers the company automatically becomes the company’s BAM.

Here’s what you need to know to register your business…

1. Log in to the CARM Client Portal.
2. When you first log in to the CARM Client Portal (using either the Sign-In Partner or GCKey option), you will be prompted to create your personal profile.  See the How to create login credentials and a user account in the CARM Client Portal instructional video.
3. After your profile creation, you will be greeted with the ‘First time setup’ page, from which two options will be available: ‘Request access to my employer’, or ‘Register my business’.
   
4. Upon clicking ‘Register my Business’, you will be greeted with the following screen that details the business linking requirements.
   
   

Very Important

You will need to provide your BN and RM account information and answer the following affinity questions:

• Legal entity name of the business and full address information
• Two of the following three transactional questions:
• Recent transaction number and associated duties & taxes,
• Last transaction payment amount to CBSA or;
• Last Statement of Account balance

Note – If you currently have multiple RMs, simply select one of your accounts to validate in the portal

Your Statement of Account balances can be verified with CBSA by emailing CBSA.CARM_Engagement-Engagement_de_la_GCRA.ASFC@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca.

Universal will be requesting “Delegation of Authority” from all active clients.  You will receive this request once your company registers in the CARM Client Portal.  Our clients will have to approve Universal Logistics for a “Business Management” relationship for us to act on their behalf and manage their account(s) with CBSA.

For more details on CARM and for tips on how to get ready – visit our website or contact your Client Care Rep to discuss how the proper delegation of authority will streamline your import clearance process.