Phase 2 of the CARM portal scheduled for May 2024

The Canada Border Services Agency has published proposed regulatory changes to facilitate the implementation of the CBSA's Revenue and Assessment Management Portal.

WHAT IS THE CARM PORTAL?

The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project will give you simple, online, 24/7 access to your border services transactions. You'll be able to access a range of functionalities from your customer portal, including :

• Free management of your authorized payments and direct debits
• The ability to delegate access to your company's account to a customs broker or trade consultant
• Request access to customs rulings and monitor their progress
• Unrestricted access to your account statements and transactions

Registration to the CARM portal will be required as soon as Phase 2 is implemented in May 2024, during which new functionalities will be available, for transactions with the CBSA.

WHAT REGULATORY CHANGES IS CBSA CONSIDERING?

The CARM portal is a major transformation project aimed at modernizing the CBSA's business processes.

To make this process as simple and efficient as possible, the CBSA is considering implementing changes to certain regulations to facilitate the transition to the CARM portal.

• Support electronic communication between CBSA and PCCs by removing some requirements for in-person and paper communication and adding some requirements for electronic communication (i.e., to account for goods and supply documents related to duty-free store operations).
• Update financial security requirements
• Implement simplified invoicing cycles that would ensure greater consistency between invoice, accounting and payment due dates for imported goods, and allow time for corrections to accounting records without triggering a redetermination or penalty
• Make consequential, housekeeping changes to update outdated references and nomenclature in several regulations to correct the text of cited statutes and regulations, government directives and ministerial titles, and to reflect current program policy.

This proposal, published on November 26, 2022, was followed by a 30-day consultation period, during which comments were received from interested parties.

WHO NEEDS TO KNOW ABOUT CARM?

• Company management
• Administration and finance department
• International purchasing and procurement department
• Logistics team

For contractors working alone or in a very small team, we recommend that you notify your accountant of this new government initiative.