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A quick and not-at-all-alarmist primer on how to prevent even more supply chain
disruption.

CARM inertia is about to get your imports delayed at the border.

explainer

Share this explainer

Let's go

A quick and not-at-all-alarmist primer on how to prevent even more supply chain
disruption.

CARM inertia is about to get your imports delayed at the border.

explainer

The launch of CARM is an ideal time to figure out what's current, what's
outstanding and what you may not have to pay. It's an arduous process, but help
is available.

Reconcile your account

4

Surprise! You've been using your customs broker's surety bond all along to
secure your imports. Under CARM, you'll need your own bond. Good news! You can
get one here.

Get a bond

3

Your customs broker needs access to your CARM client portal account; otherwise
they can't pay duties and taxes on your behalf. Don't forget this important
step.

Give your broker access

2

Importers will experience extreme delays and extra expense getting goods into
Canada after May 2024 if they don't register for the CARM Client Portal.
Register ASAP.

Register ASAP

1

4 Actions Every Importer Must Take

The launch of CARM is an ideal time to figure out what's current, what's
outstanding and what you may not have to pay. It's an arduous process, but help
is available.

Reconcile your account

4

Surprise! You've been using your customs broker's surety bond all along to
secure your imports. Under CARM, you'll need your own bond. Good news! You can
get one here.

Get a bond

3

Your customs broker needs access to your CARM client portal account; otherwise
they can't pay duties and taxes on your behalf. Don't forget this important
step.

Give your broker access

2

Importers will experience extreme delays and extra expense getting goods into
Canada after May 2024 if they don't register for the CARM Client Portal.
Register ASAP.

Register ASAP

1

4 - Reconcile your account

3 - Get a bond

2 - Give your broker access

1 - Register ASAP

Click on tabs below to explore

4 Actions Every Importer Must Take

How it affects you

Why this is important

Toggle to learn more

This is NOT a drill

If you don't meet CARM's requirements, your imported goods are going to be held
at the border (no ifs, ands or buts) until they undergo a full accounting and
payments process. That means serious delays.

Most importers have yet to meet these requirements and the time window to do so
is rapidly closing.

Delays at the border mean disappointed customers, angry carrier partners, lost
revenue and tarnished business reputation.

You will need to gather a healthy volume of your trade data and go through
several processes in order to complete your CARM registration - so don't leave
it to the last minute.

You'll need to get your own surety bond, which can sometimes be a very lengthy
and involved process. You can get one with a preferred rate through Livingston's
simplified process.

You will need to gather a healthy volume of your trade data and go through
several processes in order to complete your CARM registration - so don't leave
it to the last minute. You'll need to get your own surety bond, which can
sometimes be a very lengthy and involved process. You can get one with a
preferred rate through Livingston's simplified process.

If you don't meet CARM's requirements, your imported goods are going to be held
at the border (no ifs, ands or buts) until they undergo a full accounting and
payments process. That means serious delays. Most importers have yet to meet
these requirements and the time window to do so is rapidly closing. Delays at
the border mean disappointed customers, angry carrier partners, lost revenue and
tarnished business reputation.

How it affects you

Why this is important

Toggle to learn more

This is NOT a drill

How you learn about CARM is up to you. We've got a super-detailed FAQ and web
page rife with all the relevant technical terms. Orrrrrrr ... ... you can watch
the short, fun videos on this page. Totally your call.

Choose your own adventure

What is CARM?

Understanding the CARM Client Portal

CARM Customs Bond Requirements

Hide

Ideally, you should do both by yesterday. If you haven't, you'll need to do both
before CARM launches in May 2024. If you don't, your goods are going to be stuck
at the border until the full accounting and payments process can be completed.

See answer

By when do I need to register on the Portal and get a bond?

Hide

There is. The CBSA requires a minimum bond of $25,000, or 50% of your highest
monthly duty/tax bill over the past 12 months (whichever is highest). You can
also post a cash deposit for 100% of your highest monthly duty/tax bill over the
past 12 months.

See answer

Is there a minimum bond requirement?

Hide

Most importers use their customs broker's bond to insure transactions. But once
CARM is launched in May 2024, that will no longer be allowed. Each importer must
have their own bond.

See answer

Why didn't the CBSA require me to have a bond until now?

Hide

The CBSA wants assurance that each importer will pay the duties and taxes owing.
A customs bond ensures they will get their money even if the importer defaults
on payment.

See answer

What is a customs bond and why does the CBSA require one?

Hide

Times will vary by organization. However, Registration can often be complex and
time-consuming, requiring importers to obtain a GCkey, answer multiple affinity
questions and provide additional details to complete the process.

See answer

How long does it take to register on the CARM Client Portal?

Click to learn more

5 common questions on CARM

The CBSA wants to ensure that it's going to get paid duties and taxes owing from
each importer. To do this, it requires each importer to provide financial
surety. This can come in the form of a customs bond or a cash deposit. Either
way, the surety must be posted by the importer, not a third-party, such as a
customs broker.

Surety

Your CARM Client Portal account is YOURS. Just like your bank account. If you
plan on having your customs broker pay your duties and taxes on your behalf
after May 2024, you will need to give your broker(s) access to the Portal
through the Delegation of Authority process. The good news is the CBSA has
created a detailed video and web page to help guide you through.

Delegation of Authority

If you've ever had to report a stolen credit card, you probably know that credit
card companies grill you with a number of security questions before they'll even
entertain a discussion. The same goes with CARM registration. The CBSA is going
to ask a series of affinity questions. These are questions about your
transactions with the CBSA. The problem is, for most importers, it's their
customs broker who takes care of those transactions, and importers don't have
much visibility into them. So you may need to get the answers to the affinity
questions from your customs broker.

Affinity Questions

GC stands for Government of Canada. The GCkey is basically a way for the
government to authenticate who you are BEFORE it gives you the option to sign up
for the CARM Client Portal. So you have to register for and get your GCkey
before you can register for the CARM Client Portal.

GCkey

Surety

Delegation of Authority

Affinity Questions

GCkey

Click to learn more

CARM lingo you need to know

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Download now

Download our CARM FAQs to get answers to all your questions (and some you didn't
know to ask).

Learn more

Access webinars, how-to videos and more in-depth resources on the impact of CARM
and the actions importers need to take.

Click to learn more

You've just scratched the surface.

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4 Actions Every Importer Must Take





1

2

3

4




Register ASAP

Give your broker access

Get a bond

Reconcile your account

Importers will experience extreme delays and extra expense getting goods into
Canada after May 2024 if they don't register for the CARM Client Portal.
Register ASAP.

Your customs broker needs access to your CARM client portal account; otherwise
they can't pay duties and taxes on your behalf. Don't forget this important
step.

Surprise! You've been using your customs broker's surety bond all along to
secure your imports. Under CARM, you'll need your own bond. Good news! You can
get one here.

The launch of CARM is an ideal time to figure out what's current, what's
outstanding and what you may not have to pay. It's an arduous process, but help
is available.

EXPLAINER

CARM inertia is about to get your imports delayed at the border.




A quick and not-at-all-alarmist primer on how to prevent even more supply chain
disruption.




Let's go




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