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CARM is live and mandatory. If you import into Canada and haven't registered yet, your shipments are at risk of being held at the border.

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CARM — What Every Canadian Importer Must Know

The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project is CBSA's new system for managing commercial imports into Canada. It replaces the legacy billing and payment process and changes how importers interact with CBSA — permanently.

The Basics

What Is CARM?

CARM is a major CBSA initiative that modernizes how commercial import duties and taxes are assessed, paid, and managed in Canada.

Key Changes CARM Introduced

  • Importers must have their own CARM Client Portal account — they can no longer rely solely on their broker
  • The Release Prior to Payment (RPP) program is now managed directly by importers, not their brokers
  • Monthly duty and tax statements are now issued directly to the importer through CARM
  • Broker delegation must be explicitly set up in the importer's CARM portal account
  • CBSA billing now arrives via the CARM portal — not by mail or through the broker
  • Payment must be made directly by the importer through CARM — brokers can no longer pay on their behalf by default

Before CARM vs. After CARM

Before

Broker managed all billing and payments

After CARM

Importer owns portal + payment responsibility

Before

RPP bond held by broker

After CARM

Importer must enroll their own RPP bond

Before

Statement mailed to importer

After CARM

Statement in CARM portal only

Registration Steps

How to Get CARM-Compliant — With Our Help

We walk you through every step so nothing is missed and your account is set up correctly from day one.

1

Confirm Your BN

Make sure your CRA Business Number (BN) has an import/export RM account. If not, we help you register one — takes 1–2 business days.

2

Create Your CARM Account

Register at the CARM Client Portal using your BN. We guide you through MFA setup, business profile, and user access configuration.

3

Enroll in RPP

Sign up for the Release Prior to Payment program and obtain your RPP bond. Without this, your goods are held until duties are paid in full.

4

Delegate Your Broker

Set up our broker delegation in your CARM portal so we can file entries on your behalf. This is now a mandatory step — we provide the delegation code and walk you through it.

CARM FAQs

Common CARM Questions

What happens if I haven't registered in CARM yet? +

If you import commercially and haven't registered, your shipments can be held at the border until payment is made upfront. You also risk losing your Release Prior to Payment (RPP) privileges, which means no pre-payment release of goods. Contact us and we'll get your registration completed quickly.

My broker always handled everything — do I really need my own account? +

Yes. Under CARM, the importer of record is directly responsible for their own portal account, RPP bond, and CBSA payments. Your broker can still file entries and manage your customs transactions, but you must set up the delegation in your own CARM account. This can't be bypassed.

What is the RPP bond and do I need one? +

The Release Prior to Payment (RPP) bond allows your goods to be released at the border before the duty and tax payment is due. Without it, CBSA requires full payment before releasing your shipment — causing significant delays. Almost all commercial importers need an RPP bond. We help you choose the right bond type and get it enrolled.

How do I pay my CBSA duties under CARM? +

Under CARM, CBSA issues a monthly Statement of Account through your CARM portal. Payment is due by the last business day of the following month and must be made directly by the importer via the portal using a bank account or pre-authorized debit. We help you understand and reconcile your statements.

Can Crest Customs handle the CARM registration for me? +

We guide you through every step of the registration process — BN confirmation, portal account creation, RPP bond setup, and broker delegation. While certain steps require you to personally access the portal (for security), we walk you through each one in real time so it's done correctly the first time.

Not Registered in CARM Yet?

Don't risk having your shipments held. We'll get you set up fast — usually within 1–2 business days.