CARM Registration

The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) digital initiative is changing how CBSA assesses and collects duties and taxes on commercial goods imported into Canada. Starting October 2024, importers pay duties and taxes directly to CBSA.

Importers must register on the CARM Client Portal and properly delegate access to employees and all relevant third parties, such as customs brokers and trade consultants. The customs broker will then be able to continue managing both imports and CARM procedures.

To complete your CARM PORTAL REGISTRATION:

1. Create login credentials and a user account in the CARM Client Portal (see video tutorial or follow onboarding user guides).

2. Link your user account to your RM account (tutorial).

If your Business Number has been used to import goods in the past six years, you will be asked to answer affinity (verification) questions. If you are having trouble answering these questions, please reach out to ra@dilas.ca.

 3. Delegate authority to DILAS INTERNATIONAL LTD (tutorial).

Approve the request by selecting “All programs,” then Access: “Business management.” Check all three boxes under “Transaction visibility rules” – this will allow DILAS to validate supply chain transmissions and support in your CBSA statement reconciliation.

To receive goods prior to paying duties and taxes on them, importers are required to be enrolled in The Release Prior to Payment (RPP) Program on CARM and have a form of financial security called Bond. The bond must be posted before May 20, 2025. Please review the full RPP & bond requirements here.

The required bond amount for your company is indicated in your CARM Portal > Financial Information > Financial Security. You can decide which bond option works best for your business:

• Option 1: A financial security instrument for 50% of the highest monthly duties and taxes payment, with a minimum financial security of $5,000 per Import program (RM account). Acera Insurance is our partner for this type of financial security; contact us for their bond application form.
• Option 2: A cash deposit for 100% of the highest monthly duties and taxes payment for your Importer Number. This deposit is NOT used to pay your duties and taxes; consider it a form of interest-free loan to the government. A cash bond is recoverable upon importer account closure.

Here is CBSA’s official step-by-step guide on how to post a bond.

For technical assistance, contact the CARM Client Support Help Desk (CCSH):

• Client support contact form
• Phone: 1-800-461-9999, menu option 2 – CBSA Assessment, Revenue Management & CARM
• Email at CARM_Engagement-Engagement_de_la_GCRA.ASFC@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
• CCSH hours of operation are Mon to Fri, 7 am to 7 pm ET.