Exporters

Frequently asked questions -
The Administrative Monetary Penalty System (AMPS)

Questions

1. Do we have to file a copy of the commercial invoice with Form B13A to get them stamped by the CBSA? If we don't, are there any penalties that apply?

2. We have customers shipping orders containing 1000 different items, which could all be under a different HS code. How could we issue a Form B13A in that case? Are we allowed to state, in the description field of Form B13A, "as per attached commercial invoice", and just fill out the total value?

Answers

1. Do we have to file a copy of the commercial invoice with Form B13A to get them stamped by the CBSA? If we don't, are there any penalties that apply?

   Unless it is mentioned on a Form B13A, there is no requirement to file the commercial invoice with Form B13A.

2. We have customers shipping orders containing 1000 different items, which could all be under a different HS code. How could we issue a Form B13A in that case? Are we allowed to state, in the description field of Form B13A, "as per attached commercial invoice", and just fill out the total value?

   All items must be accounted for on Form B13A. Once the key fields are filled out on that form, an attached list can be used for field 12 (Country of origin); field 13 (Item description); field 14 (HS Commodity Code); field 15 (Qty & unit of measure); field 16 (Value of F.O.B. point of exit); field 17 (Gross weight); and field 18 (Total value F.O.B. point of exit). If exact freight charges are not known to point of exit, an estimate is acceptable. If CAED (Canadian Automated Export Declaration) is used, you can save the frames from it. This would save time for the person completing Form B13A, since only value, quantity, or consignee may change for a shipment.