CARM: Assess and pay duties and taxes on imported commercial goods
Help for businesses, workers and travellers affected by Canada-United States (US) relations
Find federal support for businesses and workers. Includes information about importing and exporting, travelling between Canada and the US, buying Canadian products, and key contacts.
Don’t have a user account?
Business owner
Before you register to the CARM Client Portal, decide who in your business will be the primary user that runs the business’s account. The business account manager role is automatically assigned to the user that registers the business account in CARM.
If you are the business owner and want the role of business account manager yourself, sign in and register your business in the CARM Client Portal. Follow the detailed instructions below for business account managers and regular users.
If you want your employee to have the role of business account manager, provide them with the necessary information required to register your business in the CARM Client Portal.
Note: Once your business account is registered in the CARM Client Portal, anyone in your business who needs access to the CARM business account can request access. The business account manager will be the one delegating access and can assign different roles in the business account. When possible, at least 2 users in your business should have the business account manager role to avoid losing access to business account management activities.
Business account managers (BAMs) and regular users
- To start, select the Sign in button. Choose one of the 2 sign-in options available and create a username and password. Every time you sign in moving forward you must use the same option that you used when registering. Your options are:
- GCKey username and password: A GCKey username and password can be used to sign in to any Government of Canada online account that supports GCKey
- Interac Sign-in Partner: Use your online Canadian banking username and password (if your online bank is supported)
- Complete the steps as instructed to enrol for multi-factor authentication.
- Follow the screens to set up your personal profile.
- On the First time setup screen, you will have 2 options:
- For business account managers (BAM): Register my business
- For regular users: Request access to my employer's business
If you need help with registration, complete and submit the Client support contact form: Canada Border Services Agency.
The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) assesses and collects duties and taxes on commercial goods imported into Canada using the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system.
Latest
- Learn about the latest CARM benefits Updated:
- Customs Notice 25-32: End of CARM transition measures and coming into force of importer of record changes to the Customs Act
- Get help with the CARM Client Portal: An interactive tool to help you register your business
Get started
How trade chain partners can register and start using the CARM Client Portal to do business with us.
User guides
User guides covering registration and how to navigate portal functions.
Release Prior to Payment New
Enrol in the Release Prior to Payment (RPP) sub-program and post the required financial security.
Features and benefits
Milestones and new features like harmonized billing cycles.
Customs notices
Proposed changes to customs programs and procedures related to CARM.
Webinars
Register for an upcoming CARM Client Portal webinar.
Updated:
Commercial import accounting
How and when to make customs payments. How to access your statements. Refunds and other accounting practices.
Register for or modify an import-export program account
You need a business number and an import-export program (RM) account before you import or export goods.
List of licensed customs brokers
Find a broker approved and licensed by the CBSA to support your import or export business.
Software and service providers
Third-party registered software and service providers to connect with CBSA's various EDI applications and offer financial security.
Advance and national rulings
Published ruling letters with the applicant's consent for the Advance Ruling (Tariff Classification and Origin) and National Customs Ruling programs.
Client service and system availability
Information on processing times and service standards for trade-related processes.
Bulletins
System updates, known issues, planned outages, helpdesk holiday schedule.
Departmental memoranda
Guidelines on policy, legislation and agency procedures.
How automation is used to account for imported commercial goods in Canada
See how rule-based automation, or algorithms, in the CARM system are used to assess duties and taxes and to identify issues.
Contact us
- CARM client service and helpdesk
- CARM Technical Support Unit: API, CAD and overseas calls
- Subscribe to the CARM distribution list: cbsa.carm_engagement-engagement_de_la_gcra.asfc@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
- Connect with us on LinkedIn
Related links
- Development and maintenance expenditures: , to
- Canada Gazette: Regulations Amending Certain Regulations Administered and Enforced by the Canada Border Services Agency
- Canada Gazette: Order Amending the Order Fixing May 13, 2024 as the Day on Which Certain Provisions of the Budget Implementation Act, 2021, No. 1 and the Budget Implementation Act, 2022, No. 1 Come into Force
- Canada Gazette, Part 2, Volume 158, Number 6: Financial Security (Electronic Means) Regulations
Features
CARM video gallery
A series of video tutorials to help you use the CARM Client Portal.
Getting “reel” at the border
Discover the impact of CARM on your business and how to prepare accordingly.
CARM Client Portal: Testimonials
Business owners share their experiences and thoughts about CARM.
Page details
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