Skip to main content

CARM Cutover begins at 4:00 pm ET

The CARM cutover period will commence today at 4:00 pm ET and run until October 21st, 2024 at 3:00 am ET when the CARM system will become the official system for importers and other trade chain partners to account for their goods and pay the applicable duties and taxes owed to the Canada Border Services Agency.

At the beginning of the cutover period, some CBSA legacy systems, such as the Customs Commercial System (CCS) and the Customs Automated Data Exchange (CADEX), will be retired.

Here is what you can expect during the cutover period:

  • Release processing is not impacted during the cutover period and remains available with the exception of a maintenance window that will extend from the evening of Saturday, October 5th, 2024 at 10:00 p.m. to the morning of Sunday, October 6th, 2024 at 8:00 a.m.
  • CCS and CADEX will no longer be available starting October 4th, 2024 at 4:00 pm ET. The submission of electronic accounting documents (B3s) must be held until CARM functionality and the Commercial Accounting Declaration (CAD) is available on October 21st, 2024.
  • The final Daily Notice will be issued early on October 5th, 2024 (at ~12:10am). For all transactions submitted before October 4th, 2024 4pm EDT. TCPs will be unable to submit transactions after October 4th, 2024 4pm EDT and must hold onto their accounting until they can submit a CAD when CARM goes live on October 21st, 2024.
  • Accounting data withheld during the cutover period and accounting data with current due dates must be transmitted as a CAD according to the CAD submission schedule in Customs Notice 24-29.
  • Submission of V-type B3s are to be withheld during the cutover period and submitted via the CCP after it becomes available on October 21st, 2024.
  • Existing Release Prior to Payment (RPP) privileges remain in place and broker RPP bonds can be used as per current processes.
  • Paper C-Type B3 accounting documents will continue to be accepted and processed at Commercial Office of Release.
  • Commercial Temporary Importations will follow the current-state process using the E29B form. There will be no need to capture the E29B forms presented during cutover in the CCP after CARM  implementation.
  • For Customs Bonded Warehouse (CBW) movements of goods, CBSA will accept and process paper type 10 B3s.
  • Processing of any disbursement requests will not be available during the cutover period.
  • The CARM Client Portal (CCP) will not be available during the cutover period. TCPs will not be able to onboard to the portal until availability resumes on October 21st, 2024 at 3:00 a.m. ET.
  • Trusted Trader Enrolment: Customs Self-Assessment (CSA) enrolment activities will be paused during cutover, resuming October 21st, 2024.
  • The CARM testing environment will not be available during the cutover period. TCPs will be able to access the lab the week of October 28th, 2024.
  • New commercial importers, including non-resident importers, requiring a business number (BN) and importer program account (RM) in order to obtain release for their importation of commercial goods can continue to work with the CRA to obtain a BN, and the CBSA to obtain the RM account for their importing activities via the interim process established in May 2024. This service will be offered until 12:00 pm ET, October 18th, 2024..
  • The CBSA will continue to designate new exporter RM accounts during the cutover period until October 18th, 2024 12:00 pm ET, but exporters will not be able to use their new BN/RM to register for the Canadian Export Reporting System (CERS) or G7 Electronic Data Interchange Export Reporting system until the cutover period is complete.
  • New exporters may continue to submit CERS and G7-EDI registration forms during the cutover period, however these will not be processed until the cutover is complete. 
  • The CADEX Release Notification messages will no longer be sent to importers and brokers as of October 4th, 2024 (4:00 pm ET).
  • New warehouses cannot be registered during the cutover period. TCPs will not be able to submit cargo and release documents to those warehouses.
  • Duties Relief Program (DRP) applications and Drawback claims will follow the current-state process.
  • CBSA recommends TCPs, where possible, to refrain from submitting any paper Single and Blanket B2 Adjustments, Voluntary Disclosure requests, Duties Relief Program diversions, Release Prior to Payment applications and wait to submit in CARM after October 21st, 2024.
  • TCPs can submit their appeals using the recourse e-mail submission process or paper submission.

Please reach out to us if you have questions.  Stay CALM and CARM on.

Topic(s)

CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM)

Information source

Canadian Society of Customs Brokers (CSCB)
Obtained by CSCB on behalf of members
Disclaimer

The foregoing information is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as, nor should it be considered, professional advice or a substitute for conducting your own thorough research and review. Before making any decisions or taking any action based on the information provided, you should conduct your own independent investigation and/or seek professional advice from a qualified expert in the relevant field. The CSCB disclaims all liability for actions taken or not taken based on the information provided.