Stay compliant and keep your goods moving — discover what Canadian importers must do before the CARM deadline to maintain Release Prior to Payment privileges.
What’s Changing on May 20, 2025?
If you import into Canada and haven’t posted your financial security in the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) Client Portal, you’re staring down a ticking clock. The CBSA has granted a 30-day extension to the original transition period, moving the deadline to 3 a.m. EDT on May 20, 2025. Importers now have until this time to post their financial security in the CARM system to maintain Release Prior to Payment (RPP) privileges. That means no more quick clearances at the border before settling on duties and taxes. Miss the deadline, and you’re in for a very different (and much slower) import experience. CBSA RPP Extension
So, what’s changing — and how can you stay ahead of the curve without drowning in red tape? Let’s unpack the essentials.
The Urgent Shift: What’s Happening and Why It Matters
The Canada Border Services Agency’s (CBSA) CARM initiative is reshaping how importers manage customs declarations, payments, and compliance. It’s not just a import declaration software update — it’s a comprehensive system overhaul.
At the center of it all is the CARM Client Portal (CCP), where importers must register, file Commercial Accounting Declarations (CADs), and—most critically—post financial security to maintain access to the RPP program.
RPP has long been the holy grail of convenience. It lets you release your goods electronically at the border before paying duties and taxes. But after May 20, 2025, you’ll only keep that privilege if you, the importer, take financial security into your own hands. Customs brokers are no longer holding the security for you.
That means without your own security posted in CARM, your shipments could get stuck in customs purgatory.
The New Rules of the Game: Understanding Financial Security
Let’s run through some numbers — because the new financial security model isn’t one-size-fits-all. Importers are required to provide financial security based on their highest monthly accounts receivable (including duties and GST) over the past 12 months.
The options are:
- Cash Deposit: 100% of the highest monthly accounts receivable.
- Surety Bond: 50% of the highest monthly accounts receivable, with a minimum of $5,000 per RM account and a maximum of $10 million. CBSA
For new importers without a 12-month transaction history, CBSA will determine the required financial security based on estimated import volumes.
Suddenly, the stakes are higher. You’re now responsible for knowing your average volumes, forecasting accurately, and putting real money — or its bonded equivalent — on the line. That’s not a bad thing…if you’re prepared.
Smart Compliance, Seamless Operations
Here’s the upside: doing things the right way doesn’t just keep you out of trouble — it can make your operations better.
Registering in the CCP, posting financial security, and switching to CADs open the door to fully electronic import declaration workflows. No more trekking to commercial offices. No more paper delays. Just faster clearances, streamlined processes, and real-time visibility into your duties and taxes.
But only if you’re set up correctly. That’s where CrimsonLogic comes in.
At CrimsonLogic, we don’t just help you comply with it, we help you excel. Our Integrated Import Declaration (IID) filing software is built for importers, navigating these very changes.
- Need to file CADs? Our Canadian customs declaration software supports electronic submission, adjustment, and reconciliation—without the manual mess.
- Want to track duties and taxes in real-time? We’ve got dashboard-level visibility, down to the penny.
- Worried about your financial security calculation? Our tools help you analyze, monitor, and manage your obligations with clarity and confidence.
And if you’re dealing with high-volume imports, our API integrations sync seamlessly with your accounting and inventory systems so you can automate recordkeeping, streamline Statements of Account reconciliation, and pull advanced reports without lifting a finger.
Because future-proofing your import operations shouldn’t be a full-time job.
The Clock Is Ticking: Why You Need to Act Now
May 2025 feels far away. But CARM is a multi-step process. You need time to:
- Register your business in the CCP
- Assign user roles and access
- Understand your financial security requirements
- Secure a bond or prepare a cash deposit
- Test and optimize your new import declaration workflows
The CBSA strongly encourages importers to post their financial security well before the May 20, 2025, deadline to avoid potential disruptions. Failure to do so will result in the loss of RPP privileges, requiring payment of all duties and taxes before goods can be released, leading to longer processing times and potential delays.
Whether you’re a seasoned importer or stepping into the Canadian market for the first time, the message is the same: CARM is coming, and it’s not optional. But with the right tools and guidance, it doesn’t have to be complicated.
At CrimsonLogic, we empower importers to stay ahead of compliance requirements while unlocking real operational efficiency. Let us help you navigate the CARM transition — seamlessly, securely, and with total peace of mind.
Need help with CARM or integrated import declarations into Canada? Get started here
