Canada border agency says CARM lifts import revenue, stays under budget

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CARM lifts import revenue

Highlights

Canada Border Services Agency's CARM platform, launched Oct. 21, 2024, now processes 99.65% of import declarations electronically with 99% uptime.
Duties and taxes collected rose from $39.8 billion in fiscal 2023-24 to $41.7 billion in fiscal 2024-25, with further increases projected.
CARM core development cost $498.6 million, staying under the $526.8 million budget, with total investment through 2025-26 at $804 million.

System performance and revenue gains

According to Canada.ca, the Canada Border Services Agency said in an update that CARM has modernized the assessment, collection and management of duties and taxes on commercial goods imported into Canada since its launch on Oct. 21, 2024.

The agency says the CARM Client Portal is available 99% of the time, giving businesses a stable platform to declare, account for and pay taxes on imported goods. It adds that nearly all imports, 99.65%, are now processed electronically because commercial importers can enroll directly in the Release Prior to Payment program through the system.

CBSA says the platform also helps it respond more quickly to changing trade conditions by administering counter-tariffs on U.S. goods and applying relief and refunds under remission orders in a timely way. The system was designed to address revenue and compliance gaps identified in earlier Auditor General reports, with the goal of improving the accuracy of customs duty assessment and collection.

Budget delivery and trade community support

Revenue collection has increased since the system went live, according to the figures provided by the agency. Duties and taxes collected for the Government of Canada totaled $39.8 billion in fiscal 2023-24 before launch, rose to $41.7 billion in fiscal 2024-25, and are projected to exceed that level in the current outlook.

More than 263,000 businesses currently use CARM, with registrations continuing to rise. The core development of the system was completed through a phased rollout at $498.6 million, below the approved budget of $526.8 million, while the total investment including ongoing IT maintenance from 2010-11 through 2025-26 stands at $804 million.

The CBSA says it continues to update support resources for the trade community, including user guides, webinars, web content, factsheets, departmental memoranda and customs notices. It also offers a self-help interactive tool, live system demonstrations, digital and printed handouts, and on-site support at CBSA commercial offices.

In our earlier article on Menara Asia’s Menarabena platform, we covered how the construction sector in Malaysia is accelerating digitalisation by connecting contractors with building-material suppliers while centralising certification, documentation and compliance data. We also noted the role of cooperation with CIDB-linked bodies to streamline approval and product certification processes, with the aim of improving supply-chain efficiency without replacing existing regulatory requirements.

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