Importers Prepare for Implementation of New Duty Collection Portal

October 20, 2024 TruthUSA

Importers are expressing concerns about a new online portal for collecting taxes on goods entering Canada, which is causing issues ahead of its launch this week and may impact consumers.

Starting Monday, the federal government’s digital platform for paying duties will go live, aiming to modernize the previous paper-based system used by customs officials for many years.

Issues center around registration difficulties and navigating the platform, which will handle around $40 billion in annual revenue collection.

Lisa McEwan, co-owner of Hemisphere Freight, had to hire additional staff to manage the onboarding process and assist clients with payments due to confusion surrounding business numbers and customs bonds.

She and others note that federal employees appeared overwhelmed and often took several weeks to respond to inquiries leading up to the launch of the Canada Border Services Agency Assessment Revenue Management project (CARM).

The CBSA states that the portal will simplify the import process by providing a modern platform for submitting documents to thousands of shippers and offering direct access to their data while enhancing compliance with trade regulations.