The CBSA’s grace period for late payment penalties and interest ended January 31, 2026. Learn what this means for you.
The grace period is over
For Canadian importers, the last few years have been a period of significant adjustment with the rollout of the CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) system. To help businesses adapt, the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) offered a transition period. During this time, they waived penalties and interest on late payments to give importers breathing room while they learned the new system.
As of January 31, 2026, the transition period has officially ended.
Why this matters now
During the transition, you might have missed a deadline or overlooked a notice without seeing an immediate impact on your bottom line. That flexibility is gone. With CARM fully implemented and in full force, importers are expected to manage their accounts through the CARM Client Portal (CCP).
Many importers are inadvertently putting themselves at risk because they simply aren’t logging into the portal enough. Important notices, daily updates, and changes to your account status happen within the CCP. If you aren’t checking it regularly, you are missing critical messages that directly impact your standing as an importer. Relying on push notifications from the CCP is not enough to keep you up to date.
Taking ownership of your statement of account
One of the biggest shifts under CARM is the level of direct responsibility placed on the importer. While partners like Livingston are here to support your customs operations, the ultimate ownership of your financial standing with the CBSA rests with you.
This means you must take a proactive approach to your Statement of Account (SOA). Regardless of the service provider you use for brokerage, you are responsible for monitoring your own financial activities within the portal.
Your post-accounting obligations
Staying compliant isn’t just about getting goods across the border. It involves a continuous cycle of financial and administrative diligence. To avoid penalties under this reinstated enforcement regime, focus on these three core areas:
- Payment of duties and taxes: Ensure payments are made in full and on time. With interest waivers gone, late payments will compound quickly.
- Making adjustments: If you spot an error in your declaration or assessment, it is your duty to file adjustments promptly. Ignoring discrepancies can lead to larger compliance issues down the road.
- Record keeping: Accurate, accessible records are mandatory. You must be able to substantiate your import activities if audited.
Don’t let notifications slip through the cracks
We frequently see clients who are surprised by account issues simply because they haven’t visited the CARM Client Portal recently. The Statement of Account can be dense, but it is the definitive source of truth for your import activities; a consolidated invoice containing the financial accounting for your imports. Make it a standard operating procedure in your finance or logistics department to log in to the portal at regular intervals. Verify your balances, check for new notifications, and ensure that what you see in your internal records matches what the CBSA has on file.
Next steps
The return of penalties and interest is a wake-up call to tighten up your internal processes. Do not rely solely on external partners to alert you to every notification. Proactive management is the best defense against unexpected costs.
If you’re unsure about your current standing or how to interpret specific aspects of your Statement of Account, now is the time to review the CBSA’s guidance or consult with your internal trade compliance team. Staying ahead of these obligations will save you time, money, and stress in the long run.