What You Need To Know About Canada Customs Updates Regarding Maintaining Records For Both Canadian and Non-Resident Importers

The Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) recently updated the requirements for both Canadian and Non-Resident importers with respect to maintaining records in connection with their importing activities, at locations other than their place of business in Canada.

If you maintain your Customs records, including Servers, outside of Canada or at a place other than your place of business in Canada, then this update is for you. If so, you must complete a CBSA-prescribed Form BSF900 – Agreement to Maintain Records Elsewhere Than the Place of Business in Canada.

In addition, you must keep your import records pertaining to Canada for a period of six years following the importation of commercial goods. This includes records relating to the goods’ origin, marking, purchase, receiving, costs/values of the commercial goods, payment for the commercial goods, as well as the sale or other disposal of the commercial goods. If you are not retaining these records, you are encouraged to review your current record-keeping policies. Failure to do so, could result in potential penalties up to a maximum of $25,000.

As noted above, if you’re not retaining these records (paper or electronic format) in Canada or at your CBSA-registered place of business in Canada (e.g., another place of business or a third-party location), then you must request CBSA’s permission to keep them elsewhere as noted above.

It is encouraged that Importers contact Customs Trade Services Inc. and our Consulting team can facilitate the filing of the Agreement to Maintain Records Elsewhere Than the Place of Business in Canada with the CBSA, in order to ensure ongoing compliance with this legislation and avoid potentially significant monetary penalties.

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