1. This notice provides information on the application of the United States Surtax Remission Order (Motor Vehicles 2025) (Remission Order), which is intended to minimize the negative effects of the surtaxes on Canadian motor vehicle companies by providing relief in exceptional situations.
2. The remission order allows the relief of surtaxes paid or payable by the United States Surtax Order (Motor Vehicles 2025) (Surtax Order) in respect of eligible goods. The Order took effect on April 9, 2025 and imposed surtax of 25% of the value for duty on motor vehicles that originate in the United States.
3. Remission is being granted to importers with business numbers set out in the schedule to the Order of surtaxes paid or payable under subsection 2(2) of the United States Surtax Order (Motor Vehicles 2025) pursuant to section 115 of the Customs Tariff, in respect of the tariff items set out in Schedule 1 of the Surtax Order, to the maximum quantity of vehicles set out in the schedule of the remission order.
4. This Remission Order does not apply to personal importations.
5. The administration of this Remission Order is the responsibility of the Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA).
Application
6. Remission is granted for those goods described in Schedule 1 of the United States Surtax Order (Motor Vehicles 2025), under the following conditions:
(a) in the case of a good listed in Schedule 1 of the Surtax Order, imported into Canada on or after April 9, 2025, and not later than April 8, 2026, imported into Canada by an importer with a business number set out in the schedule to the Remission Order and subject to surtaxes;
(b) the importer makes a claim for remission to the Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness within two years after the date of importation;
(c) the importer provides the Minister and the Minister of Industry with any reports that may be requested by either Minister respecting the importing to Canada and sale in Canada of motor vehicles assembled in the United States and the manufacture of motor vehicles in Canada;
(d) in the case of an importer that has reduced or paused its production in Canada because one of its factories is being retooled, the importer undertakes to the Minister and the Minister of Industry to restart manufacturing in accordance with the conditions established by those Ministers; and
(e) no other claim for relief of the surtax has been granted under the Customs Tariff in respect of the motor vehicle.
7. All claims for relief of surtax under the remission order for these goods described in Schedule 1 of the Surtax Order, imported by an importer with a business number set out in the schedule, must attach all relevant documents (e.g. Commercial Accounting Document (CAD), purchase order, commercial invoice, Canada customs invoice, bill of lading, way bill, etc.) that demonstrate that the goods imported meet the conditions of the Remission Order.
8. Remission is granted up to a maximum of the number of motor vehicles set out in Column 2 of the remission order schedule for the importer applying for remission.
9. All claims for relief of surtax under the remission order for these goods must also attach all relevant documents that demonstrate that the good was imported into Canada on or after April 9, 2025, and not later than April 8, 2026 and subject to surtaxes.
How to apply
10. In respect of commercial goods, to obtain relief of surtax at time of import, the relevant special authorization code is to be entered in the Special Authority OIC field on the Commercial Accounting Declaration. Where remission has been granted, surtax must be declared in addition to the applicable remission.
11. Special authorization code 25-0465 is to be entered for goods listed in Schedule 1 to the US Surtax Order (Motor Vehicles 2025) and imported into Canada by an importer with a business number set out in the schedule of the Remission Order.
12. Please refer to Memorandum D17-1-10, Coding of Customs Accounting Documents, for additional information on completing the CAD. Refer to Memorandum D8-4-1, Information Pertaining to Remission Orders, for additional information on remission orders.
13. For non-commercial goods that qualify for the remission at time of import and are accounted for on a Form BSF715 or BSF715-1 Casual Goods Accounting Document, the form will be prepared according to standard procedures without collection of surtax.
Corrections, adjustments, and re-determinations
14. If imported goods qualify for remissions under the United States Surtax Remission Order (Motor Vehicles 2025), but remission was not claimed on the CAD, a correction or adjustment may be submitted via the CARM Client Portal (CCP) or via EDI/API by entering the relevant special authority code in the Special Authority OIC field.
15. Corrections in order to seek remissions under the United States Surtax Remission Order (Motor Vehicles 2025), can be made up until the CAD payment due date, and will relieve the surtax listed as owing. The reason code provided must be R5-00-COT. For more information on how to submit a CAD correction, please refer to Memorandum D17-1-5: Accounting for Commercial Goods.
16. Adjustments can be made after the CAD payment due date and will result in a refund of the surtax incorrectly paid. The reason code provided must be R2-74-1-GR-53. For more information on how to submit an adjustment, please refer to Memorandum D17-2-1: Adjusting Commercial Accounting Declarations.
17. Adjustments for non-commercial goods cannot be submitted through CARM and must be made through Form B2G, CBSA Informal Adjustment Request. For more information on non-commercial refunds please refer to Memorandum D6-2-6: Refund of Duties and Taxes on Non-Commercial Importations.
18. The origin, tariff classification, and/or value for duty of imported goods may be re-determined or further re-determined in accordance with the Customs Act and the Determination, Re-determination and Further Re-determination of Origin, Tariff Classification and Value for Duty Regulations. This may occur further to a self-adjustment. In so doing, as with customs duties and taxes, the CBSA may assess any undeclared amount of surtax.
Examinations and verifications
19. Imported goods may be subject to examination at the time of importation and to post-release verification for compliance with the tariff classification, valuation, origin, and any other applicable provisions administered by the CBSA. In cases of non-compliance, in addition to the imposition of a surtax, customs duties and taxes, penalties may be issued, and interest may accrue and be assessed on the amount owing.
Advance rulings for commercial importations
20. For predictability and certainty on how goods are to be accounted for, an Origin National Customs Rulings in advance of the importation of goods can be requested from the CBSA. Refer to Memorandum D11-11-1: National Customs Rulings for additional information. Refer to Memorandum D11-11-3: Advance Rulings for Tariff Classification for additional information on requesting an advance ruling on the tariff classification of goods.
We will continue to monitor developments and provide updates as new information becomes available.
For more information or assistance, please reach out to us at [email protected]