CCLA Presentation
Accounts Receivable
Ledger (ARL) Project
July 22, 2015
ARL Context
• The CBSA has committed to system modernization and process
improvement.
• The CBSA Assessment and Revenue Management (CARM) project
supports this goal through:
– the introduction of new payment options; and
– the ability to register, conduct revenue assessment activities and
manage accounts online, by reducing red tape and automating
key business processes.
• The Accounts Receivable Ledger (ARL) solution is a foundational
component of the CARM project and will be implemented in
January 2016.
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ARL Overview
ARL provides:
• A fully integrated and centralized commercial client-based
accounting system;
• Enhanced electronic Daily Notices (DNs) & Monthly Statements of
Account (SOAs);
• Off-setting credits against debits to reduce the number of refunds;
and,
• ePayment and internet banking options for commercial clients.
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ARL Status Update
ARL was divided into three components to minimize risk:
Client
Master Data
(CMD)
• Client Master Data profile created to populate the system
• Target Date: April 2015
• Status: Complete
ePayment
for CSA
Clients
• Enables Customs Self-Assessments (CSA) clients to pay
CBSA electronically through a participating financial
institution
• Target Date: April 2015
• Status: Complete
ARL
• Introduces an integrated client-based accounting system
• Target Date: January 25th, 2016
• Status: On track
4
Trade Chain Partner Readiness Activities
Mar
‘15
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec Jan ’16 Feb
Mar
CBSA Engagement and Support Activities to TCPs
System & Business Process Changes
TCPs implement new code
changes by Jan 23, 2016
Testing Registration
Testing / Certification Window
ARL Go-Live
(Jan 25, 2016)
First DN (Jan 26, 2016)
First SOA
(Feb 25, 2016)
Focus
TCP Readiness Activities
CBSA Engagement and
Support Activities to TCPs
• CBSA will provide readiness support and communications through the ARL
Readiness Working Group, BCCC CARM Sub-committee and other avenues (e.g.
CARM Mailbox, ARL Readiness Enablement Calls, Association outreach).
System & Business
Process Changes
• Initiate system (code) and business process changes (as required) based on ARL
Reference Manual and the ECCRDs (Technical Specs).
Testing Registration
• Complete and submit the Testing Application Form and return to TCCU by mail.
• Once reviewed and approved, TCCU will distribute testing packages including ARL
Reference Manual and ECCRDs.
Testing / Certification
Window
• Conduct testing starting in September 2015 and become certified.
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Cutover Schedule
January
F
S Su M T
W Th
F
S Su
M
T W Th
F
S Su
M
T W Th
F
S Su
M
T
W Th
F
S
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30
Fri 22
Sun 17
• Cutover code
activation (CCS to
ARL)
Mon 25
ARL
• No ARL DN
• Last daily K84
printed (Fri data)
• TCPs to be notified
of successful golive)
Sat 23
• Last daily K84
produced
Tue 26
ARL
• First ARL DN
(Sat, Sun, Mon
data)
• ARL begins
accepting
payments,
processing
refunds
ARL Release
• ARL goes live and becomes official
system of record
Wed 27
Thu 28
ARL
• Second ARL DN
(Tues data)
ARL
• Third ARL DN
(Wed data)
• Last monthly
K84 sent
electronically in
evening
• Last monthly
K84 available
on paper
Fri 29
ARL
•
Fourth ARL
DN (Thurs.
data)
•
•
Final
payments for
K84 accepted
Due date for
K84 payment
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Cutover Recommendation
• Implement necessary code changes by January 23rd
• Keep old code intact to continue to receive electronic K84 for the
month of January
• Receive electronic DNs beginning on January 26th
• Keeping old code intact also provides a contingency in case of
cutover issues
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Payments & Refunds During Transition
• Final payments in legacy system:
− Payments against monthly K84s can be made on the 28th or the
29th of January; after this date, all payments - including any late
payments on monthly K84’s – will be made in ARL
− Payments against B3s or daily K84s from the January billing
period can be made until the 22nd of January; after this date,
payments will be applied using ARL, and will be processed
within the new (February) billing period
• Since refunds take several days to process through the system, new
refund requests will be halted one week in advance of go-live; i.e.
refund requests will not be processed from January 17th to January
24th.
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ARL Impacts: New Statement Content
The daily and monthly K84s are being replaced by a new Daily Notice
(DN) and a new monthly Statement of Account (SOA).
• The current K84s only list B3 transactions and LAPs. The new
importer statements will contain multiple transaction types including:
payments made, interest owing, and refunds issued.
• The new SOA shows monthly totals, enabling account-level
management and reconciliation, and helping to manage payment by
due dates.
• Brokers will receive DNs and SOAs sectioned by importer instead of
one statement per ASEC number, while importers will receive a DN /
SOA at the BN15 account level.
• The new SOAs will be produced and distributed more rapidly,
providing a more consistent interval between the statement being
issued and the payment due date.
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ARL Impacts: New Statement Format
Current statements only
provide B3 transactions
and LAPs
New Statements:
• Display summary information
• Include new content
• Group transactions to make due dates
clearer
Optional XML format can
be opened in Excel
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TCP Communication & Engagement
• The success of the ARL project is contingent on adoption of the ARL
solution by the trade chain partner (TCP) community.
• The CBSA is committed to providing readiness support and
communications through the ARL Readiness Working Group, BCCC
CARM Sub-committee, and other avenues.
• The ARL Readiness Working Group was chartered to ensure the
project has effective two-way communications channels in place with
the TCP community to support ARL adoption.
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TCP Engagement Plan
Go-live
Jun
2015
BCCC / BCCC Subcommittee
Representatives
Jul
2015
Aug
2015
Sep
2015
Oct
2015
Nov
2015
Dec
2015
Jan
2016
Feb
2016
Mar
2016
BCCC Meetings
BCCC Sub-committee Meetings and Calls
ARL Readiness Working Group
Information Sessions (TBD)
Information PDFs for Web Posting
General Audiences
Provide FAQs
Update FAQs (as required)
Pulse Survey (TBD)
ECCRDs & Reference Manual
Technical Audiences
Registration Form & Test Package
Technical Support & ARL Readiness Enablement (Open Mic) Calls (TBD)
K84 Messaging
Financial / Accounting
Audiences
Sample
Statements
ARL Readiness Enablement (Open Mic) Calls (TBD)
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What Do I Need to Do?
March to December: Make necessary system and process changes
1. Using the sample statements and information provided in the Electronic
Commerce Client Requirements Document (ECCRD), configure your system to
accept the new statements
2. Adjust accounting/statement reconciliation process steps to take advantage of
the new statement information
July: Register for testing/certification
1. Determine the preferred format to receive your statements
2. Complete your Testing Application Form and return to the Technical
Commercial Client Unit (TCCU)
3. Once reviewed and approved, TCCU will distribute the testing package
September to January: Complete testing/certification
 Access the testing environment and certify your system
CARM Mailbox: CBSA-ASFC_CARM.GCRA@cbsa-asfc.gc.ca
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