{"id":4542,"date":"2019-08-15T16:05:32","date_gmt":"2019-08-15T20:05:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/?p=4542"},"modified":"2019-08-23T10:23:03","modified_gmt":"2019-08-23T14:23:03","slug":"beginners-guide-amps-penalties","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/clearit.ca\/canadian-customs-broker-blog\/beginners-guide-amps-penalties\/","title":{"rendered":"A Beginner’s Guide To AMPS Penalties"},"content":{"rendered":"

Importing and exporting goods is rarely as simple as putting a stamp and a destination on your package. There are rules and regulations that all Canadians must adhere to when shipping items over the border, and the <\/span>AMPS penalties<\/span> are what the CBSA uses to penalize those who don\u2019t. The practice of following these rules is usually referred to as customs compliance. If you\u2019re a regular importer or exporter, customs compliance practices are vital to your operation. But what exactly happens when you violate a rule that the CBSA (<\/span>Canadian Border Services Agency<\/span><\/a><\/span>) has put forth?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What are the <\/span>AMPS penalties<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

The AMPS or <\/span>Administrative Monetary Penalty System<\/span><\/a><\/span> is the system that the CBSA uses to give monetary penalties to importers and exporters for violating CBSA trade legislation. Simply put, they\u2019re a fine you\u2019ll have to pay to the CBSA if you\u2019re caught breaking shipping laws. The purpose of\u00a0 <\/span>AMPS penalties<\/span> is to deter non-compliance and to make sure that all businesses operate on a level playing field.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The penalties are essentially fines, and they don\u2019t result in a criminal record or prison time. <\/span>AMPS penalties<\/span> can be issued in combination with other kinds of fines. However, <\/span>AMPS penalties<\/span> will not be proposed if a customs violation is serious enough to warrant prosecution.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

When you receive an AMPS penalty, your business profile will be marked and the violation will stay on CBSA records for three years. This could be costly, as your shipments will be watched more carefully, being often subjected to time-costly <\/span>secondary inspections<\/span><\/a><\/span> at the border. It also results in fees that could range from a nuisance to a serious impact on your operations, depending on the amount.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

What violations result in <\/span>AMPS penalties<\/span>?<\/span><\/h2>\n

There are 152 different contraventions, or violations, that are punishable under AMPS. You can find a full list of all the contraventions and the associated monetary penalties on the <\/span>Amps Master Penalty Document<\/span><\/a><\/span>. According to the CBSA, these are the most common acts of non-compliance that result in <\/span>AMPS penalties<\/span>:<\/span><\/p>\n