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Reg. (EU) 2023/956Free CBAM check

What is the CBAM, who does it affect, what do you have to do, and when — a complete guide from zero for importers, exporters and compliance professionals

The CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism) is a European Union regulation that puts a carbon price on imports of steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen from countries outside the EU. It entered its definitive phase on 1 January 2026. If you import any of these materials, the CBAM requires you to register as a declarant, calculate embedded emissions, purchase certificates, submit annual declarations and undergo verification. This guide explains everything from the beginning. No prior knowledge assumed. Start with a free check to see if your imports are affected.

Free CBAM check: does it apply to you?Generate your CBAM dossier — €299

€299 · One-time · 12 professional deliverables · Your data never leaves your browser

Built on Reg. (EU) 2023/956 · Modified by Reg. (EU) 2025/2083 · 13,566 default values (Reg. 2025/2621) · 100% browser-side — your data never leaves your device

The numbers that matter for your CBAM compliance

6 sectors
Steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity, hydrogen
1 Jan 2026
Definitive CBAM phase started
50 t
De minimis threshold (Art. 2a) — above this, obligations apply

Your CBAM compliance timeline

1
What is the CBAM?
A carbon price on imports. Reg. (EU) 2023/956, modified by Reg. 2025/2083. It mirrors the EU ETS by putting a cost on the carbon embedded in imported goods.
2
Who does it affect?
Any EU importer of steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity or hydrogen from non-exempt countries. The exemptions (Annex III) are only: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
3
What are the obligations?
Register (Art. 5), calculate emissions (Art. 7), buy certificates quarterly (Art. 22), declare annually by 30 September (Art. 6), prepare for verification (Art. 8), keep records (Annex V).
4
What are the deadlines?
1 January 2026: definitive phase. 30 September 2027: first annual declaration. Quarterly certificate purchases from 2026.
5
What are the penalties?
Art. 26: EU ETS-rate penalty per unsurrendered certificate for authorised declarants. 3–5× for unauthorised importers.
6
What should I do first?
Use the free CBAMCheck checker to confirm whether your imports are in scope. If they are, generate a €299 dossier.

Three mistakes that inflate your CBAM cost or create compliance risk

MISTAKE 1 — ASSUMPTION OF KNOWLEDGE

Starting with technical details before explaining the basics

CBAM is new. Many importers do not know what it is. This guide starts from zero.

MISTAKE 2 — SELLING BEFORE EXPLAINING

Pushing a product before the reader understands the problem

First understand the CBAM, then check if it applies, then decide on documentation.

MISTAKE 3 — JARGON BARRIER

Using carbon market terminology without explanation

Embedded emissions = the CO₂ released during production. Certificates = what you buy to cover those emissions. Declaration = the annual report you submit.

What you receive: 12 deliverables in one ZIP file

CBAMCheck generates a complete CBAM compliance dossier — not a single PDF. 12 structured documents delivered as a ZIP file, each citing the specific article of Reg. (EU) 2023/956 it addresses.

1

Scope Assessment

Determines whether your imports fall under CBAM and which obligations apply. Art. 2 + Art. 2a of Reg. (EU) 2023/956.

2

Embedded Emissions Calculation

Calculates embedded emissions per tonne using default values from Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/2621 or your actual data. Art. 7 + Annex IV.

3

CBAM Certificate Estimation

Estimates the number of certificates required and the projected cost, adjusted for free allocation (Art. 31).

4

Draft CBAM Declaration

Pre-structured declaration following Art. 6(2) requirements: quantities, emissions, certificates, carbon price.

5

Carbon Price Documentation

Documents any carbon price paid in the country of origin for Art. 9 deduction. Pre-formatted for the CBAM Registry.

6

Annex V Record Template

Record-keeping template compliant with Annex V requirements. Ready for verifier review.

7

Verification Preparation

Structured preparation for Art. 8 verification by an accredited verifier. Annex VI checklist included.

8

Supplier Letter Template

Model letter in English requesting emissions data and installation information from your third-country supplier.

9

Compliance Calendar (.ics)

Importable calendar with quarterly certificate obligations (Art. 22(2)), annual declaration deadline (30 September), and key milestones.

10

Executive Summary

One-page overview of your CBAM exposure: cost estimate, timeline, risk areas. Ready for management or board reporting.

11

Interactive HTML Dashboard

Standalone HTML dashboard with 2026–2032 projections reflecting free allocation phase-out (Art. 31). Works offline, no subscription.

12

Compliance Calendar Document

Visual calendar of all CBAM deadlines, reporting windows and certificate purchase schedules.

Generated from your input data, in your browser. No data leaves your device.

See what you get

Download a sample CBAMCheck dossier. This is a real output generated with generic data — the same 12 deliverables you will receive with your company’s actual figures.

Download sample dossier (ZIP)

Generic data. Your dossier will contain your actual import figures, CN codes and emission calculations.

Estimate your CBAM exposure

Select your sector and country of origin. CBAMCheck searches through 13,566 official records from Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/2621 and shows the result with the 2026 mark-up included.

Quick CBAM Calculator

Average European Commission default values per sector and country of origin.

Default emissions (tCO₂e/t)
Mark-up 2026 (10%)
Total emissions with mark-up
CBAM rate 2026 (2.5%)
Estimated certificates

This is a quick estimate. Your complete dossier includes projections through 2032, an editable interactive dashboard, and 10 PDF documents.

Generate your complete dossier — €299 →

Average values per sector from Implementing Reg. (EU) 2025/2621. The complete dossier uses the exact CN code of your goods, not the sector average. Estimated EU ETS price: €75/tCO₂e.

What CBAM compliance costs with each alternative

FeatureFree toolCBAMCheckSaaS Enterprise
PriceFree€299 (one-time)€1,990–€4,800/year
ModelGeneric template12 professional deliverablesAnnual subscription
Default valuesNot included13,566 (Reg. 2025/2621)Partial
Interactive dashboardNoHTML, 7-year projectionInside platform
Supplier letterNoEnglish template includedVariable
Art. 8 verification prepNoIncludedVariable
PrivacyVariable100% browser-sideData on server
Multi-company supportNoVia Professional PackYes

Choose your licence

1 DOSSIER
€299
/ dossier

  • 10 professional PDF documents
  • Interactive HTML Dashboard (projection 2026–2032)
  • 13,566 official values integrated
  • Template letter in English for supplier
  • Importable .ics calendar
  • 10 regenerations · 30 days
  • 1 licence = 1 importing company
Get your individual licence →
PROFESSIONAL PACK
€1,999
70 generations · 1 key

  • 70 generations with a single key
  • 70 complete dossiers (12 deliverables each)
  • Switch product between generations
  • Ideal for customs representatives
  • For consultants billing CBAM compliance
70 interactive HTML Dashboards × product (projection 2026–2032). Real-time tables and charts with variable calculations. No technical training required. Fully intuitive.
🔒 Data stays on your computer. No information shared with third parties.
Request Professional Pack →

How your licence works

1
1 licence = 1 importing company. You pay €299 for the dossier you generate now. The licence is linked to your company name + EORI.
2
Up to 10 regenerations of the ZIP to correct data, adjust goods or update technical information.
3
30-day editing window from first activation. Within that period you can regenerate the dossier as many times as needed (up to 10).
4
The downloaded dossier is yours forever. It does not expire and is not tied to any subscription. The 10 PDFs, HTML dashboard and .ics calendar remain functional offline.

The EU CBAM portal asks for data. CBAMCheck calculates it.

THE EU CBAM PORTAL

Asks you to declare data

The EU CBAM Registry (Art. 14) requires you to submit total embedded emissions, number of certificates and carbon price documentation. It does not calculate these for you. You must arrive with the numbers ready.

CBAMCHECK

Calculates the data you need to declare

CBAMCheck takes your import data (tonnes, CN codes, country of origin) and generates the embedded emissions calculation, certificate estimation, carbon price documentation and all supporting records. You download the dossier and use it to complete the CBAM Registry submission.

Enforcement: what happens when CBAM certificates are missing

Art. 26 of Reg. (EU) 2023/956 sets the penalties.

⚠️
Authorised declarant: penalty identical to EU ETS excess emissions penalty
EU ETS rate per missing certificate

Art. 26(1): an authorised CBAM declarant who fails to surrender the required certificates by 30 September faces a penalty identical to the excess emissions penalty under Art. 16(3) of Directive 2003/87/EC, increased pursuant to Art. 16(4). The penalty applies per certificate not surrendered. Payment does not release the obligation to surrender outstanding certificates (Art. 26(3)).

⚠️
Unauthorised importer: penalty 3–5 times the standard rate
3–5×

Art. 26(2): a person who introduces goods without authorisation faces a penalty of 3 to 5 times the standard penalty, depending on duration, gravity, scope, intent and cooperation. This also applies to importers exceeding the de minimis threshold (50 tonnes, Art. 2a) without authorisation (Art. 26(2a)).

Managing CBAM for multiple importing companies or clients?

Professional Pack: 70 generations. One dossier per company.

Request Professional Pack
One-business-day response · No sales call required

What CBAMCheck guarantees and what it does not

CBAMCheck generates a document structured according to Art. 6 and Art. 7 + Annex IV of Regulation (EU) 2023/956 from the information you enter. The truthfulness, accuracy and completeness of that information is your responsibility as importer or authorised CBAM declarant.

We guarantee that the document structure follows Regulation (EU) 2023/956 and that the legal references cited are correct. We do not guarantee that a specific document will be accepted by a national competent authority in a specific case.

CBAMCheck is not legal advice. For specific situations, consult a lawyer or specialised regulatory consultancy.

Frequently asked questions

What does CBAM stand for?
Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism. It is a regulation of the European Union (Reg. (EU) 2023/956, modified by Reg. 2025/2083) that puts a carbon price on imports of steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity and hydrogen from non-EU countries.
Does CBAM apply to me?
If you import steel, aluminium, cement, fertilisers, electricity or hydrogen from a country not listed in Annex III (only Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland are exempt), and your annual net mass exceeds 50 tonnes (Art. 2a), yes.
What is the first step?
Use the free CBAMCheck checker. Enter your CN codes and country of origin. The checker tells you whether CBAM applies.
Is this a subscription?
No. One-time payment. The licence includes 30 days of editing and 10 regenerations. The downloaded dossier is yours to keep.
Can I get a refund?
Upon activating the licence you give express consent for immediate generation of digital content pursuant to Art. 16(m) of Directive (EU) 2011/83, waiving the 14-day withdrawal right. Refunds are accepted only for a reproducible technical fault.
What if the regulation changes?
If the regulation changes during your licence validity, you can regenerate the document with the updated version of the generator at no extra cost.
⚠️ Important notice: CBAMCheck is a self-assessment documentation tool, not legal advice and not a third-party audit. The document is generated from your input data. You are responsible for the accuracy of the data you provide. CBAMCheck does not replace a qualified professional assessment.

Now you know what CBAM is. Check if it applies to you.

Free check first. If affected: 12 deliverables, 13,566 default values, browser-side processing. €299.

€299 one-time
12 professional deliverables · Browser-side · No subscription · Reg. (EU) 2023/956
Start with a free CBAM check