ATF Form 4473 is a document completed by anyone purchasing a firearm from a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder, such as a gun shop.
Select a fillable ATF Form 4473 from our PDF Forms hub and download it to your device to prepare it for printing. Then, you can issue this document to the buyer and have them fill it out and sign it.
ATF Form 4473 is a document completed by anyone purchasing a firearm from a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder, such as a gun shop.
Select a fillable ATF Form 4473 from our PDF Forms hub and download it to your device to prepare it for printing. Then, you can issue this document to the buyer and have them fill it out and sign it.
Step 1: Open ATF Form 4473.
Step 2: Complete Sections A, C, and E if you’re a transferor/seller.
Step 3: Complete Sections B and D if you’re a transferee/buyer, according to the ATF Form 4473 instructions.
Step 4: Sign the document in the designated slot (these are in separate sections for the buyer and the seller).
Step 5: Store ATF Form 4473 for future use.
ATF Form 4473, known as the Firearms Transaction Record, is used to document firearms purchases from a seller with a Federal Firearms License (FFL). This form is used to determine the buyer’s eligibility to own firearms and collect information about their background and potential criminal record.
The buyer of the firearm is required to complete ATF Form 4473, which is issued when they visit a licensed firearms dealer.
The holder of an FFL keeps the ATF Form 4473 for at least 20 years after the purchase in case of an inspection. After that period has ended, the forms can be kept in a separate warehouse that’s still part of the business premises.
You need to complete ATF Form 4473 whenever you receive a firearm from a licensed firearms dealer. This entails purchases, exchanges, loans, and rentals.
If the ATF Form 4473 is incomplete or incorrect, the buyer may have their purchase denied until they provide the right information. However, if the document is accepted, both the buyer and the FFL holder risk facing criminal charges and severe penalties, possibly even a prison sentence.
1
2
3
You can get a blank ATF Form 4473 from pdf.net; simply open our PDF Forms hub, select the document you need, and download it to your device.
A 4473 form doesn’t have an expiration date, but the associated National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) is only valid for 30 days. In other words, if the check is initiated, but the buyer doesn’t purchase a firearm in a month, they’ll need to be subjected to another check before the transfer is allowed.
ATF Form 4473 may change depending on the specifics of the firearm being purchased or the particular requirements of different states. However, in general, the format is similar, and it’s always filled out in the same way.
If your ATF Form 4473 is missing information, you may face significant penalties, some of which include prison time. To avoid this scenario, cross-check your document with an ATF Form 4473 example to make sure all details are in place.
If you are a buyer, you can’t fill out your ATF Form 4473 online unless the seller offers you this option while you are at their store. Some sellers use electronic systems to complete these forms, but a physical visit is still necessary.
This form is free to view and edit, but you must purchase our subscription plan if you want to download and save it to your device.
You can correct mistakes on ATF Form 4473 by making a photocopy of the inaccurately completed form and making changes there. Then, this copy should be signed and attached to the original document, and the two should be stored together. It’s important not to make any changes directly on the incorrect ATF Form 4473.
No, you can’t complete ATF Form 4473 before going to the gun store because this document is only valid if it’s filled out on the premises.
Yes, ATF Form 4473 requires a background check by the NICS, which is initiated by the seller/transferor. You can purchase a gun only once it’s verified that you have no past criminal offenses.