Fillable Form ATF 4473

What is ATF Form 4473?

ATF Form 4473, also referred to as the Firearms Transaction Record, is a form by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF). If an individual proposes to buy a firearm, such as a gun, from a Federal Firearms License (FFL) holder, he or she must fill out ATF Form 4473.

If you purchase a firearm and fill out ATF Form 4473, the firearm dealer will copy your information into a logbook, the Acquisition and Disposition Log. While the form is protected by the Privacy Act of 1974, similar to tax returns, and can only be disclosed in accordance with the act, the ATF requires dealers to report certain kinds of sales to the bureau. Moreover, if the ATF asks for a copy of your AFT Form 4473 during a criminal investigation, the firearm dealer is required to hand it over.

If you decide to purchase a firearm from a private individual who is not an FFL licensed dealer, you do not have to complete ATF Form 4473. However, take note that purchases of small arms or handguns from private individuals from another state require the completion of ATF Form 4473 before the sale. Some states, such as California, Nevada, New Jersey, and Washington, require individual sellers to sell through dealers.

How to fill out ATF Form 4473?

ATF Form 4473 is a six-page form that requires some of your personal information. It also requires information about the specifics of the firearm you wish to purchase.

You must answer ATF Form 4473 accurately and truthfully. Lying purposeful on the form is a felony. In addition to fines, you can serve up to five years in prison, even if the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) denied the transaction.

Transferor’s/Seller’s Transaction Serial Number (if any)

Enter the transaction serial number of the transferor or seller, if there is any.

Section A

This section must be completed by the transferor or seller before the transferee or buyer completes Section B.

Items 1 to 6

These items must be completed with the firearm/s information.

1. Manufacturer and Importer

If the manufacturer and importer are different, include both.

2. Model

Enter the model of the firearm.

3. Serial Number

Firearms manufactured after 1968 by Federal firearms licensees are marked with a serial number. If the firearm is not legally marked with a serial number, you may enter “NSN” (No Serial Number), or “N/A,” or “None.”

4. Type

Enter the type of firearm.

5. Caliber or Gauge

Enter the caliber or gauge of the firearm.

6. Total Number of Firearms to be Transferred

Spell out the total number and do not use numerals.

7. Check if any part of this transaction is a pawn redemption

Mark the box if applicable, then enter Record Line Number(s) From Question 1.

8. Check if this transaction is to facilitate a private party transfer

Mark the box if applicable.

If more than three firearms will be involved in the transaction, use ATF Form 5300.9A, Firearms Transaction Record Continuation Sheet, and attach it to your ATF Form 4473.

Section B

This section must be completed personally by the transferee or buyer.

9. Transferee’s/Buyer’s Full Name

Enter your full legal name in the following format: Last Name, First Name, Middle Name.

10. Current State of Residence and Address

Enter your current address, including the Number and Street Address, City, State, ZIP Code, County/Parish/Borough.

11. Place of Birth

Provide the U.S. City and State or the Foreign Country.

12. Height

Enter your height in Feet and Inches.

13. Weight

Enter your weight in pounds.

14. Sex

Select your gender by marking the applicable box. You may select “Male,” “Female,” or “Non-Binary.”

15. Birth Date

Enter your date of birth in the following format: Month, Day, Year.

16. Social Security Number

This item is optional, but providing your SSN will help prevent misidentification.

17. Unique Personal Identification Number (UPIN) or Appeals Management Database Identification (AMD ID)

Enter the information, if applicable.

18.a. Ethnicity

Select your ethnicity by marking the appropriate box. You can select “Hispanic or Latino” or “Not Hispanic or Latino.”

18.b. Race

You can select one or more ethnicity by marking the appropriate box/es. You can select “American Indian or Alaska Native,” “Asian,” “Black or African American,” “Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander,” or “White.”

19. Country of Citizenship

You can select more than one of the options, if applicable. You can select “United States of America (U.S.A.) and “Other Country/Countries.” If you select “Other Country/Countries,” specify in the space provided.

20. If you are an alien, record your U.S.-issued alien or admission number (AR#, USCIS#, I94#)

Enter the information, if applicable.

21 Answer the following questions by checking or marking either the “yes” or “no” box.

a. Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm(s) listed on this form and any continuation sheet(s) (ATF Form 5300.9A)?

b. Are you under indictment or information in any court for a felony or any other crime for which the judge could imprison you for more than one year, or are you a current member of the military who has been charged with violation(s) of the Uniform Code of Military Justice and whose charge(s) have been referred to a general court-martial?

c. Have you ever been convicted in any court, including a military court, of a felony, or any other crime for which the judge could have imprisoned you for more than one year, even if you received a shorter sentence including probation?

d. Are you a fugitive from justice?

e. Are you an unlawful user of, or addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, narcotic drug, or any other controlled substance?

f. Have you ever been adjudicated as a mental defective OR have you ever been committed to a mental institution?

g. Have you ever been discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions?

h. Are you subject to a court order, including a Military Protection Order issued by a military judge or magistrate, restraining you from harassing, stalking, or threatening your child or an intimate partner or child of such partner?

i. Have you ever been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence, or are you or have you ever been a member of the military and been convicted of a crime that included, as an element, the use of force against a person as identified in the instructions?

j. Have you ever renounced your United States citizenship?

k. Are you an alien illegally or unlawfully in the United States?

21.l.1. Are you an alien who has been admitted to the United States under a nonimmigrant visa? 21.l.2. If you are such an alien do you fall within any of the exceptions stated in the instructions?

22. Signature

Certify that your answers are true, correct, and complete by signing.

23. Certification Date

Enter the date you signed the form. Use the following format: Month, Day, Year.

Section C

This section must be completed by the transferor or seller prior to the transfer of the firearm(s).

24. Category of firearm(s) to be transferred

Mark the boxes that apply. The categories are “Handgun,” “Long Gun (rifle or shotgun),” or “Other Firearm (frame, receiver, etc.).”

25. If sale or transfer is at a qualifying gun show or event

Enter the Name of Function and City and State in the provided spaces.

26.a. Identification

Enter the information of valid government-issued photo identification, including Issuing Authority and Type of Identification, Number of Identification, Expiration Date of Identification in the following format: Month, Day, Year.

26.b. Supplemental Government Issued Identification

Enter the information, if the identification document does not show the current residence address or full legal name.

26.c. Official Military Orders Establishing Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

Enter PCS Base/City and State, PCS Effective Date, and PCS Order Number.

26.d. Exception to the Nonimmigrant Alien Prohibition

If you answered “yes” to 21.1.2. record the type of documentation showing the exception to the prohibition and attach a copy to this ATF Form 4473.

27.a. Date the transferee’s/buyer’s identifying information in Section B was transmitted to NICS or the appropriate State agency

Enter Month, Day, and Year.

27.b. The NICS or State transaction number was

Enter the information, if applicable.

27.c. The response initially provided by NICS or the appropriate State agency was

Select “Proceed,” “Denied,” “Cancelled,” or “Delayed.” If “Delayed,” write the additional information needed.

27.d. Prior to transfer the following response(s) was/were later provided by NICS or the appropriate State agency

Select “Proceed,” “Denied,” “Cancelled,” “Overturned,” or “No response was provided within 3 business days.” Provide a date for the options that require it.

27.e. After the firearm was transferred, the following response was provided by NICS or the appropriate State agency on

Enter the date and select “Proceed,” “Denied,” or “Cancelled.”

27.f. Name and Brady identification number of the NICS examiner

This item is optional. Provide the Name and Number of the examiner.

27.g. Name of FFL Employee Completing NICS check

This item is optional. Provide the Name of FFL Employee.

28. No NICS check is required because a background check was completed during the NFA approval process on the individual who will receive the NFA firearm(s), as reflected on the approved NFA application

Mark the box, if applicable.

29. No NICS check is required because the transferee/buyer has a valid permit from the State where the transfer is to take place, which qualifies as an exemption to NICS

Mark the box, if applicable. Then, provide the Issuing State and Permit Type, Date of Issuance, Expiration Date, and Permit Number.

Section D

This section must be completed personally by the transferee or buyer

30. Transferee’s/Buyer’s Signature

Certify that your answers in Section B are still true, correct, and complete by signing, if the transfer of the firearm/s takes place on a different day from the date that you signed Section B.

31. Recertification Date

Enter the date in the following format: Month, Day, Year.

Section E

This section must be completed by the transferor or seller.

32. For use by Licensee

33. Trade/corporate name and address of transferor/seller and Federal Firearm License Number

Items 34 to 36

These items must be completed by the individual transferring the firearm/s. However, if the transaction is denied or canceled, the individual who completed Section C must complete these items.

34. Transferor’s/Seller’s Name

Enter the transferor or seller’s name.

35. Transferor/Seller’s Signature

The transferor or seller should sign this item.

36. Date Transferred

Enter the date in the following format: Month, Day, Year.