Form ATF F 4473 (5300.9 ATF F 4473 (5300.9 Firearms Transaction Record Part 1 Over-the-Counter

OMB No. 1140-0020

U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives

Firearms Transaction Record Part I Over-the-Counter

WARNING: You may not receive a firearm if prohibited by Federal or State law. The information you provide will
be used to determine whether you are prohibited under law from receiving a firearm. Certain violations of the Gun
Control Act, 18 U.S.C. §§ 921 et. seq., are punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment and/or up to a $250,000 fine.

Transferor's Transaction
Serial Number (If any)

Prepare in original only. All entries must be handwritten in ink. Read the Notices, Instructions, and Definitions on
this form. “PLEASE PRINT.”
Section A - Must Be Completed Personally By Transferee (Buyer)
1. Transferee’s Full Name
Last Name
First Name
Middle Name (If no middle name, state “NMN”)

2. Current Residence Address (U.S. Postal abbreviations are acceptable. Cannot be a post office box.)
Number and Street Address
City
County

3. Place of Birth
U.S. City and State

4. Height
-OR-

Foreign Country

Ft.

In.
8. Social Security Number (Optional, but will help prevent misidentification)

5. Weight
(Lbs.)

6. Gender
Male

State

ZIP Code

7. Birth Date
Month
Day

Year

Female
9. Unique Personal Identification Number (UPIN) if applicable (See
Instructions for Question 9.)

10. Race (Ethnicity) (Check one or more boxes. See Instructions for Question 10.)
American Indian or Alaska Native

Black or African American

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

Hispanic or Latino

Asian

White

11. Answer questions 11.a. (see exceptions) through 11.l. and 12 (if applicable) by checking or marking “yes” or “no” in the boxes to the right of the questions.
a. Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm(s) listed on this form? Warning: You are not the actual buyer if you are
Yes
acquiring the firearm(s) on behalf of another person. If you are not the actual buyer, the dealer cannot transfer the firearm(s)
to you. (See Instructions for Question 11.a.) Exception: If you are picking up a repaired firearm(s) for another person, you are not
required to answer 11.a. and may proceed to question 11.b.
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
Yes
more than one year? (See Instructions for Question 11.b.)
c. Have you ever been convicted in any court of a felony, or any other crime, for which the judge could have imprisoned you for more Yes
than one year, even if you received a shorter sentence including probation? (See Instructions for Question 11.c.)
Yes
d. Are you a fugitive from justice?

No

Yes

No

Yes

No

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

Yes

No

h. Are you subject to a court order restraining you from harassing, stalking, or threatening your child or an intimate partner or child of
such partner? (See Instructions for Question 11.h.)

Yes

No

i.

Have you ever been convicted in any court of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence? (See Instructions for Question 11.i.)

Yes

No

j.

Have you ever renounced your United States citizenship?

Yes

No

Yes

No

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 mentally defective (which includes a determination by a court, board, commission, or other lawful
authority that you are a danger to yourself or to others or are incompetent to manage your own affairs) OR have you ever been
committed to a mental institution? (See Instructions for Question 11.f.)

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

No

No
No

Yes No
Are you a nonimmigrant alien? (See Instructions for Question 11.l.) If you answered “no” to this question, do NOT respond to
question 12 and proceed to question 13.
12. If you are a nonimmigrant alien, do you fall within any of the exceptions set forth in the instructions? (If “yes,” the licensee must
Yes No
complete question 20d.) (See Instructions for Question 12.) If question 11.l. is answered with a “no” response, then do NOT
respond to question 12 and proceed to question 13.
13. What is your State of residence 14. What is your country of citizenship? (List/check more than 15. If you are not a citizen of the United States,
(if any)? (See Instructions for
one, if applicable. If you are a citizen of the United States,
what is your U.S.-issued alien number or
Question 13.)
proceed to question 16.)
admission number?
United States of America
l.

Note: Previous Editions Are Obsolete

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Other (Specify)
Transferee (Buyer) Continue to Next Page
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ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) Part I
Revised (
)

I certify that my answers to Section A are true, correct, and complete. I have read and understand the Notices, Instructions, and Definitions
on ATF Form 4473. I understand that answering “yes” to question 11.a. if I am not the actual buyer is a crime punishable as a felony under
Federal law, and may also violate State and/or local law. I understand that a person who answers “yes” to any of the questions 11.b. through
11.k. is prohibited from purchasing or receiving a firearm. I understand that a person who answers “yes” to question 11.l. is prohibited from
purchasing or receiving a firearm, unless the person also answers “yes” to question 12. I also understand that making any false oral or
written statement, or exhibiting any false or misrepresented identification with respect to this transaction, is a crime punishable as a felony
under Federal law, and may also violate State and/or local law. I further understand that the repetitive purchase of firearms for the purpose
of resale for livelihood and profit without a Federal firearms license is a violation of law (See Instructions for Question 16).
16. Transferee’s/Buyer’s Signature
17. Certification Date
Section B - Must Be Completed By Transferor (Seller)
19. If sale at a gun show or other qualifying event.
18. Type of firearm(s) to be transferred (check or mark all that apply):
Handgun

Other Firearm (Frame, Receiver, etc. Name of Event
See Instructions for Question 18.)
City, State

Long Gun
(rifles or
shotguns)

20a. Identification (e.g., Virginia Driver’s license (VA DL) or other valid government-issued photo identification.) (See Instructions for Question 20.a.)
Number on Identification
Expiration Date of Identification (if any)
Issuing Authority and Type of Identification
Year
Month
Day

20b. Alternate Documentation (if driver’s license or other identification document does not show current residence address)
20c. All Aliens: Type and dates of documents that establish 90-day residency (e.g., utility bills or lease agreements). (See Instructions for Question 20.c.)
Date(s) of residence indicated on documents
Type(s) of Document
20d. Nonimmigrant Aliens Must Provide: Type of documentation showing an exception to the nonimmigrant alien prohibition. (See Instructions for
Question 20.d.)
Questions 21, 22, or 23 Must Be Completed Prior To The Transfer Of The Firearm(s) (See Instructions for Questions 21, 22 and 23.)
21a. Date the transferee’s identifying information in Section A was transmit- 21b. The NICS or State transaction number (if provided) was:
ted to NICS or the appropriate State agency: (Month/Day/Year)
Month

Day

Year

21c. The response initially provided by NICS or the appropriate State
agency was:
Proceed
Denied
Cancelled

Delayed
[The firearm(s) may be transferred on
(MDI date provided by NICS)
if State law permits (optional)]

21d. If initial NICS or State response was “Delayed,” the following
response was received from NICS or the appropriate State agency:
Proceed
(date)
Denied

(date)

Cancelled

(date)

No resolution was provided within 3 business days.
21e. (Complete if applicable.) After the firearm was transferred, the following response was received from NICS or the appropriate State agency on:
Cancelled
Denied
Proceed
(date).
21f. The name and Brady identification number of the NICS examiner (Optional)
(name)
22.

(number)

No NICS check was required because the transfer involved only NFA firearm(s). (See Instructions for Question 22.)

23.

No NICS check was required because the buyer has a valid permit from the State where the transfer is to take place, which qualifies as an
exemption to NICS (See Instructions for Question 23.)
Permit Number (if any)
Date of Issuance (if any)
Expiration Date (if any)
Issuing State and Permit Type

Section C - Must Be Completed Personally By Transferee (Buyer)
If the transfer of the firearm(s) takes place on a different day from the date that the transferee (buyer) signed Section A, the transferee must complete
Section C immediately prior to the transfer of the firearm(s). (See Instructions for Question 24 and 25.)
I certify that my answers to the questions in Section A of this form are still true, correct and complete.
24. Transferee’s/Buyer’s Signature
25. Recertification Date

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Transferor (Seller) Continue to Next Page
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ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) Part I
Revised (
)

26.
Manufacturer and/or Importer (If the
manufacturer and importer are different,
the FFL should include both.)

Section D - Must Be Completed By Transferor (Seller)
27.
28.
Model
Serial Number

30a. Total Number of Firearms (Please handwrite by printing e.g., one, two, three, etc. Do not use numerals.)

29.
Type(pistol,revolver,rifle,
shotgun, receiver, frame,
etc.) (See instructions for
question 29)

30.
Caliber or
Gauge

30b. Is any part of this transaction a
Pawn Redemption?
Yes
No

30c. For Use by FFL (See Instructions for Question 30c.)

Complete ATF Form 3310.4 For Multiple Purchases of Handguns Within 5 Consecutive Business Days
32. Federal Firearms License Number (Must contain at least first
31. Trade/corporate name and address of transferor (seller) (Hand stamp may be
three and last five digits of FFL Number X-XX-XXXXX.)
used.)
(Hand stamp may be used.)

The Person Transferring The Firearm(s) Must Complete Questions 33-36. For Denied/Cancelled Transactions,
The Person Who Completed Section B Must Complete Questions 33-35.
I certify that my answers in Sections B and D are true, correct, and complete. I have read and understand the Notices, Instructions, and Definitions
on ATF Form 4473. On the basis of: (1) the statements in Section A (and Section C if the transfer does not occur on the day Section A was completed); (2) my verification of the identification noted in question 20a (and my reverification at the time of transfer if the transfer does not occur on the
day Section A was completed); and (3) the information in the current State Laws and Published Ordinances, it is my belief that it is not unlawful for
me to sell, deliver, transport, or otherwise dispose of the firearm(s) listed on this form to the person identified in Section A.
35. Transferor’s/Seller’s Title
36. Date Transferred
33. Transferor’s/Seller’s Name (Please print) 34. Transferor’s/Seller’s Signature

NOTICES, INSTRUCTIONS AND DEFINITIONS
Purpose of the Form: The information and certification on this form are
designed so that a person licensed under 18 U.S.C. § 923 may determine if he
or she may lawfully sell or deliver a firearm to the person identified in
Section A, and to alert the buyer of certain restrictions on the receipt and
possession of firearms. This form should only be used for sales or transfers
where the seller is licensed under 18 U.S.C. § 923. The seller of a firearm
must determine the lawfulness of the transaction and maintain proper records
of the transaction. Consequently, the seller must be familiar with the
provisions of 18 U.S.C. §§ 921-931 and the regulations in 27 CFR Part 478.
In determining the lawfulness of the sale or delivery of a long gun (rifle or
shotgun) to a resident of another State, the seller is presumed to know the
applicable State laws and published ordinances in both the seller’s State and
the buyer’s State.
After the seller has completed the firearms transaction, he or she must make
the completed, original ATF Form 4473 (which includes the Notices, General
Instructions, and Definitions), and any supporting documents, part of his or
her permanent records. Such Forms 4473 must be retained for at least 20
years. Filing may be chronological (by date), alphabetical (by name), or
numerical (by transaction serial number), as long as all of the seller’s
completed Forms 4473 are filed in the same manner. FORMS 4473 FOR
DENIED/CANCELLED TRANSFERS MUST BE RETAINED: If the transfer
of a firearm is denied/cancelled by NICS, or if for any other reason the
transfer is not complete after a NICS check is initiated, the licensee must
retain the ATF Form 4473 in his or her records for at least 5 years. Forms
4473 with respect to which a sale, delivery, or transfer did not take place shall
be separately retained in alphabetical (by name) or chronological (by date of
transferee’s certification) order.
If you or the buyer discover that an ATF Form 4473 is incomplete or
improperly completed after the firearm has been transferred, and you or the

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buyer wish to make a record of your discovery, then photocopy the inaccurate
form and make any necessary additions or revisions to the photocopy. You only
should make changes to Sections B and D. The buyer should only make changes
to Sections A and C. Whoever made the changes should initial and date the
changes. The corrected photocopy should be attached to the original Form 4473
and retained as part of your permanent records.
Over-the-Counter Transaction: The sale or other disposition of a firearm by a
seller to a buyer, at the seller’s licensed premises. This includes the sale or other
disposition of a rifle or shotgun to a nonresident buyer on such premises.
State Laws and Published Ordinances: The publication (ATF P 5300.5) of
State firearms laws and local ordinances ATF distributes to licensees.
Exportation of Firearms: The State or Commerce Departments may require you
to obtain a license prior to export.
Section A
Question 1. Transferee’s Full Name: The buyer must personally complete
Section A of this form and certify (sign) that the answers are true, correct, and
complete. However, if the buyer is unable to read and/or write, the answers
(other than the signature) may be completed by another person, excluding the
seller. Two persons (other than the seller) must then sign as witnesses to the
buyer’s answers and signature.
When the buyer of a firearm is a corporation, company, association, partnership,
or other such business entity, an officer authorized to act on behalf of the business
must complete Section A of the form with his or her personal information, sign
Section A, and attach a written statement, executed under penalties of perjury,
stating: (A) the firearm is being acquired for the use of and will be the property
of that business entity and (B) the name and address of that business entity.
ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) Part I
Revised (
)

If the buyer’s name in question 1. is illegible, the seller must print the buyer’s
name above the name written by the buyer.
Question 2. Current Residence Address: U.S. Postal abbreviations are
acceptable. (e.g., St., Rd., Dr., PA, NC, etc.). Address cannot be a post office
box. County and Parish are one and the same.
If the buyer is a member of the Armed Forces on active duty acquiring a
firearm in the State where his or her permanent duty station is located, but
does not reside at his or her permanent duty station, the buyer must list both
his or her permanent duty station address and his or her residence address in
response to question 2. If you are a U.S. citizen with two States of residence,
you should list your current residence address in response to question 2 (e.g.,
if you are buying a firearm while staying at your weekend home in State X,
you should list your address in State X in response to question 2).
Question 9. Unique Personal Identification Number (UPIN): For
purchasers approved to have information maintained about them in the FBI
NICS Voluntary Appeal File, NICS will provide them with a Unique Personal
Identification Number, which the buyer should record in question 9. The
licensee may be asked to provide the UPIN to NICS or the State.
Question 10. Race (Ethnicity): Any other race or ethnicity that does not fall
within those indicated, please select the closest representation.
Question 11.a. Actual Transferee/Buyer: For purposes of this form, you are
the actual transferee/buyer if you are purchasing the firearm for yourself or
otherwise acquiring the firearm for yourself (e.g., redeeming the firearm from
pawn/retrieving it from consignment, firearm raffle winner). You are also the
actual transferee/buyer if you are legitimately purchasing the firearm as a gift
for a third party. ACTUAL TRANSFEREE/BUYER EXAMPLES: Mr.
Smith asks Mr. Jones to purchase a firearm for Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith gives Mr.
Jones the money for the firearm. Mr. Jones is NOT THE ACTUAL TRANSFEREE/BUYER of the firearm and must answer “NO” to question 11.a. The
licensee may not transfer the firearm to Mr. Jones. However, if Mr. Brown
goes to buy a firearm with his own money to give to Mr. Black as a present,
Mr. Brown is the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm and should answer
“YES” to question 11.a. However, you may not transfer a firearm to any
person you know or have reasonable cause to believe is prohibited under 18
U.S.C. § 922(g), (n), or (x). Please note: EXCEPTION: If you are picking
up a repaired firearm(s) for another person, you are not required to answer
11.a. and may proceed to question 11.b.
Question 11.b. - 11.l. Definition of Prohibited Person: Generally, 18
U.S.C. § 922 prohibits the shipment, transportation, receipt, or possession in
or affecting interstate commerce of a firearm by one who: has been convicted
of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence; has been convicted of a felony,
or any other crime, punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year
(this does not include State misdemeanors punishable by imprisonment of
two years or less); is a fugitive from justice; is an unlawful user of, or
addicted to, marijuana or any depressant, stimulant, or narcotic drug, or any
other controlled substance; has been adjudicated mentally defective or has
been committed to a mental institution; has been discharged from the Armed
Forces under dishonorable conditions; has renounced his or her U.S.
citizenship; is an alien illegally in the United States or a nonimmigrant alien;
or is subject to certain restraining orders. Furthermore, section 922 prohibits
the shipment, transportation, or receipt in or affecting interstate commerce of
a firearm by one who is under indictment or information for a felony, or any
other crime, punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year.
Question 11.b. Under Indictment or Information or Convicted in any
Court: An indictment, information, or conviction in any Federal, State, or
local court. An information is a formal accusation of a crime verified by a
prosecutor.
EXCEPTION to 11.c. and 11.i.: A person who has been convicted of a
felony, or any other crime, for which the judge could have imprisoned the
person for more than one year, or who has been convicted of a misdemeanor
crime of domestic violence, is not prohibited from purchasing, receiving, or
possessing a firearm if: (1) under the law of the jurisdiction where the
conviction occurred, the person has been pardoned, the conviction has been
expunged or set aside, or the person has had their civil rights (the right to vote,
sit on a jury, and hold public office) taken away and later restored AND (2)
the person is not prohibited by the law of the jurisdiction where the conviction
occurred from receiving or possessing firearms. Persons subject to this
exception should answer “no” to 11.c. or 11.i., as applicable.

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Question 11.f. Adjudicated Mentally Defective: A determination by a court,
board, commission, or other lawful authority that a person, as a result of marked
subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, incompetency, condition, or disease:
(1) is a danger to himself or to others; or (2) lacks the mental capacity to contract
or manage his own affairs. This term shall include: (1) a finding of insanity by a
court in a criminal case; and (2) Those persons found incompetent to stand trial or
found not guilty by reason of lack of mental responsibility.
Committed to a Mental Institution: A formal commitment of a person to a
mental institution by a court, board, commission, or other lawful authority. The
term includes a commitment to a mental institution involuntarily. The term
includes commitment for mental defectiveness or mental illness. It also includes
commitments for other reasons, such as for drug use. The term does not include a
person in a mental institution for observation or a voluntary admission to a mental
institution. Please also refer to Question 11.c. for the definition of a prohibited
person.
EXCEPTION to 11. f. NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007: A person
who has been adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental
institution is not prohibited if: (1) the person was adjudicated or committed by a
department or agency of the Federal Government, such as the United States
Department of Veteran’s Affairs (“VA”) (as opposed to a State court, State board,
or other lawful State authority); and (2) either: (a) the person’s adjudication or
commitment for mental incompetency was set-aside or expunged by the
adjudicating/committing agency; (b) the person has been fully released or
discharged from all mandatory treatment, supervision, or monitoring by the
agency; or (c) the person was found by the agency to no longer suffer from the
mental health condition that served as the basis of the initial adjudication.
Persons who fit this exception should answer “no” to Item 11.f. This
exception does not apply to any person who was adjudicated to be not guilty by
reason of insanity, or based on lack of mental responsibility, or found incompetent to stand trial, in any criminal case or under the Uniform Code of Military
Justice.
Question 11.h. Definition of Restraining Order: Under 18 U.S.C. § 922,
firearms may not be sold to or received by persons subject to a court order that:
(A) was issued after a hearing which the person received actual notice of and had
an opportunity to participate in; (B) restrains such person from harassing, stalking,
or threatening an intimate partner or child of such intimate partner or person, or
engaging in other conduct that would place an intimate partner in reasonable
fear of bodily injury to the partner or child; and (C)(i) includes a finding that
such person represents a credible threat to the physical safety of such intimate
partner or child; or (ii) by its terms explicitly prohibits the use, attempted use,
or threatened use of physical force against such intimate partner or child that
would reasonably be expected to cause bodily injury. An “intimate partner” of
a person is: the spouse or former spouse of the person, the parent of a child of
the person, or an individual who cohabitates or cohabitating with the person.
Question 11.i. Definition of Misdemeanor Crime of Domestic Violence: A
Federal, State, local, or tribal offense that is a misdemeanor under Federal, State,
or tribal law and has, as an element, the use or attempted use of physical force, or
the threatened use of a deadly weapon, committed by a current or former spouse,
parent, or guardian of the victim, by a person with whom the victim shares a
child in common, by a person who is cohabitating with, or has cohabited with
the victim as a spouse, parent, or guardian, or by a person similarly situated to
a spouse, parent, or guardian of the victim. The term includes all misdemeanors
that have as an element the use or attempted use of physical force or the
threatened use of a deadly weapon (e.g., assault and battery), if the offense is
committed by one of the defined parties. (See Exception to 11.c. and 11.i.) A
person who has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence also
is not prohibited unless: (1) the person was represented by a lawyer or gave up
the right to a lawyer; or (2) if the person was entitled to a jury, was tried by a jury,
or gave up the right to a jury trial. Persons subject to this exception should
answer “no” to 11.i.
Question 11.l. “Nonimmigrant Alien”: An alien in the United States in a
nonimmigrant classification. The definition includes, among others, persons
traveling temporarily in the United States for business or pleasure, persons studying
in the United States who maintain a residence abroad, and certain foreign workers.
The definition does NOT include permanent resident aliens.
Sale of Firearms to Legal Aliens: Even if a nonimmigrant alien can establish
that he or she has a U.S.-issued alien number or admission number and has
resided in a State for at least 90 continuous days immediately prior to the date of
ATF Form 4473 (5300.9) Part I
Revised (
)

sale, he or she is prohibited from receiving a firearm unless he or she falls
within an exception to the nonimmigrant alien prohibition. (See Question
11.c. and Exception to 11.l.) If a nonimmigrant alien claims to fall within one
of these exceptions by answering “yes” to question 12, he or she must provide
the licensee with documentation of the exception (e.g., hunting license/permit;
waiver). If the documentation is a hunting license/permit, the licensee must
make sure it has not expired. An expired hunting license/permit does not
qualify for the exception. A licensee MUST complete and may attach a copy
of the documentation to ATF Form 4473.
EXCEPTION to 11.l.: A nonimmigrant alien is not prohibited from purchasing, receiving, or possessing a firearm if the alien: (1) is in possession of a
hunting license or permit lawfully issued in the United States; or (2) has
received a waiver from the prohibition from the Attorney General of the United
States. (See 18 U.S.C. § 922(y)(2) for additional exceptions.) Persons subject
to one of these exceptions should answer “yes” to questions 11.l. and 12 and
provide a copy of the hunting license or letter granting the waiver, which must
be recorded in 20.d. If the Transferee (Buyer) answered “yes” to this
question, the licensee MUST complete 20.d.
Question 12. Exceptions to Nonimmigrant Alien Response: If question
11.l. is answered with a “no” response, then do NOT respond to question 12
and proceed to question 13. If response is “yes,” then licensee must complete
question 20.d., and may attach a copy.
Question 13. State of Residence: The State in which an individual resides.
An individual resides in a State if he or she is present in a State with the
intention of making a home in that State. If an individual is a member of the
Armed Forces on active duty, his or her State of residence also is the State in
which his or her permanent duty station is located. An alien who is legally in
the United States is a resident of a State only if the alien is residing in the State
and has resided in the State continuously for at least 90 days immediately
prior to the date of sale or delivery of a firearm.
If you are a U.S. citizen with two States of residence, you should list your
current residence address in response to question 2 (e.g., if you are buying a
firearm while staying at your weekend home in State X, you should list your
address in State X in response to question 2.) If you are not a citizen of the
United States, you only have a State of residence if you have resided in a State
for at least 90 continuous days immediately prior to the date of this sale.
Question 16. Certification Definition of Engaged in the Business: Under
18 U.S.C. § 922 (a)(1), it is unlawful for a person to engage in the business of
dealing in firearms without a license. A person is engaged in the business of
dealing in firearms if he or she devotes time, attention, and labor to dealing in
firearms as a regular course of trade or business with the principal objective of
livelihood and profit through the repetitive purchase and resale of firearms. A
license is not required of a person who only makes occasional sales,
exchanges, or purchases of firearms for the enhancement of a personal
collection or for a hobby, or who sells all or part of his or her personal
collection of firearms.
Section B
Question 18. Type of Firearm(s): Check all boxes that apply. “Other”
refers to frames, receivers and other firearms that are not either handguns or
long guns (rifles or shotguns), such as firearms having a pistol grip that expel
a shotgun shell, or National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms.
If a frame or receiver can only be made into a long gun (rifle or shotgun), it is
still a frame or receiver not a handgun or long gun. However, they still are
“firearms” by definition, and subject to the same GCA limitations as any other
firearms. See Section 921(a)(3)(b). 18 U.S.C. Section 922(b)(1) makes it
unlawful for a licensee to sell any firearm other than a shotgun or rifle to any
person under the age of 21. Since a frame or receiver for a firearm, to include
one that can only be made into a long gun, is a “firearm other than a shotgun
or rifle,” it cannot be transferred to anyone under the age of 21. Also, note
that multiple sales forms are not required for frames or receivers of any
firearms, or pistol grip shotguns, since they are not “pistols or revolvers”
under Section 923(g)(3)(a).

27 CFR § 478.100, the seller must record the name of event and the location (city
and State) of the sale in question 19.
Question 20a. Identification: List issuing authority (e.g., State, County or
Municipality) and type of identification presented (e.g., Virginia driver’s license
(VA DL), or other valid government-issued identification).
Know Your Customer: Before a licensee may sell or deliver a firearm to a
nonlicensee, the licensee must establish the identity, place of residence, and
age of the buyer. The buyer must provide a valid government-issued photo
identification to the seller that contains the buyer’s name, residence address,
and date of birth. The licensee must record the type, identification number,
and expiration date (if any) of the identification in question 20.a. A driver’s
license or an identification card issued by a State in place of a license is
acceptable. Social Security cards are not acceptable because no address, date of
birth, or photograph is shown on the cards. A combination of governmentissued documents may be provided. For example, if a U.S. citizen has two States
of residence and is trying to buy a handgun in State X, he may provide a driver’s
license (showing his name, date of birth, and photograph) issued by State Y and
another government-issued document (such as a tax document) from State X
showing his residence address. If the buyer is a member of the Armed Forces on
active duty acquiring a firearm in the State where his or her permanent duty
station is located, but he or she has a driver’s license from another State, you
should list the buyer’s military identification card and official orders showing
where his or her permanent duty station is located in response to question 20.a.
Question 20.b. Alternate Documentation: Licensees may accept a combination
of valid government-issued documents to satisfy the identification document
requirements of the law. The required valid government-issued photo identification document bearing the name, photograph, and date of birth of transferee may
be supplemented by another valid, government-issued document showing the
transferee’s residence address. This alternate documentation should be recorded
in question 20.b., with issuing authority and type of identification presented. A
combination of government-issued documents may be provided. For example, if
a U.S. citizen has two States of residence and is trying to buy a handgun in State
X, he may provide a driver’s license (showing his name, date of birth, and
photograph) issued by State Y and another government-issued document (such as
a tax document) from State X showing his residence address.
Question 20.c. Documentation for All Aliens:
Sale of Firearms to Legal Aliens: A buyer who is not a citizen of the United
States must provide additional documentation (beyond a valid government-issued
photo identification that contains the buyer’s name, residence address, and date
of birth) to establish that he or she has resided in a State continuously for at least
90 days immediately prior to the date of the sale. (See Question 13.) Examples
of appropriate documents to establish State residency are utility bills from each of
the last 3 months immediately prior to the sale or a lease agreement that
demonstrates 90 days of residency immediately prior to the sale. A licensee may
attach a copy of the documentation to ATF Form 4473, rather than record the type
of documentation in question 20.c. Acceptable documentation to prove 90-day
continuous residency must be original documentation (e.g., utility bills, current
bank statements, rent receipts, mortgage payments, lease agreements, personal
property tax bills, documents issued by Federal, State, or local government
agencies, first-class mail issued by government agency, insurance policies, or bill
with current address or major credit card bill).
Question 20.d. Documentation for Nonimmigrant Aliens: See instructions for
Question 11.l. Types of acceptable documents would include a valid State-issued
hunting license or a letter from the U.S. Attorney General granting a waiver.
Question(s) 21, 22, 23, NICS BACKGROUND CHECKS: 18 U.S.C. § 922(t)
requires that prior to transferring any firearm to an unlicensed person, a licensed
importer, manufacturer, or dealer must first contact the National Instant Criminal
Background Check System (NICS). NICS will advise the licensee whether the
system finds any information that the purchaser is prohibited by law from
possessing or receiving a firearm. For purposes of this form, contacts to NICS
include contacts to State agencies designated to conduct NICS checks for the
Federal Government. WARNING: Any seller who transfers a firearm to any
person they know or have reasonable cause to believe is prohibited from receiving
or possessing a firearm violates the law, even if the seller has complied with the
background check requirements of the Brady law.

Question 19. Gun Shows: If sale at gun show or other qualifying event
sponsored by any national, State, or local organization, as authorized by

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After the buyer has completed Section A of the form and the licensee has
completed questions 18-20, and before transferring the firearm, the licensee
must contact NICS (read below for NICS check exceptions.) However, the
licensee should NOT contact NICS and should stop the transaction if: the buyer
answers “no” to question 11.a.; the buyer answers “yes” to any question in
11.b.-11.l., unless the buyer only has answered “yes” to question 11.l. and
also answers “yes” to question 12; or the buyer is unable to provide the
documentation required by question 20.a, b, c, or d.
At the time that NICS is contacted, the licensee must record in question 21.ac: the date of contact, the NICS (or State) transaction number, and the initial
response provided by NICS or the State. The licensee may record the Missing
Disposition Information (MDI) date in 21.c. that NICS provides for delayed
transactions (States do not provide this number). If the licensee receives a
“delayed” response, before transferring the firearm, the licensee must record
in question 21.d. any response later provided by NICS or the State or that no
resolution was provided within 3 business days. If the licensee receives a
response from NICS or the State after the firearm has been transferred, he or
she must record this information in question 21.e. Note: States acting as
points of contact for NICS checks may use terms other than “proceed,”
“delayed,” “cancelled,” or “denied.” In such cases, the licensee should check
the box that corresponds to the State’s response. Some States may not provide
a transaction number for denials. However, if a firearm is transferred within
the three business day period, a transaction number is required.
NICS Responses: If NICS provides a “proceed” response, the transaction
may proceed. If NICS provides a “cancelled” response, the seller is
prohibited from transferring the firearm to the buyer. If NICS provides a
“denied” response, the seller is prohibited from transferring the firearm to the
buyer. If NICS provides a “delayed” response, the seller is prohibited from
transferring the firearm unless 3 business days have elapsed and, before the
transfer, NICS or the State has not advised the seller that the buyer’s receipt or
possession of the firearm would be in violation of law. (See 27 CFR § 478.102(a)
for an example of how to calculate 3 business days.) If NICS provides a
“delayed” response, NICS also will provide a Missing Disposition Information (MDI) date that calculates the 3 business days and reflects when the
firearm(s) can be transferred under Federal law. States may not provide an
MDI date. Please note State law may impose a waiting period on transferring
firearms.
EXCEPTIONS TO NICS CHECK: A NICS check is not required if the
transfer qualifies for any of the exceptions in 27 CFR § 478.102(d). Generally
these include: (a) transfers where the buyer has presented the licensee with a
permit or license that allows the buyer to possess, acquire, or carry a firearm,
and the permit has been recognized by ATF as a valid alternative to the NICS
check requirement; (b) transfers of National Firearms Act weapons approved
by ATF; or (c) transfers certified by ATF as exempt because compliance with
the NICS check requirements is impracticable. See 27 CFR § 478.102(d) for a
detailed explanation. If the transfer qualifies for one of these exceptions, the
licensee must obtain the documentation required by 27 CFR § 478.131. A
firearm must not be transferred to any buyer who fails to provide such
documentation.

If more than five firearms are involved in a transaction, the information required by
Section D, questions 26-30, must be provided for the additional firearms on a
separate sheet of paper, which must be attached to the ATF Form 4473 covering the
transaction.
Types of firearms include: pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, receiver, frame and
other firearms that are not either handguns or long guns (rifles or shotguns), such
as firearms having a pistol grip that expel a shotgun shell or National Firearms
Act (NFA) firearms.
Additional firearms purchases by the same buyer may not be added to the form
after the seller has signed and dated it. A buyer who wishes to purchase additional
firearms after the seller has signed and dated the form must complete a new ATF
Form 4473. The seller must conduct a new NICS check.
Question 30c. This box is for the FFL’s use in recording any information he or
she finds necessary to conduct business.
Question 32 Federal Firearms License Number: Must contain at least the first
three and last five digits of the FFL number, for instance X-XX-XXXXX.
Question 33-35 Transferor/Sellers Information: For “denied” and “cancelled”
NICS transactions, the person who completed Section B must complete Section
D, questions 33-35.
Privacy Act Information
Solicitation of this information is authorized under 18 U.S.C. § 923(g). Disclosure of the individual’s Social Security number is voluntary. The number may be
used to verify the buyer’s identity.
Paperwork Reduction Act Notice
The information required on this form is in accordance with the Paperwork
Reduction Act of 1995. The purpose of the information is to determine the
eligibility of the transferee to receive firearms under Federal law. The information is subject to inspection by ATF officers and is required by 18 U.S.C. §§ 922
and 923.
The estimated average burden associated with this collection is 30 minutes per
respondent or recordkeeper, depending on individual circumstances. Comments
about the accuracy of this burden estimate and suggestions for reducing it should
be directed to Reports Management Officer, Document Services Section, Bureau
of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, Washington, DC 20226.
An agency may not conduct or sponsor, and a person is not required to respond
to, a collection of information unless it displays a currently valid OMB control
number. Confidentiality is not assured.

Section C
Question 24 and 25. Transfer on a Different Day and Recertification: If
the transfer takes place on a different day from the date that the buyer signed
Section A, the licensee must again check the photo identification of the buyer
at the time of transfer, and the buyer must complete the recertification in
Section C at the time of transfer.
Section D
Immediately prior to transferring the firearm, the seller must complete all of
the questions in Section D. In addition to completing this form, the seller
must report any multiple sale or other disposition of pistols or revolver on
ATF Form 3310.4 (see 27 CFR § 478.126a).
Question(s) 26, 27, 28, 29 and 30, Firearm(s) Description: These blocks
should be completed with the firearm(s) information. Firearms manufactured
after 1968 should all be marked with a serial number. Should you acquire a
firearm that is not marked with a serial number; you may answer question 28
with “NSN” (No Serial Number), “N/A” or “None.”

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