26 USC 5812 Transfers

§ 5802

TITLE 26—INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

tion] shall take effect on the date of enactment [Oct.
22, 1968].
‘‘(d) The Secretary of the Treasury, after publication
in the Federal Register of his intention to do so, is authorized to establish such period of amnesty, not to exceed ninety days in the case of any single period, and
immunity from liability during any such period, as the
Secretary determines will contribute to the purposes of
this title [adding this chapter, and sections 6806 and
7273 of this title, repealing sections 5692 and 6107 of this
title, and enacting provisions set out as notes under
this section].’’

§ 5802. Registration of importers, manufacturers,
and dealers
On first engaging in business and thereafter on
or before the first day of July of each year, each
importer, manufacturer, and dealer in firearms
shall register with the Secretary in each internal revenue district in which such business is to
be carried on, his name, including any trade
name, and the address of each location in the
district where he will conduct such business. An
individual required to register under this section shall include a photograph and fingerprints
of the individual with the initial application.
Where there is a change during the taxable year
in the location of, or the trade name used in,
such business, the importer, manufacturer, or
dealer shall file an application with the Secretary to amend his registration. Firearms operations of an importer, manufacturer, or dealer
may not be commenced at the new location or
under a new trade name prior to approval by the
Secretary of the application.
(Added Pub. L. 90–618, title II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968,
82 Stat. 1227; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX,
§ 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834; Pub. L.
103–322, title XI, § 110301(b), Sept. 13, 1994, 108
Stat. 2012.)
PRIOR PROVISIONS
A prior section 5802, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A
Stat. 721, consisted of provisions similar to those comprising this section, prior to the general revision of this
chapter by Pub. L. 90–618.
A prior section 5803, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A
Stat. 722, made a cross reference to section 5812 exempting certain transfers, prior to the general revision
of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618.
AMENDMENTS
1994—Pub. L. 103–322 inserted after first sentence ‘‘An
individual required to register under this section shall
include a photograph and fingerprints of the individual
with the initial application.’’
1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out ‘‘or his delegate’’ after
‘‘Secretary’’ wherever appearing.

PART II—TAX ON TRANSFERRING
FIREARMS
Sec.

5811.
5812.

Transfer tax.
Transfers.
PRIOR PROVISIONS

A prior part II consisted of sections 5811 to 5814, prior
to the general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618,
title II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1227.

Page 3082

each firearm transferred, except, the transfer
tax on any firearm classified as any other weapon under section 5845(e) shall be at the rate of $5
for each such firearm transferred.
(b) By whom paid
The tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall be paid by the transferor.
(c) Payment
The tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall be payable by the appropriate stamps
prescribed for payment by the Secretary.
(Added Pub. L. 90–618, title II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968,
82 Stat. 1228; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX,
§ 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)
PRIOR PROVISIONS
A prior section 5811, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A
Stat. 722; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 203(b),
72 Stat. 1427; June 1, 1960, Pub. L. 86–478, § 2, 74 Stat. 149,
consisted of provisions similar to those comprising this
section, prior to the general revision of this chapter by
Pub. L. 90–618.
AMENDMENTS
1976—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out ‘‘or his
delegate’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Section effective on first day of first month following
October 1968, see section 207 of Pub. L. 90–618, set out as
a note under section 5801 of this title.

§ 5812. Transfers
(a) Application
A firearm shall not be transferred unless (1)
the transferor of the firearm has filed with the
Secretary a written application, in duplicate,
for the transfer and registration of the firearm
to the transferee on the application form prescribed by the Secretary; (2) any tax payable on
the transfer is paid as evidenced by the proper
stamp affixed to the original application form;
(3) the transferee is identified in the application
form in such manner as the Secretary may by
regulations prescribe, except that, if such person
is an individual, the identification must include
his fingerprints and his photograph; (4) the
transferor of the firearm is identified in the application form in such manner as the Secretary
may by regulations prescribe; (5) the firearm is
identified in the application form in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe; and (6) the application form shows that
the Secretary has approved the transfer and the
registration of the firearm to the transferee. Applications shall be denied if the transfer, receipt,
or possession of the firearm would place the
transferee in violation of law.
(b) Transfer of possession
The transferee of a firearm shall not take possession of the firearm unless the Secretary has
approved the transfer and registration of the
firearm to the transferee as required by subsection (a) of this section.

§ 5811. Transfer tax

(Added Pub. L. 90–618, title II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968,
82 Stat. 1228; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX,
§ 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)

(a) Rate
There shall be levied, collected, and paid on
firearms transferred a tax at the rate of $200 for

A prior section 5812, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A
Stat. 722, consisted of provisions similar to those com-

PRIOR PROVISIONS

Page 3083

TITLE 26—INTERNAL REVENUE CODE

prising this section, prior to the general revision of this
chapter by Pub. L. 90–618.
A prior section 5813, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A
Stat. 723, related to the affixing of the required stamps
to the order form for the firearm, prior to the general
revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618.
A prior section 5814, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A
Stat. 723; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 203(c),
72 Stat. 1427, related to the order forms required for the
transfer of a firearm, prior to the general revision of
this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618.
AMENDMENTS
1976—Subsecs. (a), (b). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out ‘‘or
his delegate’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’ wherever appearing.

PART III—TAX ON MAKING FIREARMS

form in such manner as the Secretary may by
regulations prescribe; (d) identified himself in
the application form in such manner as the Secretary may by regulations prescribe, except
that, if such person is an individual, the identification must include his fingerprints and his
photograph; and (e) obtained the approval of the
Secretary to make and register the firearm and
the application form shows such approval. Applications shall be denied if the making or possession of the firearm would place the person
making the firearm in violation of law.
(Added Pub. L. 90–618, title II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968,
82 Stat. 1228; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX,
§ 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)

Sec.

5821.
5822.

§ 5841

PRIOR PROVISIONS
Making tax.
Making.
PRIOR PROVISIONS

A prior part III consisted of section 5821, prior to the
general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618, title
II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1227.
A prior part IV consisted of section 5831, prior to the
general revision of this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618, title
II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1227.

A prior section 5831, act Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A
Stat. 724, made a cross reference to section 4181 of this
title relating to an excise tax on pistols, revolvers, and
firearms, prior to the general revision of this chapter
by Pub. L. 90–618, title II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat.
1227.
AMENDMENTS
1976—Pub. L. 94–455 struck out ‘‘or his delegate’’ after
‘‘Secretary’’.

§ 5821. Making tax
(a) Rate
There shall be levied, collected, and paid upon
the making of a firearm a tax at the rate of $200
for each firearm made.
(b) By whom paid
The tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall be paid by the person making the firearm.
(c) Payment
The tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall be payable by the stamp prescribed for
payment by the Secretary.
(Added Pub. L. 90–618, title II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968,
82 Stat. 1228; amended Pub. L. 94–455, title XIX,
§ 1906(b)(13)(A), Oct. 4, 1976, 90 Stat. 1834.)
PRIOR PROVISIONS
A prior section 5821, acts Aug. 16, 1954, ch. 736, 68A
Stat. 724; Sept. 2, 1958, Pub. L. 85–859, title II, § 203(d),
72 Stat. 1427, consisted of provisions similar to those
comprising this section, prior to the general revision of
this chapter by Pub. L. 90–618.
AMENDMENTS
1976—Subsec. (c). Pub. L. 94–455 struck out ‘‘or his
delegate’’ after ‘‘Secretary’’.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Section effective on first day of first month following
October 1968, see section 207 of Pub. L. 90–618, set out as
a note under section 5801 of this title.

§ 5822. Making
No person shall make a firearm unless he has
(a) filed with the Secretary a written application, in duplicate, to make and register the firearm on the form prescribed by the Secretary; (b)
paid any tax payable on the making and such
payment is evidenced by the proper stamp affixed to the original application form; (c) identified the firearm to be made in the application

Subchapter B—General Provisions and
Exemptions
Part

I.
II.

General provisions.
Exemptions.
PRIOR PROVISIONS

A prior subchapter B consisted of sections 5841 to
5848, prior to the general revision of this chapter by
Pub. L. 90–618, title II, § 201, Oct. 22, 1968, 82 Stat. 1227.

PART I—GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec.

5841.
5842.
5843.
5844.
5845.
5846.
5847.
5848.
5849.

Registration of firearms.
Identification of firearms.
Records and returns.
Importation.
Definitions.
Other laws applicable.
Effect on other laws.
Restrictive use of information.
Citation of chapter.
AMENDMENTS

2018—Pub. L. 115–141, div. U, title IV, § 401(a)(251),
Mar. 23, 2018, 132 Stat. 1196, substituted ‘‘Effect on
other laws’’ for ‘‘Effect on other law’’ in item 5847.

§ 5841. Registration of firearms
(a) Central registry
The Secretary shall maintain a central registry of all firearms in the United States which
are not in the possession or under the control of
the United States. This registry shall be known
as the National Firearms Registration and
Transfer Record. The registry shall include—
(1) identification of the firearm;
(2) date of registration; and
(3) identification and address of person entitled to possession of the firearm.
(b) By whom registered
Each manufacturer, importer, and maker shall
register each firearm he manufactures, imports,