ATF’s National Firearms Act (NFA) Division is the only federal authority permitted to regulate firearms covered by the National Firearms Act. The NFA Division processes all applications to import, export, make, manufacture, transfer and otherwise register NFA firearms and destructive devices. The division also responds to requests from individuals to temporarily or permanently move registered NFA firearms between states. Within the division, there are three branches that support the work and mission of the NFA: the Government Support Branch (GSB), the Industry Processing Branch (IPB) and the Information Compliance Branch. Although each branch has its own primary mandate, they all work to support the overall mission of the NFA Division.
Government Support Branch
Picture of an assault rifle.
The Government Support Branch processes all NFA applications from local, state, and federal law enforcement and government organizations. They share information about ATF’s federal firearms licensee (FFL) and federal explosives licensee/permittee (FEL/FEP) compliance programs. The GSB staff often work with special agents and investigators on criminal cases and testify as expert witnesses in court. The GSB also maintains the records of Special Occupation Tax (SOT) payers. All importers, manufacturers and dealers of NFA weapons must pay the SOT (also known as the stamp tax) unless they fall under specific exceptions.
Information Compliance Branch
The Information Compliance Branch is responsible for accurately and efficiently ensuring that all sensitive NFA data is managed and organized in a way that enables NFA to meet business rules alongside legal and governmental regulations. This Branch ensures NFA is in compliance with Bureau-wide data governance policies set forth by the Office of Science and Technology's Data Management Division and works in coordination with the Data Governance Branch. It promotes security and availability for Federal, State, and local law enforcement agencies to provide investigative leads as well as customer service for industry members. The ICB is responsible for establishing NFA processes, procedures and protocols, and enacting information security policies to ensure data is fully protected from unauthorized access and provides future oversight of said protocols and policies to make certain they are being followed.
Industry Processing Branch
The Industry Processing Branch processes all non-government applications to make, export, transfer and register NFA firearms. The IPB also maintains the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR), the central registry for all items regulated under the NFA. More than 3 million items are currently registered in the NFRTR, which dates back to the enactment of the NFA in 1934.
2015 to 2024 Applications Received vs. Processed Chart
Contact Information
- General Questions and Directory Services - (304) 616-4500
- Government and Law Enforcement Specific Questions - NFA@atf.gov
- Specific Form Processing Questions and status checks after 90 days - IPB@atf.gov
- Expedites for Law Enforcement duty weapons and Military PCS - IPB@atf.gov
- All Special Occupational Tax related questions - SOT@atf.gov
- VOIDS, Withdrawals, and General Questions - NFAFAX@atf.gov
- Updates to your Originating Agency Identifier (ORI) – ORIupdates@atf.gov
