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Publications

ATF occasionally issues publications to inform the industries it regulates and the general public about the laws and regulations administered and enforced by ATF. These include guidebooks, newsletters, brochures, studies, and reports.

Document Type Description Category
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Virginia [PDF - 187.9 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Virginia 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Washington [PDF - 201.46 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Washington 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 West Virginia [PDF - 222.92 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 West Virginia 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Wisconsin [PDF - 125.02 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Wisconsin 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Wyoming [PDF - 92.37 KB]

State Laws and Published Ordinances - 2025 Wyoming 

Published/Revised: January 15, 2026

Firearms
Regulatory Application for National Firearms Examiner Academy - ATF Form 6330.1 [PDF - 231.51 KB]

This form is for applying to attend the ATF National Firearms Examiner Academy to acquire firearms and toolmark examiner training.

Published/Revised: August 31, 2017

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory Limited Permittee Transaction Report - ATF Form 5400.4 [PDF - 1000.78 KB]

This form must be completed for each transaction involving the distribution of explosive materials to persons who have a Federal explosives limited permit.

Published/Revised: October 30, 2025

Explosives
Regulatory ATF Rul. 75-20 - Meaning of Terms - June 26, 1975 [PDF - 14.65 KB]

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been asked to explain the application of 27 CFR 181.11, as it relates to “Inhabited Building.”

Published/Revised: May 11, 2015

Explosives
Regulatory AG Order No. 3439-2014 - Final Rule - Technical Amendments to Regulations in Title 27, Chapter II - Aug. 4, 2014 [PDF - 677.64 KB]

This final rule makes technical amendments and corrects typographical errors in parts 447, 478, 479, 555, and 646 of title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Published/Revised: May 11, 2015

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory AG Order No. 3439-2014 - Final Rule - Technical Amendments to Regulations in Title 27, Chapter II - Aug. 4, 2014 [PDF - 677.64 KB]

This final rule makes technical amendments and corrects typographical errors in parts 447, 478, 479, 555, and 646 of title 27, Code of Federal Regulations (CFR).

Published/Revised: May 11, 2015

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory ATF Rul. 79-7 - Firearms Transaction Record [PDF - 24.1 KB]

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been asked to state its position with regard to satisfactory identification of an unlicensed person intending to acquire a firearm from a licensee.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Rul. 79-7 - Firearms Transaction Record [PDF - 24.1 KB]

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms has been asked to state its position with regard to satisfactory identification of an unlicensed person intending to acquire a firearm from a licensee.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

Firearms
Regulatory T.D. ATF-413 - Final Rule - Technical Amendments - 99-22290 - Aug. 27, 1999 [TXT - 5.47 KB]

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) administers regulations published in Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations. Theseregulations are updated April 1 of each year to incorporate new or revised regulations that were published by ATF in the Federal Register during the preceding year. ATF identified several amendments that are needed to provide clarity and uniformity to the regulations in 27 CFR.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory Rev. Rul. 69-309 - Importation by Members of the U.S. Armed Forces [PDF - 29.64 KB]

It has been found that a variation is necessary in the procedures which may be utilized by members of the U.S. Armed Forces returning to the United States who desire to import not more than three rifles or shotguns for their personal use, and not more than 1,000 rounds of ammunition therefor.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Rul. 2008-2 - Aug. 25, 2008 [PDF - 22.47 KB]

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has received inquiries from members of the firearms industry about maintaining their required acquisition and disposition dealer’s records in computerized form rather than paper form.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

Firearms
Regulatory ATF Rul. 2007- 4 - June 26, 2007 [PDF - 14.61 KB]

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has received inquiries from members of the firearms industry for whom ATF has approved a variance permitting the maintenance of required acquisition and disposition records on computer. Most of these variances require licensees to periodically print a hard copy of the record and store the printout as part of their permanent records. Licensees have asked ATF whether they may download this information to portable data storage devices instead of printing out the information.

Published/Revised: May 22, 2015

Firearms
Regulatory E9–578 - Final Rule - Commerce in Explosives—Amended Definition of ‘‘Propellant Actuated Device’’ (2004R–3P) - Jan. 14, 2009 [PDF - 109.6 KB]

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (‘‘ATF’’) to clarify that the term ‘‘propellant actuated device’’ does not include hobby rocket motors or rocket-motor reload kits consisting of or containing ammonium perchlorate composite propellant (‘‘APCP’’), black powder, or other similar low explosives. 

Published/Revised: May 6, 2016

Explosives
Regulatory ATF Rul. 2011-1 - Consolidation of Required Records for Importers - Jan. 26, 2011 [PDF - 75.33 KB]

ATF authorizes an alternate method or procedure from the firearms acquisition and disposition recordkeeping requirements of 27 CFR 478.122. Specifically, ATF authorizes licensed importers to consolidate their records of importation or other acquisition of firearms and their separate firearms disposition records, provided all of the requirements stated in this ruling are met.

Published/Revised: April 26, 2016

Firearms
Regulatory E9–16453 - Delegation Order—Authority To Facilitate Implementation of the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007 - July 13, 2009 [PDF - 133.61 KB]

This order delegates the authority to exercise the authorities and responsibilities committed to the Director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) under the NICS Improvement Amendments Act of 2007, Public Law 110–180 (NIAA). This authority is to establish and enforce the criteria that applicable Federal departments and agencies and states use to create qualifying relief from firearms disabilities programs, to make decisions as to whether applicable Federal departments and agencies and states have properly implemented and certified relief from firearms disabilities programs under the NIAA, and to make any related determinations under the NIAA regarding such relief from firearms disabilities programs.

Published/Revised: May 30, 2015

Firearms
Regulatory Final Rule - Organization of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives - Jan. 31, 2003 [PDF - 59.05 KB]

The Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney (OPA), is exempting a Privacy Act system of records entitled ‘‘Executive Clemency Case Files/Executive Clemency Tracking System (JUSTICE/OPA–001)’’ from subsections (c)(3), (c)(4), (d)(1), (d)(2), (d)(3), (d)(4), and (e)(5) of the Privacy Act. Information in this system relates to the investigation and evaluation of applicants for executive clemency and case-related correspondence regarding such applicants and the clemency process.

Published/Revised: August 9, 2019

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory Final Rule – Machineguns, Destructive Devices and Certain Other Firearms; Background Checks for Responsible Persons of a Trust or Legal Entity With Respect to Making or Transferring a Firearm - Jan. 15, 2016 [PDF - 624.72 KB]

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) regarding the making or transferring of a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA). This final rule defines the term ‘‘responsible person,’’ as used in reference to a trust, partnership, association, company, or corporation; requires responsible persons of such trusts or legal entities to complete a specified form and to submit photographs and fingerprints when the trust or legal entity files an application to make an NFA firearm or is listed as the transferee on an application to transfer an NFA firearm; requires that a copy of all applications to make or transfer a firearm, and the specified form for responsible persons, as applicable, be forwarded to the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of the locality in which the applicant/ transferee or responsible person is located; and eliminates the requirement for a certification signed by the CLEO.

Published/Revised: January 15, 2016

Firearms
Regulatory Final Rule - Commerce in Firearms and Ammunition - Reporting Theft or Loss of Firearms in Transit [PDF - 699.67 KB]

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) concerning the statutory reporting requirement for firearms that have been stolen or lost. The final rule specifies that when a federal firearms licensee (FFL) discovers a firearm it shipped was stolen or lost in transit, the transferor/sender FFL must report the theft or loss to ATP and to the appropriate local authorities within 48 hours of discovery.

Published/Revised: December 31, 2019

Firearms
Regulatory Final Rule - Background Checks for Responsible Persons of a Trust or Legal Entity With Respect to Making or Transferring a Firearm [PDF - 4.82 MB]

The Department of Justice is amending the regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) regarding the making or transferring of a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA). This final rule defines the term "responsible person," as used in reference to a trust, partnership, association, company, or corporation; requires responsible persons of such trusts or legal entities to complete a specified form and to submit photographs and fingerprints when the trust or legal entity files an application to make an NFA firearm or is listed as the transferee on an application to transfer an NFA firearm; requires that a copy of all applications to make or transfer a firearm, and the specified form for responsible persons, as applicable, be forwarded to the chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) of the locality in which the applicant/transferee or responsible person is located; and eliminates the requirement for a certification signed by the CLEO. These provisions provide a public safety benefit as they ensure that responsible persons undergo background checks.

Published/Revised: May 15, 2020

Firearms
Regulatory Application to Register as an Importer of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles - ATF F 4587/(5330.4) [PDF - 2.3 MB]

This form is used to register and pay to permanently import defense articles on the United States Munitions Import List.

Published/Revised: April 11, 2022

Workforce and Mission
Regulatory TD 425: Delegation of Authority - 00-5360 - Jan. 3, 2000 [PDF - 19.24 KB]

Authority delegation. This final rule places most ATF authorities contained in parts 4, 5, and 7, title 27 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), with the “appropriate ATF officer” and requires that persons file documents required by parts 4, 5, and 7, title 27 CFR, with the “appropriate ATF officer” or in accordance with the instructions on the ATF form. Also, this final rule removes the definitions of, and references to, specific officers subordinate to the Director. Concurrently with this Treasury Decision, ATF Order 1130.2A is being published. Through this order, the Director has delegated most of the authorities in 27 CFR parts 4, 5 and 7 to the appropriate ATF officers and specified the ATF officers with whom applications, notices and other reports that are not ATF forms are filed. Finally, this final rule removes the definition of, and a reference to, the Director in part 16, title 27 CFR.

Published/Revised: January 3, 2000

Workforce and Mission
Last Updated: January 15, 2026

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