National Firearms Act (NFA)
The tax is $200 for the transfer of any firearm except a firearm classified as an “any other weapon” which is $5.
An unserviceable firearm may be transferred as a curio or ornament without payment of the transfer tax.
[26 U.S.C. 5811, 5852(e) and 5845(h); 27 CFR 479.11, 479.82 and 479.91]
The person must be licensed under the Gun Control Act (GCA) and pay the required special (occupational) tax imposed by the National Firearms Act (NFA). After becoming licensed under the GCA, the licensee must submit an ATF Form 5630.7, Special Tax Registration and Return National Firearms Act (NFA) to ATF with the appropriate tax payment.
An importer of NFA firearms (except importers of sporting shotguns and shotgun ammunition) must also be registered with ATF under the Arms Export Control Act of 1976, by filing an ATF Form 4587, Application to Register as an Importer of U.S. Munitions Import List Articles.
[26 U.S.C. 5801; 18 U.S.C. 923; 27 CFR 447.31, 478.41 and 479.34]
Processing Q&As (National Firearms Act (NFA))
Yes. For example, NFA Division is reallocating resources to prioritize processing applications that have received a “proceed” from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check.
No. While “first in, first out” is a guiding principle, NFA Division will focus its resources on processing those NFA applications that have received a “proceed” from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check. NFA applications were previously processed on a “first in, first out” basis, which resulted in delayed processing for NFA applications with a proceeded background check. For example, previously, a NFA application with a proceeded background check would not be processed until a NFA application with a delayed background check was resolved. Now, the NFA application with a proceeded background check gets priority for processing. NFA will continue to submit background checks to FBI-NICS in the order applications are received. NFA Division will then process NFA applications as it receives background check responses from FBI-NICS.
The NFA examiners are assigned specific application types. For example, certain examiners will be assigned to process individual applicants while others are assigned to process trust applicants. Further, applications that are put into problem status will be processed at the end of the week. Examples for when an application is placed into problem status include failure to submit fingerprint cards, failure to submit photographs, failure to submit a responsible person questionnaire, or to research whether the applicant may make, possess, or receive the firearm under State law.
Due to the high volume of NFA application submissions and ATF's limited resources, NFA Division submits background checks to FBI-NICS in batches to maximize efficiency. As the number of pending NFA applications decreases, the background checks will be submitted to FBI-NICS closer to when the NFA application was received by NFA Division. Currently, background checks for individual applicants are sent to FBI-NICS the same week the NFA application is received by NFA Division.
NFA Division will not approve a NFA application unless it receives a “proceed” from FBI-NICS. Some background checks may take longer to process because FBI-NICS must perform additional research on the applicant’s background. As a result, two individuals who submit NFA applications at the same time may have their NFA application processed at different times because the background checks are completed by FBI-NICS and transmitted to NFA Division at different times.
While it is not required, the simplest way to help ensure your background check is processed timely and accurately is to provide your social security number with the NFA application. Without the social security number, FBI-NICS may have to perform additional research to ensure the applicant is not prohibited, thereby delaying the background check response to NFA Division. For example, without a social security number, FBI-NICS will have to perform additional research to properly identify the applicant when the applicant has the same name as someone else with prohibiting information in the NICS database.
No. NFA Division must receive a “proceed” from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check.
No. NFA Division must receive a “proceed” from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check.
No. NFA Division must receive a “proceed” from FBI-NICS in response to the required background check.
Yes. Provided everything else is in order, NFA Division may approve the NFA application because FBI-NICS responded with a “proceed” to the required background check.
No. FBI-NICS must prioritize background checks submitted by FFLs for transfers of firearms regulated under the Gun Control Act (GCA). NFA background checks that require further research by FBI-NICS will be performed as resources allow.
Generally, yes, provided the applications are for an individual and the social security number was provided with the NFA application. NFA Division has implemented a bundling process which allows an examiner to review all pending applications of an individual. There is no need for an applicant to request bundling, this should be done automatically. Nor will NFA Division respond to requests to bundle applications beyond the bundling process that has been implemented.
Yes, provided the trust entity for each pending application has a single responsible person, who is the same person, and the social security number was submitted with each application.
Trust applications require the examiner to perform several additional steps of review than an individual application. For example, the examiner must read each trust document to ensure it is a legitimate trust. The examiner must also read each trust document to ensure every responsible person to the trust submitted the required responsible person questionnaire.
NFA Regulations at 27 CFR 479.85(c) provide:
If the applicant entity has had an application approved as a maker or transferee within the preceding 24 months, and there has been no change to the documentation previously provided, the entity may provide a certification that the information has not been changed since the prior approval and shall identify the application for which the documentation had been submitted by form number, serial number, and date approved.
Accordingly, an applicant who applies within 24 months of receiving an approval may submit a letter certifying that the information in the trust has not changed since the prior approval. The letter may be uploaded as a supporting document in the eForms system.
No. Even when a trust template is used and there is only a single responsible person, there are several additional steps the examiner must perform when reviewing an application to transfer a firearm to a trust. The review of a trust application will always take longer than the review for an individual application.
Yes. The most common reasons attributable to trust processing delays include:
- Failure to submit a responsible person questionnaire and fingerprint cards for each responsible person named on the trust;
- Failure to submit a valid trust, e.g., there is only one person named in the trust who is the settlor, trustee, and beneficiary;
- The settlor identifies a minor as a responsible person to the trust;
- The name of the trust on the NFA application is different than the name of the trust in the trust document; and
- The background check is delayed for one or more individuals identified as responsible persons. For example, if one of three identified responsible person’s background check is delayed by FBI-NICS, then NFA Division cannot process the application until the delayed background check is resolved.
