Rules and Regulations Library

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

This open letter has been rescinded. The purpose of this letter is to advise you of your responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law. 

Published/Revised: July 29, 2025

Published/Revised: October 15, 2003

Published/Revised: April 14, 2011

The purpose of this open letter is to provide guidance to Federal firearms licensees (FFLs) on how to comply with recordkeeping requirements when there is a change to the response initially received by the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) during a background check for a firearm transfer.

Published/Revised: May 5, 2011

Published/Revised: August 29, 2011

Published/Revised: June 14, 2011

Used by federal firearms licensees (FFLs) to determine if they may lawfully sell or deliver a firearm to the person identified in Section B, and to alert the transferee/buyer of certain restrictions on the receipt and possession of firearms.

Published/Revised: September 28, 2023

Published/Revised: December 31, 2020

This circular reminds all persons of the federal law (and penalties) applying to the shipments, sale or possession of cigarettes and to the domestic sales of cigarettes marked for export. Additionally, this circular addresses the sale of cigarettes on Native American tribal reservations.

Published/Revised: November 21, 2024

This circular announces the issuance of a new Treasury Department regulation, Part 180 of Title 26, Code of Federal Regulations, entitled Importation of Arms, Ammunition and Implements of War.

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

This circular announces that the President signed Public Law 99-408, on Aug. 28,1986. This law regulates the manufacture, importation and sale of armor piercing ammunition.

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

This circular notifies explosives licensees that ATF Form 5400.3, Transaction Record for Black Powder to be used for antique weapons, is no longer required.

Published/Revised: November 4, 2019

This circular provides information concerning the importation of National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms for use as a sample for sales to law enforcement agencies when such firearms have been determined to be curios or relics.

Published/Revised: May 5, 2021

The purpose of this industry circular is to advise firearms and ammunition excise taxpayers that effective Jan. 24, 2003, a new Treasury agency, the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau, will be responsible for administering the firearms and ammunition excise tax laws and regulations currently administered by ATF.

Published/Revised: May 5, 2021

In accordance with 27 CFR 178.92 and 27 CFR 179.102, identification of firearms, armor piercing ammunition, and large capacity ammunition feeding devices, the terms "conspicuously" and "legibly" as used therein mean, respectively, that the markings are wholly unobstructed from plain view and that the markings contain exclusively Roman letters and Arabic numerals.

Published/Revised: November 5, 2002

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Browning M1919 type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the FN FAL type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

Published/Revised: May 23, 2003

An ATF-approved method of destruction for the Sten type machinegun will result in the severed portions of the receiver being importable for unrestricted commercial sale.

Published/Revised: January 24, 2003

Published/Revised: October 12, 2005

Applications to transfer two (2) machineguns of a particular model to a federal firearms licensee as sales samples will be approved if documentation shows necessity for demonstration to government agencies.

Published/Revised: September 6, 2002

Licensees may accept a combination of valid government-issued documents to satisfy the identification document requirements of the Brady Act under certain conditions. An active-duty member of the Armed Forces is a resident of the State in which his or her permanent duty station is located and may satisfy the identification document requirement by presenting his or her military identification card along with official orders showing the permanent duty station as within the State where the licensed premises are located.

Published/Revised: December 31, 2002

Published/Revised: August 23, 2002