Rules and Regulations Library

Published/Revised: February 1, 2020

This application for a federal firearms license (FFL) should be used to apply for all FFL types - any person(s) or entity who intend to engage in business as a firearms or ammunition importer or manufacturer, or firearms dealer, in interstate or foreign commerce; as well as those who wish to engage in curio and relic collecting activity.

Published/Revised: July 2, 2025

This form is used to request approval to transfer a National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm from one qualified federal firearms licensee (FFL) to another qualified special taxpayer.

Published/Revised: May 6, 2024

This form is used to apply to permanently import firearms, ammunition and implements of war. For use by active duty military members only.

Published/Revised: April 1, 2019

Published/Revised: April 1, 2019

This form must be completed by non-ATF personnel and their ATF sponsors when requesting escorted access to ATF facilities, non-sensitive information, and/or construction sites.

Published/Revised: June 1, 2021

Published/Revised: March 1, 2016

Published/Revised: March 1, 2021

This is a sample fingerprint card (FD-258) that is used when applying for a federal firearms license. This card can be order from the ATF Distribution Center online or by calling 703-870-7526 or 703-870-7528.

Published/Revised: January 1, 2016

This form is used by qualified federal firearms licensees to report the manufacture or importation of an NFA firearm.

Published/Revised: May 1, 2017

Published/Revised: April 1, 2019

NICS Alert Policy memo, dated April 23, 2025. The use of the NICS Alert is a valuable investigative technique for firearm trafficking investigations. It is critical that this tool is utilized properly and only when needed. To this end, we are undergoing an extensive review of all current alerts and stipulating additional requirements for future use of NICS alerts.

Published/Revised: April 25, 2025

Notice of List of Explosive Materials

Published/Revised: September 23, 2015

The purpose of this form is to report the theft or loss of explosive materials to ATF.

Published/Revised: April 22, 2024

This application must be completed by any federal explosives licensee or permittee (FEL/P) who intends to make changes, such as the name and/or address, to an active license or permit.

Published/Revised: May 7, 2024

This order delegates certain authorities of the Director to subordinate Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) officials to make determinations on Notices of Clearance, Letters of Clearance, Letters of Denial, and Appeals of Letters of Denial under 18 U.S.C. 843(h) for responsible persons and employee possessors listed on explosives licenses and permits.

Published/Revised: May 12, 2016

When a Type 01, Type 02, Type 07, or Type 08 Federal firearms licensee meets the criteria of the ATF Demand 2 Program and is notified in writing by an ATF official, the licensee must complete ATF Form 5300.5, Demand 2 Program: Report of Firearms Transactions.

Published/Revised: January 1, 2025

Application for tax paid transfer and registration of firearm used to request approval to transfer a National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm subject to transfer tax liability. Typically submitted for a transfer to an individual or legal entity such as a trust.

Published/Revised: January 30, 2026

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

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

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms (ATF) administers regulations published in Title 27, Code of Federal Regulations. These
regulations 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

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

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

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

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