Rules and Regulations Library

The purpose of this open letter is to advise all federal firearms licensees (FFLs) of updated guidance from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) that reminds you of your obligations under the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act (Brady Act), 18 U.S.C. § 922(t), when transferring a firearm to a person who is not an FFL.

Published/Revised: May 23, 2025

This document provides information regarding the procedure for requesting a computerized bookkeeping variance.

Published/Revised: May 7, 2025

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

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

This letter alerts Vermont FFLs to the enactment of Vermont statute 13 V.S.A. § 4019a, effective July 1, 2023, and reminds FFLs of their obligation to remain in compliance with state and federal law.

Published/Revised: November 29, 2024

This form is required of all Type 07 and Type 10 federal firearms licensees (FFLs) for reporting production data for the manufacture and exportation of firearms.

Instead of printing this form and mailing it in, please consider using eForms to electronically complete and submit your AFMER form. You can complete the AFMER eForm at www.atf.gov/firearms/applications-eforms. If you need assistance with eForms, send an email to eforms.admin@atf.gov.

Published/Revised: November 26, 2024

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

The purpose of this open letter is to remind affected persons of the Gun Control Act (GCA), National Firearms Act (NFA), and Arms Export Control Act (AECA), and associated federal regulations as they apply to firearms brought into Customs Bonded Warehouses (CBWs) and Foreign Trade Zones (FTZs).

Published/Revised: November 7, 2024

This form is for federal, state and local, military and international law enforcement personnel to apply for training conducted by ATF.

Published/Revised: November 6, 2024

ATF requires that non-ATF personnel and ATF sponsors (i.e., contracting officer’s technical representative (COTR) and points of contact (POC)) complete ATF Form 8620.42 when requesting that non-ATF personnel be granted escorted access to ATF facilities, non-sensitive information, and/or construction sites in order to perform low risk, non-sensitive duties. 

Published/Revised: November 4, 2024

This form is used to obtain approval to permanently export a National Firearms Act (NFA) firearm and claim exemption from transfer tax. State Department export approval is required prior to ATF Form 9 being approved. 

Published/Revised: September 30, 2024

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is committed to helping federal firearms licensees (FFLs) successfully comply with their legal obligations. This letter alerts you to a new firearms law enacted in the State of New Mexico, to aid you in complying with state and federal law.

Published/Revised: September 9, 2024

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) recently examined devices commonly marketed as “solvent traps” and has determined that some of them are “firearm silencers” as defined in the Gun Control Act (GCA) and as defined in the National Firearms Act (NFA).

Published/Revised: August 16, 2024

This circular has been published to inform you of a potential explosion hazard relating to a malfunctioning of automatic ammunition reloading equipment.

Published/Revised: August 12, 2024

This circular announces the reclassification of small caliber weapons (such as pen guns) ostensibly designed to expel only tear gas, similar substances or pyrotechnic signals, which may be converted to expel a projectile by means of an explosive, as firearms.

Published/Revised: August 9, 2024

This form is used to obtain a release from the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and notify ATF of actual importation of defense articles imported pursuant to an approved ATF Form 6.

Published/Revised: August 7, 2024

The purpose of this letter is to advise Wyoming federal firearm licensees that a person convicted in a federal court (of a crime punishable by imprisonment for a term exceeding one year) remains subject to the federal prohibition on shipment, transportation, receipt, and possession of firearms and ammunition, despite the issuance of a Restoration of Rights Certificate (under state law) by the State of Wyoming.

Published/Revised: July 10, 2024

Before the Court is Plaintiffs’ Motion for a Preliminary Injunction (“Motion”) (ECF No. 16), filed May 9, 2024. Defendants filed their response (“Response”) (ECF No. 31) on May 14, 2024. Having reviewed the briefing and relevant law, the Court GRANTS the Motion. Defendants are hereby ENJOINED from enforcing the regulations — “Definition of ‘Engaged in the Business’ as a Dealer in Firearms” (hereinafter “Final Rule”) — published at 89 Fed. Reg. 28968 (April 19, 2024) (to be codified at 27 C.F.R. pt. 478) against Plaintiffs Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Utah, Jeffrey Tormey (“Tormey”), the Gun Owners of America, Inc. (“GOA”), the Gun Owners Foundation (“GOF”), the Tennessee Firearms Association (“TFA”), and the Virginia Citizens Defense League (“VCDL”) pending the resolution of this lawsuit.

Published/Revised: June 12, 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 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 determine the eligibility of the applicant to engage in certain operations, to determine the location and extent of operations, and to determine whether the operations will be in conformity with federal laws and regulations when working with explosives.

Published/Revised: April 24, 2024

Published/Revised: April 23, 2024

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

Published/Revised: April 22, 2024

The Department of Justice (“Department”) is amending Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (“ATF”) regulations to implement the provisions of the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act that broaden the definition of when a person is considered “engaged in the business” (“EIB”) as a dealer in firearms other than a gunsmith or pawnbroker.

Published/Revised: April 11, 2024

This ruling authorizes licensed explosives importers, manufacturers and dealers to maintain commercial records instead of a separate record as a permanent record of acquisitions, distributions/dispositions, and use of explosive materials. 

Published/Revised: February 8, 2024