Skip to main content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Rules and Regulations Library

Rules Regulations Library

Document Type Title and Description Category
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 83-9: Three Year Firearms Licenses [PDF - 498.62 KB]

The purpose of this circular is to inform you of a Treasury decision effective Aug. 1, 1983, T.D. ATF - 135(48 FR 24065), implementing a three-year firearms license.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 84-3: Armed and Dangerous Notification [PDF - 851.75 KB]

The Bureau of ATF is investigating the criminal activities of a group of violent criminals known as the Sam Melville/Jonathan Jackson Brigade. This group is known for its violent acts, including the illegal use of firearms and explosives.

Published/Revised:

Workforce and Mission
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 84-10: Sales of Firearms by FFLs at Gun Shows [PDF - 235.35 KB]

All Federal Firearms Licensees and Others Concerned: This is to notify you that as a result of a formal process which began on April 22, 1980, the regulations have been changed (effective Nov. 29, 1984), to allow licensees to engage in business at gun shows held within the same State as the licensed premises.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 91-1: Explosives Security [PDF - 1.52 MB]

The purpose of this circular is to advise industry members of serious problems with storage of explosives which may pose a danger to the public, and to alert industry members to the possibility of theft of explosives by terrorists because of the deteriorating Mideast situation.

Published/Revised:

Explosives
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 95-1: Diversion of Distilled Spirits [PDF - 51.3 KB]

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Published/Revised:

Alcohol & Tobacco
Form Application and Permit for Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Defense Articles - ATF Form 6 Part 1 (5330.3A) [PDF - 416.97 KB]

This form is used to apply to permanently import firearms, ammunition and implements of war.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 2000-4: Sale of Certain Tobacco Products and Cigarette Papers and Tubes on or After Feb. 7, 2001 [PDF - 33.76 KB]

This industry circular warns businesses about selling or holding for sale tobacco products and cigarette papers or tubes manufactured in the United States and labeled for exportation. On or after Feb. 7, 2001, if you sell or hold for sale such products for domestic consumption, you may incur civil and criminal penalties.

Published/Revised:

Alcohol & Tobacco
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 95-1: Diversion of Distilled Spirits for Purposes of Smuggling [PDF - 36.49 KB]

This circular reminds proprietors of distilled spirits plants (DSPs), importers, wholesalers and other persons who purchase distilled spirits products from DSPs of their responsibility to comply with all applicable Federal and state laws with respect to such sales.

Published/Revised:

Alcohol & Tobacco
Industry Circular Industry Circular 93-5: Tax-Exempt and Tax-Free Sales of Firearms, Shells and Cartridges [PDF - 826.38 KB]

This circular gives general guidance to firearms and ammunition excise taxpayers about making tax-exempt or tax-free sales of firearms, and shells and cartridges (ammunition).

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 1968-28: Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War [PDF - 2.18 MB]

This circular announces the transfer of the Arms Import Control Program from the Secretary of State to the Secretary of the Treasury.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 1974-11: Environmental Responsibilities [PDF - 703.5 KB]

This circular advises proprietors of their responsibility to ATF with respect to the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Federal Water Pollution Control Act, and the National Historic Preservation Act, and of the possible effects of these requirements upon their activities.

Published/Revised:

Workforce and Mission
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 1985-11: Surplus Military Firearms Frames or Receivers [PDF - 652.36 KB]

This circular announces that ATF will allow the importation of surplus military curio or relic firearms that were previously prohibited from importation by 18 U.S.C. section 925(d)(3).

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 1986-8: Curio and Relic Updates [PDF - 1.17 MB]

This circular announces an addition of firearms that have been classified as curios and relics during the period January 1985 through March 1986.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 1970-14: Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Implements of War [PDF - 3.19 MB]

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:

Firearms
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 1986-15: Armor Piercing Ammunition [PDF - 840.42 KB]

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:

Firearms
Industry Circular ATF Industry Circular 1982-8: Discontinuance of ATF Form 5400.3, for Black Powder [PDF - 659.16 KB]

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:

Explosives
Open Letter 2019 - October - Minnesota - All FFLs - NICS Background Check Prior to Firearm Transfer to Non-Licensee [PDF - 435.49 KB]

All Minnesota Federal Firearms Licensees are required to conduct a NICS background check prior to the transfer of a firearm to a non-licensee even if that person presents a valid Minnesota Permit to Carry.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling Rev. Rul. 72-178 - Obsolete ATF Rulings [PDF - 217.57 KB]

Periodic review of outstanding revenue rulings reflect that the following list of rulings are obsolete because of expiration or changes to current laws and regulations.

Published/Revised:

Workforce and Mission
Form Application for Tax Exempt Transfer and Registration of Firearm - ATF Form 5 (5320.5) [PDF - 1.06 MB]

This form is used to apply the tax-exempt transfer of an unserviceable (welded) firearm to anyone other than a federal firearms licensee who has paid the required special (occupational) tax to deal in National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms and to or from government agencies.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Ruling 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:

Workforce and Mission
Open Letter 1998 - October - All FFLs - Louisiana - Permanent Provisions of the Brady Law [PDF - 473.05 KB]

The purpose of this letter is to advise federal firearms licensees in Louisiana of their responsibilities under the permanent provisions of the Brady law.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Form Application and Permit for Importation of Firearms, Ammunition and Defense Articles - ATF Form 6 - Part II (5330.3B) [PDF - 301.51 KB]

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:

Firearms
Form Report of Multiple Sale or Other Disposition of Pistols and Revolvers - ATF Form 3310.4 [PDF - 976.47 KB]

This form documents certain sales or other dispositions of handguns for law enforcement purposes. The information is used to determine if the buyer (transferee) is involved in an unlawful activity.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Form National Tracing Center (NTC) Trace Request - ATF Form 3312.1 [PDF - 358.92 KB]

This form is used by federal, state and local law enforcement officials to request that the ATF trace firearms used or suspected to have been used in crimes.

Published/Revised:

Firearms
Open Letter 2009 - January - All FFLs - Reporting Theft or Loss of Firearms From Inventory [PDF - 47.79 KB]

The purpose of this open letter is to reminder Federal firearms licensees of their responsibility in reporting any theft or loss of firearms from their inventory to ATF.

Published/Revised:

Firearms

ATF.gov

An official website of the U.S. Department of Justice

Looking for U.S. government information and services?
Visit USA.gov