Revising Firearms Transaction Record, “Form 4473”

What it does

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") is proposing to amend Department of Justice ("Department") regulations governing ATF Form 5300.9, Firearms Transaction Record, ("Form 4473"). Specifically, ATF proposes streamlining identity and residence verification requirements and documents; doubling the performance timeframe for transactions under Form 4473 following a National Instant Criminal Background Check System ("NICS") check; permitting electronic forms and notice, auto-populating, and attached copies; addressing private party transfers and firearms handler checks; incorporating ATF rulings and other guidance; further aligning regulations with statutory text; and making minor technical revisions.

The Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau's summary, as published in the Federal Register.

What it would change

1 part of Title 27 of the Code of Federal Regulations:

27 CFR 478

Before this

No earlier Federal Register document under regulation identifier 1140-AA82 since Jan. 1, 2025.

What happens next and when

Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) August 6, 2026. Commenters should be aware that the federal e-rulemaking portal comment system will not accept comments after midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period.

The agency's dates, word for word.

Check it yourself

• The document in the Federal Register
• Docket ATF-2026-0001 on Regulations.gov
• Title 27 on eCFR

The record as published

Source: the Federal Register (public domain). The document in the Federal Register