Many People have asked, How to fill out a form 4 when making class 3 purchases. Because of this, we have added a page on this topic. Please see
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It is important to remember that the ATF will not accept your form 4 unless it is two sided. The two pages need to be photocopied on to a single sheet of paper or the form will be rejected.
A form 4 is the application for tax paid for transfer and registration of a Firearm that is restricted by the National Firearms Act (NFA)
When transferring firearms that are restricted by the NFA, it is important to mail your Form 4 to the proper address. There are several addresses floating around but at this time all Form 4’s should be mailed to the following address:
National Firearms Act Branch
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives
P.O. Box 530298
Atlanta, GA 30353-0298
The same for is used when you are purchasing as an individual, business, or NFA Firearms Trust.
If you have a NFA Firearms trust and live in Pennsylvania you should take the PA statute 2203 into consideration. In Pennsylvania and many other states a surviving spouse has a right to an elective share of the decedent’s estate. Generally these are around 1/3 but vary by state.
The elective share is designed to make sure that the surviving spouse is not disinherited from the spouse when they die. In PA the spouse is entitled to 1/3 of property owned by the decedent including property in a revocable trust.
It is possible to have your spouse waive their right in regards to a specific piece of property. For those of you creating Gun trusts where the spouse is not a co-owner or a beneficiary, it would be wise to have the spouse waive their right to that property so that the property is sure to pass to your intended beneficiary.
If you modify the configuration of your NFA registered Firearm you should notify the NFA Branch in writing so that the NFRTR can reflect the accurate description of the firearm.
If you lose your registration documents you are required to immediately report the theft, loss, or destruction in writing to the NFA Branch.
The report must contain the details of the situation. ATF will issue a duplicate copy of the registration document as circumstances warrant.
Registrants are not required to obtain permission from ATF to move NFA firearms within their State of residence.
However, if a registrant’s address changes after the NFA firearms are registered with ATF, please notify the NFA Branch in writing of the change so the NFRTR can reflect the registrant’s correct address.
To avoid unauthorized transfers, you must store NFA firearms so that no one else has access to them.
Firearms can be stored at locations other than the address on the firearm registration form, such as a safe deposit box. However, unless the registrant is a Federal firearms licensee who has paid the special (occupational) tax to import, manufacture, or deal in NFA firearms, the NFA Branch should be notified in writing of the new storage location.
Individuals, business entities, or trusts other than class 3 dealers or licensees must obtain permission from ATF prior to temporarily or permanently moving a machine-gun, short-barreled shotgun, short-barreled rifle, or destructive device interstate.
To obtain permission to move these firearms, you must submit either a letter requesting permission to move the item(s) or a Form 5320.20 to the ATF
If you are submitting the request by letter, please include the:
• Name of registrant;
• The firearm(s);
• The current location of the firearm(s);
• The location to which the firearm(s) will be transported;
• The date(s) and means of transportation (car, plane, boat, etc.); and
• The reason the firearm is being moved.
As soon as you discover that your NFA firearm was lost or stolen, you must notify your local NFA branch office of the circumstances by providing the following information:
- The name and address of the person to whom the firearm is registered;
- The lost or stolen firearm, including the model, manufacturer, caliber or gauge, and serial number; and
- The date and place of the theft or loss, including details of the situation.
This report must be made within 48 hours of discover. In addition, you must notify your local law enforcement authorities within 48 hours of discovery.
You may call the ATF at our 24-hour, 7-day-a-week, toll-free hot line number, 1-800-800-3855.
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