My NFA gun trust clients frequently ask how long it will take for the ATF to approve their ATF Form 1 (manufacture) and ATF Form 4 (transfer) applications.
The biggest factor is whether the ATF application is filed electronically rather than filed by mail. In fact, I have been very surprised this month (January 2014) with the dramatic decrease in processing times for electronically-filed ATF applications versus paper-mailed ATF applications.
Electronically-Filed ATF Form 1: One of my NFA gun trust clients came to my office a few months ago with a few AR-15 lower receivers that he wanted to register as short-barreled rifles. We filed his ATF Form 1 electronically at my office on September 30, 2013 using the ATF’s relatively new eForms submission system located at www.atfonline.gov. The ATF emailed the approved Form 1 tax stamp to my client on January 13, 2014, i.e., in approximately three and a half (3.5) months.
Paper-Mailed ATF Form 1: One of my NFA gun trust clients filed his ATF Form 1 by mail on February 6, 2013. The ATF mailed the approved Form 1 tax stamp to my client on December 4, 2013, i.e., in approximately ten (10) months.
Conclusion: Do not mail your ATF Form 1, e-file it.
Electronically-Filed ATF Form 4: One of my NFA gun trust clients bought a new 7.62 mm suppressor at a Class III dealer in October 2013. The dealer filed the ATF Form 4 application electronically using the ATF’s eForms submission system on October 22, 2013. The ATF emailed the approved Form 4 tax stamp to the Class III dealer on January 22, 2014, i.e., in three (3) months.
Paper-Mailed ATF Form 4: One of my NFA gun trust clients bought a new .45 caliber suppressor at a Class III dealer in June 2012. The dealer mailed the ATF Form 4 application to the ATF on June 22, 2012. The ATF mailed the approved Form 4 tax stamp to the Class III dealer on December 12, 2012, i.e., in approximately five and a half (5.5) months. Another client bought a new 9 mm suppressor at a Class III dealer in August 2013. The dealer mailed the ATF Form 4 application to the ATF on August 13, 2013. The ATF is still processing the application.
Conclusion: If your Class III dealer is still mailing ATF Form 4 applications, instead of e-filing them, you should seriously consider buying your NFA firearm from a different Class III dealer. Why should you suffer excessive delays in the processing of your ATF applications due to the Class III dealer’s technical incompetence?
By the way, none of my NFA gun trust clients has ever had an ATF application denied.
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