Completing an Electronic 4473 (With Electronic Signature) – Step by Step

Below is a detailed step by step instruction on how to complete an ATF form 4473 with electronic signatures. Some of the steps required are designed to help you stay compliant.

This help article assumes that you have started the 4473 and the buyer has filled out Section B of the form.


On the Main Menu

If you do not see 4473 on the Main Menu, it may not be turned on in your account settings or you may not have permission to access 4473s in FastBound.

On the Pending 4473 Page

In the panel labeled “Pending 4473s” you will see a list of all “Customer Complete” 4473s. If your buyer has not completed, certified, signed, and dated Section B of the 4473 then it will not show up in this panel.

On the 4473 Edit Page

The first thing you must do is you must select a Contact in your account to link to this 4473. The buyers name will already be in the search box from the 4473.

On the Contacts Search Results Page

FastBound will search for the buyers name and the results will be in the “Form 4473 Contact Information” panel. You can create a new Contact from the buyers information on the 4473 or you can update an existing Contact with the information from the 4473. Selecting an existing Contact will update the selected Contact with the buyer information from this 4473. This will not change any previous Acquisition or Disposition for any Items for this Contact. Please choose carefully because this cannot be undone.

For this Help Article we will add a new contact by clicking the “+ Add as a new contact” button.

On the Contact Create Page

The new Contact will be created and all of the information from the 4473 will be entered exactly as the buyer entered it in Section B. Review the information.You can optionally enter a Phone Number, Fax, or Email Address.

Clicking the Create button will save the Contact in your database. This will unlock a Licensing Panel where you can enter a drivers license, concealed weapons permit, or any other type of ID you want. This will also unlock an Attachments panel where you can upload a copy of the licenses or ID’s.

On the 4473 Edit Page, Scroll down to Section C

Scroll down to Section E

Background Check

We are not covering how to conduct a background check in this Help Article.

Scroll down to Complete 4473 and Transfer Firearm(s)

On the Transferor’s/Seller’s Signature pop-up

If you need to re-sign the form, you can click the “Click or Tap to Sign” button again.

Generating a TTSN

If you do not file your 4473’s with a TTSN you can skip this step.

Print the 4473

If there is any missing information from the 4473, FastBound will give you a warning message. Please click Cancel and enter the missing information then click Save and Print again.

The complete 4473 will be generated and shown on your screen

Hint: If you want to save a pdf version of the 4473 you can print the 4473 as a pdf and save it. Saving as a pdf does not meet the electronic storage requirements. All 6 pages of the 4473 must be printed on paper and stored according to the ATF regulations.

Close the print preview

Print Confirmation

Clicking Yes will allow you to complete this 4473 so you can dispose the Item(s) in FastBound to the buyer. DO NOT click Yes unless you have all 6 printed pages in your hand. Clicking No will return you to the pending 4473 so you can make changes and then print again.

Complete the 4473

The complete button will now be unlocked in the Complete the 4473 panel.

Clicking the Complete button will close the pending 4473 and turn it into a pending disposition. The Item(s) on the 4473 will not be disposed until you commit the pending disposition. If you file your 4473s by TTSN, a TTSN will be generated on the pending disposition page and you will need to handwrite the TTSN on the printed 4473.

You are finished and have completed the electronic 4473 with electronic signature.


We are not covering how to complete a pending disposition in this help article.