Below is a detailed step by step instruction on how to complete an ATF form 4473 without electronic signatures. Some of the steps required are designed to help you stay compliant.

This help article assumes that you have Electronic Signatures turned off, you have already started the 4473, and the buyer has filled out Section B of the form.

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On the Main Menu

• Click 4473

On the Pending 4473 Page

• In the “Pending 4473’s” panel, find your buyer and click on their name

On the 4473 Edit Page

• In the “FastBound Contact” panel, click the “Search” button

On the Contacts Search Results Page

• Click the “+ Add as a new contact” button to add the buyer as a new Contact
  or

• Select a Contact from the list to update it

On the Contact Create Page

• Review the Contact

• Click the “Create” button

• Review the Contact

• Optionally enter License or add Attachments

• Click the “Save & Use This Contact Button”

On the 4473 Edit Page, Scroll down to Section C

• Q24. Category of firearm(s)

  • Required

    • FastBound will automatically select the Category from the Item Type of the Item.

    • Make sure the Category of firearm(s) is selected correctly

• Q25. Qualifying gun show or event

  • If this sale or transfer is taking place at a qualifying gun show or even this question must be filled out completely.

• Q26.a. Identification

  • Required

  • Enter identification, type, and expiration date

    • You should use the abbreviation for the state and type, for example “VA DL” for a Virginia Drivers License.

• Q26.b. Supplemental Government Issued Documentation

  • Enter if necessary

    • If the Identificaiton provided by the transferee/buyer does not match what they entered in Section B the buyer must provide proof of their name or address with a valid government-issued document.

• Q26.c. Official Military Orders Establishing Permanent Change of Station (PCS)

  • Enter if necessary

• Q26.d. Exception to the Nonimmigrant Alien Prohibition

  • If the transferee/buyer answered “Other” to Q19 you must collect their Exception documentation and attach it to the 4473.

• Q28. No NICS check is required because a background check was completed during the NFA approval process

  • Select if necessary.

    • Checking this box will disable Q27.a.-Q27.e. and Q29.

• Q29. No NICS check is required because the transferee/buyer has a valid permit from the State where the transfer is to take place, which qualifies as an exemption to NICS

  • Select if necessary.

    • Checking this box will disable Q27.a.-Q27.e. and Q28.

      • The Issuance Date of the permit MUST NOT be more than 5 years from today’s date to be used as an exception to the background check requirement. Omitting the issuance date, if the permit has one, to get around this check could lead to administrative action against your FFL during an inspection.

    • Unchecking this box will disable the answers and discard any information entered in them.

Save and Print the form

Click the Save button and you will be automatically taken to the top of the page

• Click the “Print” button in the Options Panel

• Confirm that the information in Q6, Q7, Q8, and Q33 are entered correctly

• Click Complete

The 4473 will be generated and shown on your screen

• Review the 4473 to make sure it’s filled out correctly

• Click the Print button in your browser to print the 4473

• Go to the printer and get all 6 pages

• Verify that you have all 6 pages and they have all printed correctly and legibly

• Return to your device to reprint or continue

Close the print preview

• In your browser close the tab with the generated 4473

Print Confirmation

• Did you print the 4473?

• Click Yes

Answer the remaining questions, in ink on the printed form, in Sections C and E on the printed form

• Q27.a., Date the transferee’s/buyer’s identifying information in Section B was transmitted to NICS or the appropriate State agency

  • Required if the transferee/buyer does not have an exception (Q28 or Q29).

    • This date should be the same day as the buyer signed the 4473 in Q23. If a different date is selected you will receive a warning.

• Q27.b. The NICS or State transaction number (if provided) was

  • Required if a date is entered into Q27.a.

    • Enter the number provided by NICS or your state.

• Q27.c. The response initially provided by NICS or the appropriate State agency was

  • Required if a date is entered into Q27.a.

    • Enter the response you received. If you did not receive a response do not enter one until you do.

    • You should never choose “Cancelled” unless you receive that response from NICS or your state background check system. If you or the transferee/buyer wants to stop this transaction for any reason you will need to Void the 4473.

• Q27.d. Prior to transfer the following response(s) was/were later provided by NICS or the appropriate State agency

  • Required if Denied or Delayed are selected in Q27c.

    • Enter the response and date if necessary.

    • No response was provided within 3 business days

      • Only select this if no response was received with 3 business days and you are going to continue with the transfer. It is not recommended to transfer a firearm without a response, ever.

• Q27.e. After the firearm was transferred, the following response was provided by NICS or the appropriate State agency.

  • This can only be answered after Q36 has a date in it.

• Q32. For Use by Licensee

  • Enter any information you find necessary to conduct business or extra information from NICS.

    • An example of this would be when a new background check was started you would list the old one here.

    • Another example would be if your state allows an exception to the waiting period if the transferee/buyer has a valid concealed weapons permit (e.g. Florida). You would enter the transferee/buyers permit information here.

• Q33. FFL Information

  • Enter your FFL Information. A stamp with your FFL information is acceptable.

• Q34. Transferor’s/Seller’s Name

  • Required

  • Enter your First Name and Last Name

• Q35. Transferor’s/Seller’s Signature

  • Required

  • Sign the form

• Q36. Date Transferred

  • Required If transferring the items to the transferee/buyer.

    • Enter the date

      • This date can only be the same date as the buyer last signed the 4473 in Q23 or Q31.

Go back to FastBound and open the pending 4473 if you do not already have it open

Enter the results of the background check by selecting the appropriate button.

If the buyer received a Proceed by the background check

• Click the “Proceed” button

• Enter a Response Date

• Enter a Transfer Date

• Enter a Note – optional

• Click the Continue button

If the buyer was Denied by the background check

• Click the “Denied” button

• Enter a Response Date

• Enter a Note – optional

• Click the Continue button

If the background check was cancelled by NICS or your State

• Click the “Cancelled” button

• Enter a Response Date

• Enter a Note – optional

• Click the Continue button

If the background check was Delayed by NICS or your State

• Click the “Delayed” button

• Choose the response that was received

• Enter the required fields

• Click the Continue button

If the buyer had an exemption, Q28 or Q29

• Click the appropriate exemption button

• Enter the Transfer Date

• Enter a Note – optional

• Click the Continue button

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

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