Completing an Electronic 4473 (Without Electronic Signature) – Step by Step

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.


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, 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

Q27.a. through Q27.e. will be filled out in ink on the printed form after the buyer signs the printed form.

Save and Print the form

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

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 4473 will be generated and shown on your screen

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.

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

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.

The Proceed, Denied, Cancelled, and Delayed buttons will now be unlocked in the NICS / State Response panel.

If the buyer received a Proceed by the background check

Clicking the Proceed 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.

If the buyer was Denied by the background check

Clicking the Denied button will close the pending 4473. The Item(s) on the 4473 will be returned to your open inventory and the contact status of the buyer will be set to Denied.

If the background check was cancelled by NICS or your State

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.

Clicking the Cancelled button will close the pending 4473. The Item(s) on the 4473 will be returned to your open inventory and the contact status of the buyer will be set to Denied.

If the background check was Delayed by NICS or your State

What you choose next depends on the final response from the background check. Choosing a response will close the 4473 the same as a non-delayed 4473.

If the buyer had an exemption, Q28 or Q29

Clicking an exemption 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.