After the transferee/buyer has reviewed, certified, and submitted an electronic 4473 to the transferor/seller, the transferee/buyer can no longer make corrections to the electronic 4473. Any and all corrections must be made on the printed copy. You can find this in ATF Ruling 2016-2 #5.
ALSO
The Instructions from page 6 of 4473 (Revised December 2022) states:
“The licensee should NOT contact NICS and must stop the transaction if there is reasonable cause to believe that the sale or disposition of a firearm to the transferee/buyer is prohibited or the transferee/buyer is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm, including if: the transferee/buyer answered “no” to questions 21.a; the transferee/buyer answered “yes” to questions 21.b. – 21.m.; the transferee/buyer
answered “yes” to question 21.n.1., and answered “no” to question 21.n.2.
Warning: Any person who transfers a firearm to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the sale or disposition to such person is prohibited violates the law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(d), even if the transferor/seller has complied with the Federal background check requirements.”
The Instructions from page 6 of 4473 (Revised August 2023) states:
“The licensee should NOT contact NICS and must stop the transaction if there is reasonable cause to believe that the sale or disposition of a firearm to the transferee/buyer is prohibited or the transferee/buyer is prohibited from receiving or possessing a firearm, including if: the transferee/buyer answered “no” to questions 21.a; the transferee/buyer answered “yes” to questions 21.b. – 21.1 as well as 21.n.; the transferee/buyer answered “yes” to question 21.m.1., and answered “no” to question 21.m.2.
Warning: Any person who transfers a firearm to any person knowing or having reasonable cause to believe the sale or disposition to such person is prohibited violates the law, 18 U.S.C. § 922(d), even if the transferor/seller has complied with the Federal background check requirements.”.
Because of the ATF’s Ruling, the instructions on the 4473, and guidance from our legal team; the transferee/buyer cannot electronically correct a 4473.
You, the transferor/seller, have three options.:
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Deny the transfer/sale.
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Print and Void the electronic 4473
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Continue with the transfer/sale. (not recommended, this could lead to a violation or administrative action against your FFL)
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Print and Void the electronic 4473 and have the transferee/buyer correct the printed copy of the 4473.
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If the items were transferred, you will need to manually create a disposition for them.
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Have the transferee/buyer fill out a new 4473. (optional)
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Print and Void the electronic 4473.
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Have the transferee/buyer fill out a new 4473 with no errors/mistakes then print, complete, and dispose the item(s) like normal.
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It is up to you, the transferor/seller, to use your discretion when presented with a customer who you believe has made an honest mistake. If you do decide to allow a purchaser to complete a new 4473, you should never tell them which answer was prohibiting or “incorrect.” To do so could be considered coaching by ATF.
FastBound will display a popup on the 4473 stating: “This sale cannot continue” and will list the disqualifying answer from the questionnaire.
The disqualified form MUST be Printed and Stored for records in accordance with ATF ruling 2021R-05F.
You can remove the 4473 from your pending list by clicking the “Void / No Transfer” icon.
