ATF Form Assistance

A valid government-issued photo identification at the time of background check initiation that displays the buyers;

• Full legal name
• Date of birth
• Current residential address

Example: Driver’s License or State Issued Identification Card

– Utah temporary (paper) driver’s licenses ARE accepted.
– A handwritten sticker showing an address change on the back WILL NOT be accepted.
– Identification that is expired WILL NOT be accepted.

As explained by the ATF:

• The identification document presented by the transferee must have a photograph of the transferee, as well as the transferee’s name, residence address, and date of birth. The identification document must also be valid (e.g., unexpired) and have been issued by a governmental entity for the purpose of identification of individuals. An example of an acceptable identification document is a current driver’s license.
  A combination of government-issued documents may be used to meet the requirements of an identification document. For example, a passport that contains the name, date of birth, and photograph of the holder may be combined with a voter or vehicle registration card containing the residence address of the transferee in order to comply with the identification document requirements. A passport issued by a foreign government is also acceptable so long as it has all of the required information.*
  See Important Information Below For Utah Requirements.
• Whether a hunting license or permit issued by a retailer meets the definition of an identification document is State law specific. This license or permit meets the definition of an identification document if the State in which the retailer is located has authorized the retailer to supply State issued documents. If the State recognizes the hunting license or permit as government-issued, then this license or permit would qualify as being government-issued for the purposes of supplementing another government-issued identification document.
  A description of the location of the residence on an identification document, such as a rural route, is sufficient to constitute a residence address provided the purchaser resides in a State or locality where it is considered to be a legal residence address.
  [18 U.S.C. 922(t); 27 CFR 478.11 and 478.124]
  https://www.atf.gov/firearms/qa/what-form-identification-must-licensee-obtain-transferee-firearm

Utah Requirements

As provided by a Brady Supervisor at the Utah Bureau of Criminal Identification (BCI)

“Utah requires a driver’s license or ID card from a state that can be verified by our system in Rule 722-380.”
R722-380-3. Verification of Identification.
(1) For purposes of a criminal history background check as established in Section 76-10-526, the only form of photo identification the bureau shall accept is a driver’s license or identification card that may be accessed through the issuing state’s database and verified as a valid form of identification.

“If the address is not correct on the driver’s license or ID card, Utah does allow any government-issued document to be used as long as it has the current address. This could come from a municipality, state, or federal document. So there are many documents or letters that could be used for this alternative to the address not being correct. The FFL would have to see one of these documents to add to his FFL paperwork in support of a new address.”
“A city bill would work, but something like Rocky Mountain power would not work because it’s not a government agency. If you use taxes or registration, they have to be the current year.”
– Our Addition: A current hunting or fishing license with the individual’s current address will also be accepted because it is issued by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (DWR) since it is a government agency.

If you maintain property (a home) in another state see the FAQ “What constitutes residency in a state” for more information about the ability to purchase firearms in multiple states.

Measuring the barrel of an AR is easy but it is important to do it properly. To determine the barrel length it must be properly installed to the upper receiver and the measured distance is between the bolt face to the end of the muzzle.

The barrel length of a rifle is explained on page 6 of the National Firearms Act Handbook, “The ATF procedure for measuring barrel length is to measure from the closed bolt (or breech-face) to the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device. Permanent methods of attachment include full-fusion gas or electric steel-seam welding, high-temperature (1100°F) silver soldering, or blind pinning with the pin head welded over. Barrels are measured by inserting a dowel rod into the barrel until the rod stops against the bolt or breech-face. The rod is then marked at the furthermost end of the barrel or permanently attached muzzle device, withdrawn from the barrel, and measured.”

You will need three items to help measure it correctly.

• Cleaning rod or wooden dowel
• Masking tape
• Tape measure

1. Following ALL firearm safety rules point the firearm in a safe direction, visually and physically ensure there is no magazine inserted and it is unloaded. Clear all ammunition away from the area.
2. Check to see if the muzzle device is temporarily or permanently* attached to the barrel. You must remove any and all attachments that are not permanently attached to the barrel.
3. Ensure the bolt is closed in the forward “chambered” position.
4. Slide the cleaning rod or wooden dowel down the barrel until it reaches the breech (bolt face).
5. Using the masking tape, mark the rod or dowel where it clears the barrel or muzzle device.
6. Take the rod or dowel out of the barrel and measure it with the tape measure.

*A permanently attached device requires welding or pinning the device to the end of the barrel.

Measuring the Overall Length (AOL) of an AR can be a little difficult. Why? Because you can’t legally build or assemble the SBR until the Tax Stamp has been approved by the ATF.

The National Firearms Act (NFA) Division recommends that you use an estimate for the AOL. You can take a proper measurement of the barrel and add the length of the lower receiver with the stock in the extended position and get pretty close to what the AOL would be when it is fully assembled. Once the approved Form 1 with Stamp Tax is received from the ATF you can then assemble and manufacture the SBR. At that time you can then measure the actual AOL of the SBR. If this measurement is different than the estimate that you entered into the Form 1 application, you must submit a change of length letter to the ATF. They will then send back an approval letter that will need to be kept with the approved tax stamp.

The overall length of a rifle is explained on page 6 of the National Firearms Act Handbook, “The overall length of a firearm is the distance between the muzzle of the barrel and the rearmost portion of the weapon measured on a line parallel to the axis of the bore.” This means, to find the AOL of a firearm, the measurement is taken from the muzzle straight to the end of the fully extended stock.

ATF Final Rule 2021R-08F “Factoring Criteria for Firearms with Attached Stabilizing Braces”

To obtain the AOL of a firearm that meets this rule you can measure the AOL with the firearm fully assembled and stabilizing brace attached. DO NOT install a stock onto the buffer tube of the “AR Pistol”! You will be creating an illegal SBR. Simply measure the stabilizing brace and the stock that you want to install after approval, then add or subtract the appropriate measurement and include it in the AOL. You can only attach a stock after the approved Form 1 with Tax Stamp has been received from the ATF under this rule.

This is a very common question asked when discussing NFA Trusts. Many people out there can confuse others into believing that it’s a big disadvantage that you are required to engrave something on your NFA firearm if it’s in an NFA Trust.

ATF Form 4’s

If you are completing an ATF Form 4 Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of Firearm, then no. It does not matter if the NFA firearm was transferred as an individual or into an NFA Trust. Only manufacturers, importers, and makers of firearms are required to engrave firearms. If you are the buyer of an already manufactured firearm, receiver, Silencer, Short Barreled Rifle (SBR), Short Barreled Shotgun (SBS), Machine Gun, or Any Other Weapon (AOW) then it already has the manufacturer’s markings on the firearm listed on the Form 4 so you are not required to engrave anything additional onto the NFA firearm.

ATF Form 1’s

If you are completing an ATF Form 1 Application to Make and Register a Firearm, then… YES. You are either the manufacturer or maker of the firearm and must meet the engraving requirement. This means the NFA firearm must be marked conspicuously on the frame, receiver, or barrel with the name of the trust and the city and state (two-letter postal abbreviation acceptable) where the SBR is made. See 27 C.F.R. § 479.102(a)(2). For purposes of the marking requirement, there is no difference whether the maker is an individual or an NFA Trust.

What needs to be engraved on my NFA firearm?

• Name of the individual or entity that made/registered the NFA firearm.
• Location (City and State) where the NFA item was made.
• Caliber of the registered NFA firearm.
• Serial Number of the registered NFA firearm.
• Model of the registered NFA firearm.

To comply with 27 CFR §§ 478.92 and 479.102., the engraving or stamping (impressing) of ALL required information must be to a minimum depth of .003 inch and in a print size no smaller than 1/16 inch. This is important when you are selecting an engraver for your NFA markings. Many decorative engravers will not meet the ATF depth requirement.

EXAMPLE 1:

You purchased an Anderson Manufacturing Frontline QR-16 rifle that has a 16-inch barrel. You want to put a 10-inch .300 Blackout barrel on it and make it into an SBR.

NOTE: This rifle is advertised as a 5.56 NATO caliber. However, the receiver says, “MULTI” meaning it can shoot multiple different calibers. You CAN NOT put “MULTI” as the caliber on an ATF Form 1. In this case, the caliber would be “.300” since that is the caliber barrel you will be installing. Here are the current manufacturer markings that are already on the rifle, and what you used to fill out the information on the Form 1:

ANDERSON MANUFACTURING
HEBRON, KY
.300
12345678

After the ATF has approved the Form 1, you must engrave the firearm as the maker, before you put the new 10-inch barrel on it, to comply with NFA laws. You have some choices of where to engrave the firearm. The frame, receiver, barrel, or pistol slide (if applicable) are all acceptable under the law. For practical purposes, especially with AR-type firearms, engraving the lower receiver is usually the best option. As such, you will be able to swap upper receivers without needing to re-engrave the firearm.

Individual
You must include your full name and location (City and State) based on the applicant (you) address and what was entered in box 3b. of the Form 1. Because the original manufacturer (remember, you are the maker) already engraved the serial number, model, and caliber, you are not required to re-engrave this information. Even though the caliber is now .300, “MULTI” does not need to be changed on the receiver and you do not engrave .300 onto the receiver as long as the barrel is marked with the caliber and it is “conspicuous” which means it can easily be seen without removing a hand guard, it should be acceptable. Do not alter or modify the serial number of an existing firearm.

JOHN DOE
RIVERTON, UT

NFA Trust
You must include the name of your Trust and location (City and State) based on the Trust address and what was entered in box 3b. of the Form 1. The full city name must be included, but the state can be abbreviated. Because the original manufacturer (remember, you are the maker) already engraved the serial number, model, and caliber, you are not required to re-engrave this information. Even though the caliber is now .300, “MULTI” does not need to be changed on the receiver and you do not engrave .300 onto the receiver as long as the barrel is marked with the caliber and it is “conspicuous” which means it can easily be seen without removing a hand guard, it should be acceptable. Do not alter or modify the serial number of an existing firearm.

JOHN DOE NFA TRUST
RIVERTON, UT

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EXAMPLE 2:

You are making an NFA firearm from scratch using an 80% lower receiver that you want to mill out and install a 10-inch .300 Blackout barrel to create an SBR. After the ATF has approved the Form 1, you must engrave the firearm as the maker, before you mill out the lower receiver and put the new 10-inch barrel on it, to comply with NFA laws. The location (City and State) is based on the applicant’s address and what was entered in box 3b. of the Form 1. The full city name must be included, but the state can be abbreviated.

To comply with 27 CFR §§ 478.92 and 479.102., the engraving or stamping (impressing) of ALL required information must be to a minimum depth of .003 inch and in a print size no smaller than 1/16 inch. This is important when you are selecting an engraver for your NFA markings. Many decorative engravers will not meet the ATF depth requirement. You have some choices of where to engrave the firearm. The frame, receiver, barrel, or pistol slide (if applicable) are all acceptable under the law. For practical purposes, especially with AR-type firearms, engraving the lower receiver is usually the best option. As such, you will be able to swap upper receivers without needing to re-engrave the firearm.

Individual
All information must match what was entered on the Form 1. You must include your full name and location (City and State) based on the applicant (you) address and what was entered in box 4. a. The caliber as entered in box 4. c. A model is not required, but if you included a model on the Form 1 in box 4. d. it must be engraved. The serial number as entered in box 4. g. The Maker may not duplicate any serial number placed by the Maker on any other firearm.

JOHN DOE
RIVERTON, UT
COOL SBR
.300
001

NFA Trust
All information must match what was entered on the Form 1. You must include the name of your Trust and location (City and State) based on the Trust address and what was entered in box 4. a. The caliber as entered in box 4. c. A model is not required, but if you included a model on the Form 1 in box 4. d. it must be engraved. The serial number as entered in box 4. g. The Maker may not duplicate any serial number placed by the Maker on any other firearm.

JOHN DOE NFA TRUST
RIVERTON, UT
COOL SBR
.300
001

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If you have any questions, please contact us and we can help answer questions and help you complete the ATF Form 1.