Can I Fill Out Form 4473 at Home? What Buyers Need to Know (2026)
No, you cannot fill out ATF Form 4473 at home. Federal law requires the form to be completed in person at a licensed firearms dealer's location. The dealer must verify your identity by physically examining your government-issued photo ID and observe you completing the form. No exceptions — not by mail, email, fax, or online.
This applies whether you're buying a firearm in-store, picking up an online purchase, or receiving a transfer from another dealer. The paperwork always happens face-to-face at the dealer's premises.
Why can't I fill it out before I get to the store?
The in-person requirement exists for three reasons:
The dealer must verify your ID in person. They need to physically examine your government-issued photo ID — not a scan, not a photocopy, not a photo on your phone. The original document, in their hands, compared to the person standing in front of them.
The dealer must observe you completing the form. This helps prevent someone else from filling out the form on your behalf (a "straw purchase"), and allows the dealer to ensure you're completing the form voluntarily and without coercion.
The form is a legal document with criminal penalties. Signing it certifies that you — personally — provided the information. The in-person requirement ensures that certification is genuine.
Even though Form 4473 is publicly available as a PDF on the ATF's website, downloading it and bringing a pre-filled version to the store won't work. The dealer will ask you to complete a fresh form on-site.
What about buying a gun online?
When you buy a firearm online, the gun doesn't ship to your home. It ships to a local FFL (Federal Firearms Licensee) — a licensed dealer who will handle the transfer paperwork. You visit that dealer in person, complete Form 4473, pass the NICS background check, and then take possession of the firearm.
The online purchase doesn't change any part of the in-person requirement. It just means the firearm arrives at the dealer's shop before you do.
What to expect when you get to the store
Here's what the process looks like from start to finish:
The dealer provides the form. On paper, this is a multi-page document you'll fill out by hand. At stores that use digital 4473 software, you'll complete it on a tablet, kiosk, or your own phone.
You fill out your sections. This includes your name, address, date of birth, and a series of yes/no eligibility questions about your criminal history, drug use, mental health, and citizenship status. For a full breakdown, see what questions are asked on Form 4473.
You present your ID. A valid government-issued photo ID showing your name, date of birth, and current address.
The dealer runs a background check. Using the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS), the dealer submits your information for a federal background check. Most checks return a "Proceed" result within minutes.
You sign the form and take your firearm. If the background check clears, you sign the certification, the dealer signs their section, and the transfer is complete.
Total time: typically 15 to 30 minutes including the background check. At stores using digital 4473 systems, it's often closer to 10 to 15 minutes because the form validates your entries as you go — no corrections needed after the fact.
What to bring to the store
Valid government-issued photo ID (driver's license or state ID)
If your ID doesn't show your current address, bring a supplemental government document (utility bill from a government provider, voter registration card, etc.)
Your Social Security Number — optional, but recommended as it speeds up the NICS check
Knowledge of your current legal name and residence address as they appear on official documents
About 15–30 minutes of time
What if the background check is delayed?
About 8% of NICS checks result in a "Delayed" response, meaning the FBI needs more time to complete the check. If this happens:
The dealer will keep your completed Form 4473 on file
NICS has three business days to make a final determination. If they respond with "Proceed" within that window, the dealer will contact you to pick up your firearm
If NICS doesn't respond within three business days, the dealer may proceed with the transfer at their discretion — this is known as the "Brady Transfer Date." Many dealers choose to wait for a definitive response
For buyers under 21, the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act extends the review period to 10 business days
If you're delayed, you'll need to return to the store to sign Section D of the form — a recertification that your answers are still accurate — since the transfer is happening on a different day than when you completed the form.
What if I have to fill out more than one Form 4473?
Each firearm transaction requires its own Form 4473 (though multiple firearms in a single transaction can be listed on one form). If you're buying from different dealers, you'll complete a separate form at each location. Previous forms at one dealer don't carry over to another.
For FFLs: If you're a dealer looking to make the in-store 4473 process faster and easier for your customers, E4473's digital form lets buyers complete their sections on any device in your store. Built-in validation catches errors before they become compliance problems. Schedule a demo to see how it works.