What Questions are Asked on a 4473 Form?
ATF Form 4473 — the Firearms Transaction Record — is a seven-page document that both the buyer and the FFL must complete for every over-the-counter firearm transfer. The form collects the buyer's identity, verifies their eligibility, records the firearm details, and documents the NICS background check results. Here's every section broken down.
Section A: Firearm description
The FFL fills out Section A before the buyer begins the form. It records the details of each firearm being transferred:
Manufacturer and/or importer (or "PMF" for Privately Made Firearms)
Model
Serial number (or "NSN" if none)
Type — pistol, revolver, rifle, shotgun, receiver/frame, or other
Caliber or gauge
If more firearms are being transferred than can fit in Section A, the FFL uses a continuation sheet (ATF Form 5300.9A). For a step-by-step walkthrough, see our guide on how to fill out Form 4473 as an FFL.
Section B: Buyer information and eligibility questions
This is the longest section and the one most buyers have questions about. It's divided into two parts: personal identification and eligibility questions.
Personal information (Questions 1–17)
The buyer provides their full legal name, current residence address (including whether they reside within city limits), place of birth, date of birth, Social Security Number (optional), sex, height, weight, ethnicity, and race. A government-issued photo ID number and issuing authority are also recorded here.
Eligibility questions (Questions 21.a–21.n)
This is where the form determines whether the buyer is legally allowed to receive a firearm. Each question must be answered "Yes" or "No." The key questions are:
"Are you the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm(s) listed on this form?"
This is the most misunderstood question. The answer is "Yes" if the buyer is purchasing for themselves — even if the firearm is a legitimate gift. The answer is "No" only if someone else is paying for or directing the purchase, which makes the transaction an illegal straw purchase.
"Do you intend to sell or otherwise dispose of any firearm listed on this form in furtherance of any felony or other offense punishable by imprisonment for a term of more than one year, a Federal crime of terrorism, or a drug trafficking offense?"
The Aug 2023 revision removed "or ammunition" from this question.
These questions cover the federal prohibitions on firearm possession. A "Yes" answer to any of them means the transfer cannot proceed. The categories include:
21.c — Under indictment or convicted of a felony
21.d — Fugitive from justice
21.e — Unlawful user of or addicted to any controlled substance (including marijuana, regardless of state law)
21.f — Adjudicated as a mental defective or committed to a mental institution
21.g — Illegal alien or nonimmigrant visa holder (with some exceptions)
21.h — Discharged from the Armed Forces under dishonorable conditions
21.i — Subject to a restraining order involving an intimate partner or child
21.j — Convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic violence
21.k — Renounced U.S. citizenship
21.l — Under a court order related to domestic violence or stalking (added by BSCA)
21.m — Immigration status questions (U.S. citizens answer "No" to 21.m.1 and leave 21.m.2 blank)
"Do you intend to purchase or acquire any firearm listed on this form for sale or other disposition to any person described in questions 21(b)–(l)?"
This asks whether the buyer intends to pass the firearm to someone they know is a prohibited person.
After answering all eligibility questions, the buyer signs and dates Section B, certifying that their answers are true under penalty of law. Providing false information on Form 4473 is a federal felony carrying up to 10 years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine.
Digital advantage: E4473's digital form includes built-in help icons on every question with the official ATF instructions. Smart logic alerts the buyer and staff to potentially disqualifying answers before the form is submitted.
Section C: NICS background check and identification
The FFL completes this section after reviewing the buyer's Section B. It records the buyer's government-issued photo ID details and the results of the NICS background check, including the date NICS was contacted, the NICS Transaction Number (NTN), and the response (Proceed, Delayed, or Denied).
The current form also includes fields for tracking delayed transfers for buyers under 21, who are subject to an extended 10-business-day review period under the Bipartisan Safer Communities Act.
Section D: Recertification
If the firearm is transferred on a different day than when Section B was completed (which happens with NICS delays or state waiting periods), the buyer must sign Section D confirming that their answers in Section B are still accurate. If anything has changed, a new Form 4473 must be started.
Section E: Dealer certification
The FFL prints their name, signs, and dates the form on the day of actual transfer. This section also records the FFL number, business name, and address, and includes a certification that the NICS check is within 30 calendar days of the transfer. Learn more about the FFL's responsibilities in our complete FFL guide to Form 4473.