Type 09 FFL: Dealer in Destructive Devices
If your business deals in destructive devices, a standard dealer license won't cover the work. You need a Type 09 FFL. It covers this specific category of firearms and munitions and works alongside National Firearms Act requirements.
What a Type 09 FFL is
The Type 09 lets you deal in destructive devices. This defined category includes certain large-bore firearms and munitions. They fall outside the ordinary rifles, shotguns, and handguns a Type 01 dealer handles, so dealing in them requires the dedicated Type 09 license.
What a Type 09 lets you do
- Deal in destructive devices as a business.
- Deal in firearms other than destructive devices as well, since the Type 09 is a broad dealer license.
- Run background checks and complete ATF Form 4473 on transfers to non-licensees.
Destructive devices and the NFA
Many destructive devices are also National Firearms Act items. A Type 09 dealer that transfers NFA destructive devices registers as a Class 3 Special Occupational Taxpayer and pays the annual SOT tax, which covers dealing in NFA items on top of the license.
Specialized category
The Type 09 is far less common than the everyday dealer licenses because destructive devices are a narrow, heavily regulated category. Most gun stores never need one.
Frequently asked questions
What is a destructive device?
A destructive device is a defined category that includes certain large-bore firearms and munitions that fall outside ordinary rifles, shotguns, and handguns. Dealing in them requires a Type 09 license.
Does a Type 09 also cover ordinary firearms?
Yes. The Type 09 is a broad dealer license that covers destructive devices and also allows dealing in firearms other than destructive devices.
Is an SOT required for a Type 09?
When the destructive devices are National Firearms Act items, the dealer registers as a Class 3 Special Occupational Taxpayer to transfer them. The exact requirement depends on the items handled.
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