What is an electronic 4473?
An electronic 4473 is the same ATF Form 4473 every firearm transfer requires, completed and signed on a screen instead of on paper. Every question, notice, and certification is identical to the paper form. What changes is the mechanics: the buyer answers on a device, the software blocks incomplete or inconsistent answers before the form can move forward, and the finished record files itself. Here is what that means in practice for an FFL.
How an electronic 4473 works at the counter
The buyer starts Section B on a tablet or kiosk, answering the same eligibility questions as on paper. The software validates as they go: a skipped box, a missing date, or an answer that conflicts with another cannot be submitted. The dealer completes their sections, runs the NICS check in the same workflow, and both parties sign electronically. The completed form is stored digitally and can be pulled up in seconds during an audit or trace request.
That validation step is the entire point. On paper, roughly one in ten 4473s contains an error, and each one is a potential inspection finding. An electronic 4473 refuses to accept the form until it is complete and internally consistent, which removes the most common violation categories at the source. Our spot-the-errors exercise shows how easy those paper mistakes are to miss.
What stays the same
- The form itself: an electronic 4473 must present the current ATF revision with every question, notice, and certification intact.
- The buyer's obligations: they still answer every question personally and certify with a signature, just captured electronically.
- The background check: NICS or your state point of contact check runs exactly as before.
- Retention: completed 4473s must remain retrievable for 20 years or more, whether stored on paper or digitally.
One notification to know about
Completing the 4473 electronically requires no prior ATF notification. Storing completed forms electronically generally does: written notice to your local ATF office, commonly around 60 days before you switch. Details are on our page covering whether a digital 4473 is ATF compliant.
Why dealers switch
Three reasons come up in nearly every conversation: fewer inspection findings, faster transfers, and no filing cabinets. The first is the compliance case. The second is throughput: a validated digital form with NICS in the same workflow is simply faster than clipboard, correction, re-copy. The third is retrieval: an inspector asking for a specific form gets it in seconds instead of a session in the back room. Put your own numbers into the Paper 4473 Cost Calculator to see what the paper routine costs your store in a year.
The architecture matters too. Some electronic 4473 products bolt onto a separate point of sale and sync data between systems. e4473 is native to the Bravo Store Systems point of sale, so the sale, the 4473, the NICS check, and the A&D Book all come from one record. Our side-by-side comparison with paper and our requirements checklist cover how to evaluate the options.
Frequently asked questions
Is an electronic 4473 legal?
Yes. ATF permits the Form 4473 to be completed and signed electronically, provided the electronic form is the current revision with every question and certification intact. Electronic storage of completed forms is also permitted with written notice to your local ATF office, commonly around 60 days in advance.
Does the buyer still sign the form?
Yes. The buyer reviews the completed form and signs electronically, certifying the same statements as on paper. The signature is captured and stored with the form.
How long are electronic 4473s kept?
The same retention rules apply as for paper: completed 4473s must remain retrievable for 20 years or more depending on the record. Good electronic storage makes that retention automatic instead of a filing project.
What happens during an ATF inspection with electronic 4473s?
The inspector reviews your forms the same way, but retrieval is faster: any form can be pulled up by name, date, or serial number in seconds. e4473 also provides a restricted portal an inspector can use without touching the rest of your system.
See an electronic 4473 in action
Watch a transfer go from first question to signed, filed 4473 on the Bravo point of sale, and bring your compliance questions. The demo takes about 15 minutes.