ATF eForm 4 Update! - Coming December 2021

The highly anticipated and awaited ATF eForm 4 application will be coming to the ATF eForm system this year.  The current status of the ATF eForm 4 as of April 2019, is the eForm 4 is currently being coded.  The ATF eForm 4 was available a few years ago, but the eForm 4 has since been taken off of the eForm platform.  The ATF Form 4 paper application has undergone a few changes and revisions since the last eForm 4 was available on the eForm platform.  This means that the coding process can take time to create the new eForm 4.  According to our ATF contacts the eForm 4 is slated to arrive back on the eForm platform this year [2019].  The timeframe in a perfect world would be a Summer 2019 availability.  But the release date could extend to the fourth quarter of 2019.  With that being said, it is up to you whether to wait for the elusive ATF eForm 4 to come back online or to apply now with a paper ATF Form 4 for your next silencer application.  The ATF eForm 4 application should drastically reduce the approval time for ATF Form 4 items.  The ATF eForm 4 ideally would take the now 7 to 12 month wait and reduce that time to a one month approval time.  We will keep this article updated as we hear more information.  

Latest ATF eForm 4 News

  • December 2021: Silencer Shop is indicating that the ATF eForm 4 is coming back between December 15th and December 28th.
  • October 2021: Reddit post indicates that the eForm 4 is going through beta testing and is soon to be released.
  • May 2021: Rumors have circulated the the ATF eForm 4 could be returning June 2021.
  • April 2020: The ATF has no more updates on the addition of the ATF eForm 4. 
  • April 2019:  The ATF eForm 4 is currently being coded and in the coding process.  ATF eForms Login Page also states, "ATF continues to work at restoring ATF Form 4, Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration, to service as an eForm."
  • April 24, 2019: The ATF purposes changes to the ATF Form 4 paperwork.  One of the cited comments that the ATF is requesting comments on is, "Minimize the burden of the collection of information on those who are to respond, including through the use of appropriate automated, electronic, mechanical, or other technological collection techniques or other forms of information technology, e.g., permitting electronic submission of responses." This may or may not be evidence of further progress on the return of the ATF eForm 4. 
  • September 14, 2019: ATF releases revised ATF 5320.23 that includes information that is found on the eForm 1 application (shown below):
      • 5. Social Security Number (See instructions 3C).  This is your social security number.  This box is not required to be filled out.  Instructions 3C state: "Social Security Number and UPIN. The Social Security number and UPIN are not required. However, this information assists with the efficient completion of the NICS background check. Please be aware that refusal to provide this information may result in a delay in the NICS background check process."

      • 5. Date of Birth.  This is your date of birth.

      • 6a. Ethnicity.  This is your ethnicity.  Options are: "Hispanic or Latino" or "Not Hispanic or Latino". 

      • 6b. Race. This is your race.  Options are: "American Indian or Alaska Native", "Asian", "Black or African American", "Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander", or "White". 

      Citizenship and Birth Questions were added:

      • 9a. Country of Citizenship. This is your country of citizenship.  Options are: "United States of America" or "Other Country/Countries."  If you select the "Other Country/Countries" box, you are expected to specify what your country/countries of citizenship is/are. 

      • 9b. State of Birth. This is state that you were born in. 

      • 9c. Country of Birth. This is the country that you were born in and might be different than question 9a.

      Unique Personal Identification Number (UPIN) Questions were added:

      • 11.  Unique Personal Identification Number (See instructions 3C).  This is your Unique Personal Identification Number (UPIN).  If you don't have a UPIN, select "No" for this question.  If you have a UPIN, you will select the "Yes" box, but you aren't required to enter that number. Instructions 3C state: "Social Security Number and UPIN. The Social Security number and UPIN are not required. However, this information assists with the efficient completion of the NICS background check. Please be aware that refusal to provide this information may result in a delay in the NICS background check process."
  • September 2019: Reports coming back stating that individual and gun trust applicants are being approved with the ATF Form 4 application in or around 45 days.  Silencer Shop, stated in emails to customers that the ATF is using a new [ATF Form 4] processing format that is allowing for sub-120 day approval times. 

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