Removing an SBR/SBS from the NFRTR and Selling / Reregistering the SBR/SBS Process

If you plan on selling your SBR/SBS you might have thought about removing the SBR/SBS from the ATF NFRTR (National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record), which is the central registry of all restricted weapons, before you do so. This would mean that you can no longer use that firearm in a title 2, a.k.a SBR/SBS configuration and your buyer can't use the firearm in an title 2, a.k.a SBR/SBS configuration either.  You can also switch the upper receiver if applicable for your SBR/SBS to a legal title 1 configuration and in effect you are creating a title 1 SBR/SBS and sell your SBR/SBS that way too.  The question though then becomes what happens if you want to sell your SBR/SBS?  What is the process of transferring the SBR/SBS or removing the SBR/SBS from the ATF NFRTR, creating a title 1 firearm and then selling the SBR/SBS? What if the buyer of your title 1 firearm wants to create an SBR/SBS from your already deregistered SBR/SBS at the time of purchase or in the future? We describe this process below the possible situations below.  Note: In all three situations below your SBR/SBS will still contain your original engraving, but may need to be engraved with further information as noted in each situation.

Removing SBR/SBS from the NFRTR and selling the title 1 firearm or selling your SBR/SBS with a current tax stamp: 

Buyer wants to register your previously registered SBR/SBR, now a title 1 firearm as an SBR/SBS:   The seller would need to submit a request to remove the SBR/SBS from the NFRTR.  This process can take the ATF up to 3 months or more in some cases.  You can use our ATF NFRTR Removal Letter Generator to create this letter to send to the ATF.  Once you have confirmed that the SBR/SBS is removed from the ATF, the buyer can then start the process to manufacture an SBR/SBS from the title 1 firearm that they purchased.  The buyer will apply for their tax stamp using the ATF Form 1 or the ATF eForm 1 form.  They won't be using the ATF Form 4, since the seller has removed the SBR/SBR from the ATF NFRTR.  This is the most common and fastest was to transfer an SBR/SBS firearm.  If the seller wants to sell an SBR/SBS using the ATF Form 4 to the new buyer, the buyer can wait 7 to 12 months or more depending on how fast the FBI returns your background check (this is the situation below).  But if the seller removes the SBR/SBS from the ATF NFRTR, which generally has a 3 month turnaround from the ATF, then the buyer can use the ATF eForm 1 system to manufacturer their own SBR/SBS.  The average approval time using the ATF eForm 1 system is around 30 days.  This means that the total application time for the SBR/SBS would be around a 4 month wait time, instead of the 7 to 12 month wait time that the ATF Form 4 would take.  This is the faster route to buy and get an approved tax stamp for your SBR/SBS.  The buyer would need to re-engrave the firearm with the their applicant information, e.g. individual, gun trust, or legal entity.

Buyer wants to buy your SBR/SBS: If you want to sell your SBR/SBS with your current tax stamp you can do this.  The buyer would need to fill out the ATF 5320.4 application to transfer the SBR/SBS to them as an individual, gun trust, or legal entity.  The estimated wait time for this type of transfer would be the 7 to 12 months or more depending on how fast the FBI returns your background check.  The buyer doesn't need to re-engrave the firearm with the their applicant information, e.g. individual, gun trust, or legal entity.

Buyer doesn't want to register the title 1 firearm as an SBR/SBS:  The seller would need to submit a request to remove the SBR/SBS from the NFRTR.  This process can take the ATF up to 3 months or more in some cases.  You can use our ATF NFRTR Removal Letter Generator to create this letter to send to the ATF.  Once you have confirmed that the SBR/SBS is removed from the ATF, the buyer doesn't need to take any further action.  Since this a title 1 firearm, the buyer doesn't need to re-engrave the firearm with any information. 

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