What is the IPB? Industry Processing Branch Explained

The IPB is the industry processing branch.  The IPB processes all non-governement applications to make, export, register and transfer NFA firearms.  The IPB is also in charge of maintaining the NFRTR (National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record).  The NFRTR is the registry where the information for all of the NFA firearms are located at.  For example, if you need to update the ATF of a additional calibers that you are going to use with your SBR or change an SBR permanently back to a title 1 firearm, these changes would be reflected in the NFRTR.  According to the ATF, more than 3 million items are currently registered with the ATF in the NFRTR.  A chart from the ATF's website† below shows the amount of applications received vs. processed. 

†Source: “Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives.” National Firearms Act Division | Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, www.atf.gov/firearms/national-firearms-act-division. Accessed 15 June 2025.