Filling out a 4473 ahead of time?

[JettaKnight]

So I'm standing at a booth filling out this form and I wondered if I can fill out the information ahead of time and just hand over a form to the dealer. It would save some time and it's hard to stand there and fill out the form with people bumping into me.

 

[snorko]

Most dealers have their info pre-stamped on the form. Not a bad idea but I thinkl most would be leary

 

[Claddagh]

IIRC, all 4473 forms are sequentially numbered and the dealer to whom they are issued by the BATFE is accountable for every single one of them. Just MHO, but I doubt that you'll be able to find a dealer who will give you a blank one, especially just to make it more convenient for you to buy from someone else.

 

[JettaKnight]

So they don't have a stack of them at the library like the 1040?

Actually, I thought you could print them out, maybe even with my details printed in, all I would have to do is sign on the line.

 

[MrsGungho]

IIRC, all 4473 forms are sequentially numbered no and the dealer to whom they are issued by the BATFE is accountable for every single one of them. no Just MHO, but I doubt that you'll be able to find a dealer who will give you a blank one, especially just to make it more convenient for you to buy from someone else.

A dealer will not hand out a blank one though

 

[cascadewalker]

There's a PDF version you can download and print:
http://www.atf.gov/forms/download/atf-f-4473-1.pdf

But I don't know whether a FFL is allowed to, or even would accept one coming in off the street.

Looks like the FFL can use an E-Form from the ATF web site that can be filled out on a PC:
ATF Online - Applications - eForm 4473 - Frequently Asked Questions
but even that one has to be printed (on yellow paper) and filed.

 

[tgallmey]

I wish I could use a stamp to fill it out

 

[sloughfoot]

I think it has to be filled out in front of the FFL. I am not absolutely sure though, but I think he has to verify that he saw you check the boxes as a legal matter. It is a legal form with the potential for severe penalties for mistakes or omissions.

 

[Aszerigan]

IIRC, all 4473 forms are sequentially numbered and the dealer to whom they are issued by the BATFE is accountable for every single one of them.

Nope. Not the case. They come as blank forms, non serial'ed and non sequential. If there is an error on one, we can shred them and have you start a new one. The only time they're registered is when they're called in - and that's only a NICS check number, the form itself doesn't need to be serialized.

I think it has to be filled out in front of the FFL. I am not absolutely sure though, but I think he has to verify that he saw you check the boxes as a legal matter. It is a legal form with the potential for severe penalties for mistakes or omissions.

Correct. It needs to be filled out in person. At the time of filling out the 4473, we check (and photocopy) your drivers license. Then it gets called in and the transaction is assigned a number by the NICS system.

And they're public forms. Anyone (even non-dealers) can order all the from the BATFE website. If you want a blank one, they're free. CLICK HERE It won't be valid if you fill it out before hand, but if you need to practice.....

 

[hetfield1]

IIRC, all 4473 forms are sequentially numbered and the dealer to whom they are issued by the BATFE is accountable for every single one of them. Just MHO, but I doubt that you'll be able to find a dealer who will give you a blank one, especially just to make it more convenient for you to buy from someone else.

They are completely blank when a dealer gets them

 

[JettaKnight]

It won't be valid if you fill it out before hand, but if you need to practice.....

Sometimes I do need practice! I don't know how many time you see people just checking boxes all the way to the end and mindlessly check the last one.

 

[PMY]

I think it would hurt whatever bargaining power you had if you came into the shop with the form already filled out.

It's like screwing your license plate on the car before the test drive.

 

[JoshuaRWhite]

I work at Dnham's sports and I can tell you now, stores like us will never allow and most dealers won't cause they can't trust you. No one is allowed to help you on the form without a witness and they wouldn't be able to prove you filled it out yourself. Bottomline is that the form can be filled out in less than 5 minutes by a child. Just gonna have to deal with it.

 

[96harley]

They are numbered?.......Aught Ohhhhh!

 

[hetfield1]

They are numbered?.......Aught Ohhhhh!

No, they're blank. Whoever said they are numbered is wrong

 

[CoyoteCreekGuns]

Many have chimed in and some are correct.

1) 4473 forms can either be ordered through the BAFTE by a dealer or downloaded, technically by anyone on the BAFTE website.

2) 4473 Forms ARE NOT numbered when sent, they do have a space for numbering with the intention that the FFL will use the allotted space as a measure of quick filing retrieval if and when the BAFTE inspects there documentation

3) 4473 forms MUST be filled out at the time of purchase as the information filled out by the customer has a potential to change over time.

4) 4473 forms are used not only to track customer info, but also NICS verification numbers, type of firearm, the dealer who sold the firearm and are in-fact the only form that legally signifies that the customer was eligible to own a firearm (based upon how the customer answers the questions) and based upon the NICS response and verification number, and as such no FFL would allow a pre-filled out copy to be used as it holds too much liability for them, their business and their FFL license itself.

With that being said, some FFL's are moving to the e-check which is nice but doesn't work too well in situations like the 1500.