4473 Workflow from POS

4473 Workflow from POS

The ATF Form 4473 is required for every firearm transfer from a dealer to a non-licensee (i.e., a regular customer). Here is the step-by-step workflow when selling a firearm at the counter.

Step by Step

1. Customer selects a firearm. Ring it up in the POS but do not complete payment yet.
2. Hand the customer ATF Form 4473. Give them a pen and a clean copy of the form. The customer fills out Section A (personal information) and Section B (qualifying questions).
3. Check the customer's ID. You need a valid government-issued photo ID. Verify the name and address match what they wrote on the form.
4. Review the form for completeness. Every question must be answered. Look for:
   • All fields filled in (no blanks)
   • Signatures and dates present
   • ID information matches the ID presented
   • No contradictory answers
5. Run the NICS background check (see next page for details).
6. Complete Section C (dealer section) with the NICS transaction number and result.
7. If approved: Go back to the POS, click Payment, collect payment, and validate the sale.
8. Log the disposition in FastBound with the buyer's information and NICS transaction number.
9. Store the completed 4473 in your records. ATF requires you to keep these for at least 20 years.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Accepting an incomplete form — If any question is blank, the form is invalid. Ask the customer to complete it.
• Skipping the ID check — You must verify the customer's identity with a valid photo ID every time.
• Completing the sale before NICS — The background check must be done before the firearm changes hands.