Form 4473

Form 4473, officially titled "Firearms Transaction Record Part I Over-the-Counter," is a form required by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) to be completed when a person purchases a firearm from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL), which is a licensed gun dealer in the United States.

The form is used by the FFL to verify the purchaser's eligibility to own a firearm under federal law and the laws of the state in which the sale is taking place. Completion of Form 4473 does not automatically authorize the sale; the FFL must conduct a background check through the National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) maintained by the FBI. If the NICS check returns a "proceed" response, the FFL may transfer the firearm to the purchaser. If the NICS check returns a "deny" response, the sale is prohibited. If the NICS check is delayed, the FFL may transfer the firearm after three business days, unless state law mandates a longer waiting period or prohibits the transfer altogether without a definitive "proceed" response.

The purchaser must truthfully answer all questions on the form, which include questions regarding citizenship, criminal history, drug use, mental health history, and domestic violence restraining orders. Lying on Form 4473 is a federal crime.

The FFL is required to retain completed Form 4473s for a period of at least 20 years. The forms are subject to inspection by the ATF.