Form 4473 Mistakes & Eliminating The Common Ones - FastBound (2024)

• Jon

• April 28, 2020

We made several updates to the Bound Book and Electronic 4473 areas of FastBound with a focus on Eliminating Common 4473 Mistakes. We are proud to announce another regularly scheduled update of FastBound, the leading Acquisition & Disposition Software, since 2010.

Bound Book Software Updates

• Firearms that are Destroyed or Reported as Theft/Loss on ATF Form 3310.11 can now be searched for more easily from the item search page.
• We improved the validation of the Transferor Transaction Serial Number (TTSN) generator format found under the Dispose tab of your Account Settings.
• We improve the validation of the Item Number generator format found under the Acquire tab of Account Settings.
• We improved support for Utah BCI Instant Web Gun Check System.
• We improved support for California DROS Entry System (DES).
• We improved the content of error messages returned by the API related to External Identifier conflicts.
• Added Cuba and Afghanistan to the Country Code list.

Eliminating Common 4473 Mistakes

• We have improved the performance of generating ATF Form 4473.
• We made several improvements to the background check button on a pending 4473.
• Added a check for when a buyer is completing the 4473 who might misread County as Country and enter “US” or “USA,” which is a prevalent mistake.
• We improved the logic for enabling and disabling Print and Terminate buttons for an electronically signed 4473.
• We have added a ton of additional date checks for ATF Form 4473.
• Added support for Topaz Electronic Signature Pads.
• Improved question number and the question overlap when viewing the buyer 4473 on specific screen sizes.
• Bypassed the print warnings if Question 20 or Questions 21 have been checked.

FastBound’s leading FFL Bound Book Firearms Compliance Software includes free upgrades and updates for all plans. Current customers can take advantage of these great new features immediately.

New customers cantry FastBound, thebest FFL Softwarefor firearms acquisition and disposition (A&D Bound Books) for free (no credit card required), orschedule a live demoat your convenience.

What are the 3 Most Common Form 4473 Mistakes?

1. Questions 10(a) and 10(b). These questions pertaining to ethnicity and race were added back in 2012 and requires answering both parts correctly. The wording can be a bit confusing as 10(a) asks whether you are Hispanic/Latino. 10(b) expands on this by asking you to clarify further with various racial identity options.

Correctly answering these questions is simply a matter of paying close attention to what is being asked and then checking both of the correct boxes.

2. Question 11(a) asks the question if you are whether or not you are the person receiving or taking possession of the firearm. Some confusion can arise if you are purchasing a firearm as a gift for someone else. You might think that since the firearm is going to end up with whoever you give it to, you are not the person receiving/taking the firearm. Therefore, you should check “No.” This is where the trouble starts.

Here’s what the ATF has to say about it:

ACTUAL TRANSFEREE/BUYER EXAMPLES: Mr. Smith asks Mr. Jones to purchase a firearm for Mr. Smith. Mr. Smith gives Mr. Jones the money for the firearm. Mr. Jones is NOT THE ACTUAL TRANSFEREE/BUYER of the firearm and must answer “NO” to question 11.a. The licensee may not transfer the firearm to Mr. Jones. However, if Mr. Brown goes to buy a firearm with his own money to give to Mr. Black as a present, Mr. Brown is the actual transferee/buyer of the firearm and should answer “YES” to question 11.a. However, you may not transfer a firearm to any person you know or have reasonable cause to believe is prohibited under 18 U.S.C. § 922(g), (n), or (x).

In simple terms, if you are buying a firearm through legitimate methods, even as a gift for someone else, you are the actual buyer/transferee and should check “Yes.”

3. Finally, we have Question 11(e), which refers to the use of illegal drugs. In the United States, it is illegal for a person using illicit drugs to own a firearm. Where the confusion starts is that some states have legalized marijuana use, recreationally and medically. However, on a federal level, marijuana is still illegal. The ATF has clarified that even if you are in a state that has legalized marijuana, drug use will disqualify you from owning or buying a firearm. While there is no drug test when purchasing a firearm, it should be noted that lying on a 4473 form is a felony offense.