Are ATF’s Newly Approved Electronic eForms Legal? The Shocking Answer

Recently, I have seen a number of people posting  approved eForm Applications (Form 1’s), which had me greatly concerned given the translucent nature of the newly utilized electronic stamp. After receiving these approved eForm Applications by email, some of the applicants have called the NFA Branch and been told that they will not be receiving a hardcopy and that the electronic copy is their approved tax stamp. While, as explained below, there appeared to be….wait for it…a loophole in relation to Form 1 Applications, as made explicitly clear by 27 C.F.R. 479.162, ATF’s newly utilized electronic stamps are unlawful and invalid.

To start, everyone is generally aware that 26 U.S.C. 5811 (dealing with transfers if of NFA firearms) and 26 U.S.C 5821 (dealing with making NFA firearms) require the payment for and receipt of a tax stamp for the transfer and making of NFA firearms. Both hold, “The tax imposed by subsection (a) of this section shall be payable by the appropriate stamps prescribed for payment by the Secretary.” Before moving on, so that everyone is clear, the provisions of the National Firearms Act (NFA) discussed below refer to the “Secretary” rather than the “Attorney General”; however, the relevant powers and  functions of the Secretary of the Treasury were transferred to the Department of Justice, under the general authority of the Attorney General, pursuant to 28 U.S.C. 599A(c)(1).

Turning back to the issue at hand, but what is a “tax stamp?”

Under the Internal Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C. 6801, “[t]he Secretary may establish, and from time to time alter, renew, replace, or change the form, style, character, material, and device of any stamp, mark, or label under any provision of the laws relating to internal revenue.” Section 6804 goes on to declare, “Except as otherwise expressly provided in this title, the stamps referred to in section 6801 shall be attached, protected, removed, canceled, obliterated, and destroyed, in such manner and by such instruments or other means as the Secretary may prescribe by rules or regulations.” Thus, the question becomes, what has the Secretary established, or to whom has he delegated the power to, and what is meant by attached.

As one would expect, Section 6808 then goes on to inform the reader that for special provisions relating to the NFA, to see Chapter 53. So, we need to turn to Chapter 53 to find our answers. In turning to Chapter 53, we are, in part, back to where we started with Sections 5811 and 5821, which mention a tax stamp but do not define it in any meaningful manner. Thus, it is now time to turn to the Code of Federal Regulations.

First, let us turn to the CFR sections that deal with the tax imposition.  27 CFR 479.61, Tax on Making NFA Firearms, provides

Except as provided in this subpart, there shall be levied, collected, and paid upon the making of a firearm a tax at the rate of $200 for each firearm made. This tax shall be paid by the person making the firearm. Payment of the tax on the making of a firearm shall be represented by a $200 adhesive stamp bearing the words “National Firearms Act.” The stamps are maintained by the Director. (emphasis added)

In turning to the Tax on Transferring, 27 CFR 479.81, we are provided with

Except as otherwise provided in this part, each transfer of a firearm in the United States is subject to a tax to be represented by an adhesive stamp of the proper denomination bearing the words “National Firearms Act” to be affixed to the Form 4 (Firearms), Application for Transfer and Registration of Firearm, as provided in this subpart. (emphasis added)

Hence, under both, there are two requirements. First, it must be an adhesive stamp. Second, it must bear the words “National Firearms Act.” I already see an issue with the above-posted example of a recently approved eForm 1. There is no adhesive stamp. However, if you look very closely, the words National Firearms Act, although blurry, do appear to be part of the electronic stamp.

But our journey isn’t over yet. Let’s turn to the respective sections on Applications. In relation to the Application that must be submitted for the making of an NFA firearm, 27 CFR 479.64 provides

The application to make a firearm, Form 1 (Firearms), must be forwarded directly, in duplicate, by the maker of the firearm to the Director in accordance with the instructions on the form. The Director will consider the application for approval or disapproval. If the application is approved, the Director will return the original thereof to the maker of the firearm and retain the duplicate. Upon receipt of the approved application, the maker is authorized to make the firearm described therein. The maker of the firearm shall not, under any circumstances, make the firearm until the application, satisfactorily executed, has been forwarded to the Director and has been approved and returned by the Director with the National Firearms Act stamp affixed. If the application is disapproved, the original Form 1 (Firearms) and the remittance submitted by the applicant for the purchase of the stamp will be returned to the applicant with the reason for disapproval stated on the form.

And now turnings to the transfer of an NFA firearm, 27 CFR 479.84

Except as otherwise provided in this subpart, no firearm may be transferred in the United States unless an application, Form 4 (Firearms), Application for Transfer and Registration of Firearm, in duplicate, executed under the penalties of perjury to transfer the firearm and register it to the transferee has been filed with and approved by the Director. The application, Form 4 (Firearms), shall be filed by the transferor and shall identify the firearm to be transferred by type; serial number; name and address of the manufacturer and importer, if known; model; caliber, gauge or size; in the case of a short-barreled shotgun or a short-barreled rifle, the length of the barrel; in the case of a weapon made from a rifle or shotgun, the overall length of the weapon and the length of the barrel; and any other identifying marks on the firearm. In the event the firearm does not bear a serial number, the applicant shall obtain a serial number from the Regional director (compliance) and shall stamp (impress) or otherwise conspicuously place such serial number on the firearm in a manner not susceptible of being readily obliterated, altered or removed. The application, Form 4 (Firearms), shall identify the transferor by name and address; shall identify the transferor’s Federal firearms license and special (occupational) Chapter tax stamp, if any; and if the transferor is other than a natural person, shall show the title or status of the person executing the application. The application also shall identify the transferee by name and address, and, if the transferee is a natural person not qualified as a manufacturer, importer or dealer under this part, he shall be further identified in the manner prescribed in §479.85. The application also shall identify the special (occupational) tax stamp and Federal firearms license of the transferee, if any. Any tax payable on the transfer must be represented by an adhesive stamp of proper denomination being affixed to the application, Form 4 (Firearms), properly cancelled.

So, who caught the loophole? It’s in the very last sentence. Come on, I’ve taught you to find these issues by now…Only in relation to a Form 4, do we find the language “must be represented by an adhesive stamp of proper denomination being affixed to the application, Form 4 (Firearms).” If you look above, in relation to Section 479.64, although it mentions affixing the stamp, there is no mention of an adhesive stamp. In my opinion, this is due to the ATF’s sloppiness in drafting of the regulations. Nevertheless, clearly, I misled you about the the electronic stamps being unlawful and invalid, right? I mean, for fictitious entities, not holding an Federal Firearms License, the only eForms that can be submitted are Form 1 Applications, because all Form 4 eForms are tied to the FFL’s inventory, so ATF is clearly smarter than I and knew this. This is why there aren’t eForm 4 Applications for fictitious entity applications…right?….ooops, Section 479.64 applies to all Form 4 Applications, even those that an FFL submits. So Houston, we have a problem but only in relation to eForm 4 Applications, right? Come on, you know me better than that by now…

But, before I provide the devastating answer that you are waiting for, I need to help you complete the journey that you embarked upon with me for a definition of a “tax stamp.” There actually is a definition that few people are aware of and although not very beneficial, I think it is informative. 27 CFR 479.161, entitled National Firearms Act Stamps, provides

“National Firearms Act” stamps evidencing payment of the transfer tax or tax on the making of a firearm are maintained by the Director. The remittance for purchase of the appropriate tax stamp shall be submitted with the application. Upon approval of the application, the Director will cause the appropriate tax to be paid by affixing the appropriate stamp to the application.

While not overly beneficial, I do find it hard to comprehend how the director maintains, in this context, a tax stamp, which is not tangible (aka an electronic NFA stamp, which could be easily stolen, emailed out, used illegally…but I digress). Again, we see the language “affix” but that by itself, I’m not sure is sufficient.

So, where’s the smoking gun? The one that ATF, who requires all of its FFLs to have strict compliance with the regulations, but fails, itself, to strictly adhere to the regulations? Simple…and it doesn’t even contain complex legal verbiage. 27 CFR 479.162, under the title, Stamps Authorized, provides

Adhesive stamps of the $5 and $200 denomination, bearing the words “National Firearms Act,” have been prepared and only such stamps shall be used for the payment of the transfer tax and for the tax on the making of a firearm. (emphasis added)

Seems pretty clear to me. Only adhesive stamps can be utilized. The translucent electronic stamps are not the adhesive stamps that have been prepared. They aren’t even adhesive!

So what does this mean? It means that ATF has to comply with the law (it wrote by the way) and issue paper copies of ALL approved forms requiring a “tax stamp” with an adhesive NFA stamp.

Some may inquire as to why I am concerned with this and there are several issues. While I believe it may constitute a crime under the Tax Code, as it is NOT a valid stamp that they have been inserting on the forms, my concern stems from the translucent appearance of the approved eForm. What law enforcement officer is going to believe that it is real? I will bet that any LEO, not aware of this issue, and being presented with a printout of an approved ATF eForm will believe it to be a forgery and proceed to arrest the individual for not only possession of an unregistered NFA firearm but also making false statements to law enforcement, forgery, counterfeiting government documents…and the list goes on. This was extremely ill-conceived on ATF’s part and needs to be rectified immediately.

If you have received an approved electronic eForm, I would suggest contacting the NFA Branch. If they refuse to issue you a paper copy, I would suggest contacting your Congressional Leaders, as ATF is violating the law it wrote….