NFA Checklist

Ready to Submit Your eForm From Home?

Whether it's a Form 1 or Form 4, individual or trust, this checklist covers every step. NFASync handles the hard part.

You don't need to be an expert to file an NFA application. NFASync was built to make the process simple enough that anyone can do it from home. Every step below is something you can complete on your own with basic supplies and a flatbed scanner. Thousands of NFA owners have already done it. You can too.

Get an FD-258 Fingerprint Card

You'll need a standard FD-258 fingerprint card. You can order them online from Amazon or through our partner National Gun Trusts.

Standard FD-258 card (white or blue)

Inkless fingerprint pad (available on Amazon)

No appointment needed. You can do this at your kitchen table.

Roll Your Fingerprints at Home

Using an inkless fingerprint pad, complete all sections of the FD-258 card at home. Clean your hands with rubbing alcohol first and let them dry completely. Press your finger firmly onto the inkless pad, then roll it onto the card.

Roll all 10 individual fingerprints from nail to nail in the top boxes

Press both thumb flats in the center section

Press all four fingers together for each hand slap at the bottom

Apply firm, even pressure and avoid sliding or smudging

Re-ink your finger on the pad before each print

Practice on a blank sheet of paper first. If a print smudges, you'll need a new FD-258 card. Order extras just in case.

Scan Your FD-258 Card

Use any 500+ PPI flatbed scanner to scan your completed fingerprint card. NFASync will handle the rest.

600 DPI or higher resolution

Flatbed scanner or printer with built-in flatbed scanner (not a phone camera)

Save as PNG, JPG, or BMP

Just need an EFT file? Download it and you're done. Want help completing the entire NFA process? Stay in NFASync and we'll walk you through every step.

Upload & Convert with NFASync

Upload your scanned card to NFASync and we instantly convert it into an ATF & FBI compliant EFT file, ready to attach to your eForm.

Upload your high quality scan

NFASync converts it to a compliant EFT file

Download your EFT instantly

Create Your EFT File

You can stop here, download your EFT, and complete the rest on your own. Or keep going and let NFASync help you finish the entire process. Your EFT is automatically deleted after 7 days, or you can permanently delete it from our servers at any time. Create an account to save it forever.

Auto-Fill Your eForm with NFASync

NFASync captures all the information required for your eForm 1 or eForm 4, whether you're filing as an individual or through a trust. Use our auto-fill to populate your ATF form fields automatically.

Personal Information

Full legal name

Home address & county

Date & place of birth

SSN (optional but recommended)

Height, weight, sex, race

Phone & email

Firearm Details

Manufacturer & model

Serial number

Caliber / gauge

Barrel & overall length

Type (SBR, suppressor, SBS, etc.)

Saving your information is completely optional. If you choose to, enter it once and auto-fill every eForm going forward.

Need a Gun Trust?

Filing as a trust lets multiple responsible persons possess your NFA items. NFASync lets you create a gun trust instantly. No lawyer needed.

Create a trust directly in NFASync

Add responsible persons

Generate EFT files for each person on the trust

Upload your notarized trust document and NFASync helps auto-fill the trust eForm 1 & eForm 4

Create a Gun Trust

Passport Photo

Upload a 2x2 passport-style photo directly in NFASync to attach to your eForm submission.

Taken within the last year

Neutral background, head and shoulders visible

JPG format

Create Your ATF eForms Account

If you don't already have one, you'll need an ATF eForms account to submit your application. Create it right in NFASync or visit the ATF eForms site.

Email address

Username & password

4-digit PIN (used to certify and digitally sign your forms)

Submit & Auto-Fill Your eForm

Submit your eForm 1 or eForm 4 directly through NFASync. Your EFT file, passport photo, and form details are already attached and ready to go.

Your EFT file will auto-attach

Your passport photo will auto-attach

Your form details will auto-fill

Answer certification questions truthfully

Certify with your 4-digit PIN

Submit without leaving NFASync

CLEO Notification

You must provide a copy of your submitted Form 1 or Form 4 to your Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO). If filing as a trust, a copy of the Form 5320.23 (Responsible Person Questionnaire) for each responsible person must also be sent to their respective CLEO. No approval from the CLEO is required.

Send a copy of your submitted form to your local CLEO

Your CLEO is your Chief of Police, Sheriff, Head of State Police, or local district attorney

If filing as a trust, send a copy of each responsible person's Form 5320.23

If your CLEO has an email, enter it in NFASync and send the copy directly from the app

Wait for Approval

The ATF will process your application. Once approved, you'll receive your approved form with a digital tax stamp.

eForm 1 1-4 weeks

eForm 4 2-15 days

Keep a copy of your approved form permanently. For Form 1 (manufacturing), you must engrave your name, city, and state on the firearm before assembling it into NFA configuration.

Ready to Get Started?

NFASync handles your EFT files, gun trusts, RPQs, and eForm auto-fill. All in one place.

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