The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) is rolling out long-awaited modernizations to two cornerstone National Firearms Act (NFA) applications: Form 1 (Application to Make and Register a Firearm) and Form 4 (Application to Transfer and Register NFA Firearm). Announced in late October 2025, these updates eliminate outdated requirements, slash tax burdens for most items, and embrace digital technology—promising faster processing for SBRs, suppressors, short-barreled shotguns, and more.
Whether you’re an FFL/SOT manufacturing NFA items or an individual building your own suppressor, these ATF NFA form changes could save you time, money, and paperwork headaches. Here’s everything you need to know.
Key ATF Form 1 Changes: No More $200 Tax for Most Items
Published on October 30, 2025, the ATF’s proposed rule for ATF Form 5320.1 (Form 1) introduces game-changing updates:
- $200 Making Tax Eliminated for all NFA items except machine guns and destructive devices (now $0 for SBRs, SBS, suppressors, AOWs).
- Passport Photos Replaced with a simple upload of a driver’s license or ID photo.
- Race/Ethnicity Fields Combined into a single, streamlined item.
- Digital Signatures Fully Accepted—no more wet signatures required.
- CLEO Notification Requirement Removed—ending the decades-old practice of mailing copies to local law enforcement.
Why It Matters: The CLEO copy was a 1930s relic that created unintended firearms registries at local PDs. ATF received feedback that sheriffs and police chiefs didn’t want these forms cluttering their offices.
In 2023 alone, ATF processed 284,533 Form 1 applications—a clear sign that DIY NFA builds (especially home-built suppressors and SBRs) are booming.
Public comment period: 30 days (ends ~November 29, 2025). Submit comments via Federal Register.
ATF Form 4 Overhaul: Faster Transfers, Lower Burden
The Form 4 revisions (OMB 1140-0014) go even further, reflecting explosive growth in NFA transfers:
| Metric | 2013 | 2023 | % Increase |
|---|---|---|---|
| Form 4s Processed | 57,294 | 471,239 | +723% |
Major Form 4 Updates Include:
- $200 Transfer Tax → $0 for all items except machine guns/destructive devices.
- $5 Transfer Option Removed (obsolete).
- CLEO Copy Eliminated—no more mailing to local law enforcement.
- Electronic Fingerprints & Photos allowed (cell phone pics OK).
- Digital Signatures & eForms Integration via pay.gov.
- Auto-Populated Copy 2 when filling Copy 1 (saves ~50% typing).
- Married Couples as “Other Legal Entity”—joint ownership simplified.
- Estimated Time per Form: 12 Minutes (down from 30 minutes).
Why These NFA Form Changes Matter in 2025
- Cost Savings: Zero tax on suppressor/SBR transfers = $200 back in your pocket per item.
- Time Savings: Digital submissions + no CLEO copies = weeks shaved off approval timelines.
- Privacy Win: Ending CLEO notifications prevents local gun registries.
- Tech-Forward: eForms, digital signatures, and ID uploads bring NFA into the 21st century.
Industry Reaction: One NFA dealer commented, “Removing CLEO copies is a huge relief—sheriffs were throwing these in the trash anyway.”
What’s Next? Full eForms Rollout in 2026
ATF confirms that all NFA forms will transition to mandatory electronic submission in 2026. Paper forms? Soon to be a relic.
Related ATF Form Updates Coming Soon:
- Form 5 (Tax-Exempt Transfers)
- Form 5320.23 (Responsible Person Questionnaire)
Stay ahead—bookmark the ATF eForms portal and enable email notifications.
How to Comment on ATF Form 1 & Form 4 Changes
- Form 1: Comment via Federal Register (30-day window).
- Form 4: Submit by Dec 1, 2025 at reginfo.gov (search OMB 1140-0014).
Sample Comment Points:
- Support for digital modernization
- Request for faster eForms processing
- Feedback on married couple entity rules
You Can See the Full Doc HERE