May an FFL scan a buyer/transferee’s identification document to auto-populate item 26.a. on Form 4473, “Identification”?

No. A federal firearms licensee (FFL) may not scan an identification document for the purpose of auto-populating information on the Form 4473.

Information scanned, read, or otherwise gathered from a driver’s license or other identification document, as defined by 27 CFR 478.11, for use in the transfer of a firearm by an FFL may not be electronically populated onto a Form 4473.

In addition, each transferee must personally complete a new ATF Form 4473 each time the transferee attempts to acquire a firearm. See ATF Ruling 2016-2, conditions 3, 4 and 11.

[27 CFR 478.11 and 478.124(c)(1)]

Last Reviewed July 8, 2021