ATF Seeks Feedback on NFA Firearm Making Form 5320.1
Published Date: 10/30/2025
Notice
Summary
The ATF is asking for public feedback on the form used to apply for making and registering special firearms under the National Firearms Act. This review helps ensure the form is clear, useful, and not too much of a hassle to fill out. If you’re involved in this process, you’ve got until December 1, 2025, to share your thoughts—no cost changes announced, just a smoother paperwork ride!
Analyzed Economic Effects
5 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 1 mixed.
Making Tax: $200 vs $0
The form now shows the making tax is $200 for each machinegun or destructive device and $0 for other types of NFA firearms. The $200 making tax may be paid by credit/debit card, check, money order, or through Pay.gov.
Shift to Electronic eForms in 2026
ATF is modernizing Form 5320.1: allowing electronic/digital signatures, cell-phone photos, electronic fingerprints on-site, fillable PDFs that auto-populate copy 2, links to eForms and Pay.gov, and plans to move to solely electronic forms in 2026. These changes make it easier to submit the application online.
Big Drop in Paperwork Time
ATF estimates the average time to complete the Form 5320.1 fell from 0.5 hours to 0.2 hours per respondent, saving about 18 minutes per applicant. Annual total burden hours drop from 102,808 to 29,795, a reduction of 73,013 hours.
CLEO Copy Requirement Removed
ATF is removing the requirement to complete and send an extra copy of the form to the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO). This removes the previous step of providing local law enforcement a duplicate form.
Estimated Annual Cost Burden
ATF estimates total annual 'other' costs tied to this information collection at $685,285 for all respondents. This is the aggregate non-time cost burden the agency attributes to the collection.
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Key Dates
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