# 2026-08929: ATF Wants Gun Dealers to Trash Records After 20 Years

2026-08929, Firearm Records Retention Periods, is a Federal Register proposed rule from Justice Department, Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau published 2026-05-06, effective Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) August 4, 2026. Commenters should be aware that the federal e-rulemaking portal comment system will not accept comments after midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period.; PRIA reads it as touching household money (as of 2026-06-11).

- Canonical: https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08929
- As of: 2026-06-11
- Plain-text twin of the page above; the HTML and this file carry the same facts.

## Facts
- Document number: 2026-08929
- Title: Firearm Records Retention Periods
- Type: Proposed Rule
- Agencies: Justice Department; Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives Bureau
- Citation: 91 FR 24413
- Published: 2026-05-06
- Effective: Comments must be submitted in writing, and must be submitted on or before (or, if mailed, must be postmarked on or before) August 4, 2026. Commenters should be aware that the federal e-rulemaking portal comment system will not accept comments after midnight Eastern Time on the last day of the comment period.
- Comments close: 2026-08-04
- Significant: no
- Touches household money: yes
- Regulation identifier numbers: 1140-AA95
- Last updated: 2026-06-11

## In one line

ATF Wants Gun Dealers to Trash Records After 20 Years

## Summary

The ATF wants to change how long gun dealers keep their records, suggesting they keep them for 20 or 30 years instead of forever. This affects all federal firearms licensees and the National Tracing Center, with shorter times for some private transfer forms. Comments on this idea are open until August 4, 2026, and the change could save money and reduce paperwork hassle.

## Abstract

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives ("ATF") proposes to amend Department of Justice ("Department") regulations establishing records retention periods for federal firearms licensees' ("FFLs" or "licensees") acquisition and disposition ("A&D") records, and the retention period for records the National Tracing Center ("NTC") receives. Specifically, ATF is proposing these records be retained for a specific period rather than indefinitely, and is considering either 20 or 30 years for the specified period. ATF is also proposing a brief retention period for forms used to facilitate private-party transfers or to conduct voluntary firearm handlers checks.

## Effects PRIA read

- End permanent gun-record storage: benefit, medium. If you are a federal firearms licensee (FFL), ATF proposes you keep acquisition-and-disposition records and ATF Form 4473 for a set period of either 20 years or 30 years from the sale/disposition date instead of keeping them permanently. The proposed rule would replace permanent retention with a 20…
- Limit ATF's out-of-business records time: mixed, medium. ATF proposes that the National Tracing Center (NTC) retain out-of-business (OOB) records for no longer than 20 years (or alternatively 30 years) from the date ATF receives them; importer and manufacturer acquisition records would keep a permanent retention. ATF notes that including records up to 30…
- Short holds for private-transfer 4473s: benefit, low. If you use an FFL to facilitate a private-party firearm transfer or a voluntary firearm-handler background check, ATF proposes the FFL may retain the associated Form 4473 for no less than 90 days (three months) from the date the background check is initiated. If the FBI NICS response is 'denied,' t…

## Related documents

- [2026-19694](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19694): Annual Notices on Explosive Materials Storage Facilities to Local Fire Authority, 2026-09-25
- [2026-19693](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-19693): Implementing the Safe Explosives Act, 2026-09-25
- [2026-16981](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-16981): Application for Relief From Disabilities Imposed by Federal Laws With Respect to the Acquisition, Receipt, Transfer, Shipment, Transportati…, 2026-08-20
- [2026-13586](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-13586): Registering NFA Firearms That Fall Out of Government Contract, 2026-07-06
- [2026-09160](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-09160): Implementing PATRIOT Act Improvements: Contraband Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco, 2026-05-08
- [2026-09155](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-09155): Changes to National Firearms Act Tax Remittance Provisions, 2026-05-08

## Sources
- [2026-08929 on federalregister.gov](https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2026/05/06/2026-08929/firearm-records-retention-periods)
- [2026-08929 as published (PDF)](https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2026-05-06/pdf/2026-08929.pdf)

## Related
- [Previous: 2026-08928, Transferring Machine Guns Between Qualified Licensees](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08928)
- [Next: 2026-08930, Removing Factoring Criteria for Firearms With Attached “Stabilizing Braces”](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08930)
- [All Federal Register documents](https://policyrisk.com/federal-register)

Source: PRIA, https://policyrisk.com/federal-register/2026-08929 (as of 2026-06-11).