The ATF wants to change how long you keep your 4473s. Here is what is on the table.
For years the rule was simple. If a Form 4473 started in your shop, you kept it for the life of your business. That standard has been in place since ATF Ruling 2021R-05F took effect in 2022. Now the ATF has proposed changing it, and the public comment window closes on August 4, 2026.
Here is what you need to know before it does.
The current rule
Right now you retain every completed 4473 until you close your doors or surrender your license. It does not matter whether NICS was contacted. It does not matter how old the form is. If it was started in your store, it stays in your records.
That is why long-term 4473 storage has become a real cost for shops that have been open for decades.
What the ATF has proposed
In May 2026 the ATF published a proposed rule on firearm record retention periods. The proposal would replace permanent retention with a fixed window. The ATF is weighing either 20 years or 30 years for completed 4473s, and it is asking the public which one is appropriate.
The same proposal sets shorter periods for other records:
- Records tied to private party transfers and voluntary firearm handler checks would be kept for 90 days.
- Multiple handgun sales reports (ATF Form 3310.4), theft and loss reports (ATF Form 3310.11), and 4473s that were started but never completed would be kept for five years.
None of this is law yet. It is a proposal in the public comment stage, and the comment period closes on August 4, 2026. Until a final rule says otherwise, the current retention standard still applies.
What this means for your shop
Two things.
First, if long-term 4473 storage has been a headache, relief may be coming. A 20 or 30 year window is very different from forever.
Second, nothing changes today. You still keep your records to the current standard, and you still get cited if a form is incomplete or missing. A shorter retention period does nothing for a 4473 that was filled out wrong in the first place.
If you have an opinion on 20 versus 30 years, you can submit a comment before the August 4 deadline. This is the rare moment when the people doing the paperwork get a say in the rule.
Get the form right, whatever the clock says
Retention only matters if the underlying record is clean. The 4473 is still the most-cited document in ATF inspections, and no storage rule fixes a blank field or a missing signature.
We put the whole form in one place, including where retention stands today and what the proposed rule would change. Read the ATF Form 4473 compliance guide for the field-by-field breakdown.
AIM records the sale and the disposition and keeps your 4473 data organized alongside it. Whether the rule ends up at 20 years, 30 years, or life of the business, your records are ready to hand over. AIM helps you stay compliant. It does not replace your own compliance responsibility or your counsel.