Which Form 4473 Errors Can Be Corrected — And How

When a Form 4473 error is found — whether during an internal audit or during ATF inspection — the question is always: can this be fixed? The answer depends on the nature of the error, when it's discovered, and whether the correction can be made without creating a false record.

ATF Ruling 2022-1: The Correction Framework

ATF Ruling 2022-1 provides the current framework for correcting errors on Form 4473. Under the ruling, certain errors in Sections B, C, D, and E can be corrected by the dealer using a specific procedure: lining through the error (not obliterating it), entering the correct information, and initialing and dating the correction.

What Can Be Corrected

Dealer-side errors in Section E — the transferor certification — can generally be corrected by the dealer at any time. Missing dates, transposed digits in a serial number, and similar clerical errors are correctable. NICS field corrections in Section C can also be made when the correct information is available and verifiable.

Buyer errors in Section B are more complex. If the buyer made an error and it's caught before the form is completed and filed, the buyer can correct it with their initials and the date. Corrections to Section B after the buyer has left require more careful handling.

What Cannot Be Corrected

Some errors on Form 4473 are not correctable after the fact. If a transfer occurred on a form that was fundamentally incomplete — missing the buyer signature, missing all NICS fields, missing the firearm description — the form may need to be documented as deficient rather than corrected. A transfer that occurred on a denied NICS transaction cannot be "corrected" by retroactively changing the NICS response.

The Correction Procedure

For correctable errors: draw a single line through the incorrect information (so the original is still visible), write the correct information nearby, and have the appropriate party initial and date the correction. Never use white-out. Never obliterate the original entry. The goal is a clear paper trail showing what the original entry was, what the correct information is, and who made the correction and when.

During an ATF Audit

If an ATF auditor finds a correctable error, they may note it as a finding but allow you to make the correction during the audit. This is preferable to having an uncorrected violation in the final report. Know the correction procedure and be prepared to use it.