Firearm Industry Definitions

FFL Licensing Definitions

LICENSING

FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSE (FFL)

License required to engage in the business of manufacturing, importing and/or dealing in firearms, issued by the ATF’s Federal Firearms Licensing Center (FFLC). Licenses are required for each location in which a licensee operates.

FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSEE

Individual or company licensed to engage in the business of manufacturing, importing and/or dealing in firearms. A licensee may possess multiple different federal firearms licenses (e.g., FFL Type 01 and 07). Also referred to as an FFL.

FEDERAL FIREARMS LICENSING CENTER (FFLC)

Internal ATF department in charge of issuing and renewing FFLs in accordance with the Gun Control Act of 1968. The FFLC is responsible for reviewing and processing FFL applications, performing background checks on responsible persons, coordinating inspections of applicants with appropriate ATF field offices and maintaining the Firearms Licensing System (FLS) database.

ATF FORM 7/7CR

Application for a federal firearms license. Applications are submitted to the FFLC and must be accompanied by the proper application fee according to the desired FFL license.

FFL TYPES

DEALER FFL

Licensed individual or company engaged in purchasing and selling firearms other than destructive devices and ammunition. Dealers may also engage in gunsmithing. Include FFL Types 01, 02 and 09.

MANUFACTURER FFL

Licensed individual or company engaged in manufacturing ammunition, firearms and/or destructive devices. Manufacturers of firearms may also act as a dealer, however, manufacturers of ammunition may not. Include FFL Types 06, 07 and 10.

IMPORTER FFL

Licensed individual or company engaged in importing firearms and/or ammunition. Importers may also act as a dealer. Include FFL Types 08 and 11.

COLLECTOR FFL

Licensed individual or company which only collects curios and relics. Collectors may not engage in the business of firearms. Includes only FFL Type 03.

FFL TYPE 01

Dealer in firearms other than destructive devices.

FFL TYPE 02

Pawnbroker in firearms other than destructive devices.

FFL TYPE 03

Collector of curios and relics.

FFL TYPE 06

Manufacturer of ammunition for firearms other than ammunition for destructive devices or armor-piercing ammunition.

FFL TYPE 07

Manufacturer of firearms other than destructive devices.

FFL TYPE 08

Importer of firearms or ammunition for firearms other than destructive devices or ammunition other than armor-piercing ammunition.

FFL TYPE 09

Dealer in destructive devices.

FFL TYPE 10

Manufacturer of destructive devices, ammunition for destructive devices or armor-piercing ammunition.

FFL TYPE 11

Importer of destructive devices, ammunition for destructive devices or armor-piercing ammunition.

SOT CLASSES

SPECIAL OCCUPATIONAL TAXPAYER (SOT)

Licensed individual or company which manufacture, import and/or deal in NFA weapons. SOTs must pay a Special Occupational Tax each year.

SPECIAL OCCUPATIONAL TAX

Federal tax paid by SOTs as required by the Internal Revenue Code of 1986. The Special Occupational Tax is paid annually on or before July 1 for each place of business and varies depending on FFL type and gross receipts. The tax can be paid by completing and submitting ATF Form 5630.7 or paid online at Pay.gov.