How to Register an SBR (2025 eForms Instructions)

So, you're ready to ditch that 16" upper and pistol brace. Or maybe you're building a fresh rifle from scratch, and you need to register your receiver before you install a buttstock. Here's how to register a short-barreled rifle

(This Covers Form 1 SBRs)

Note that these instructions cover how to file a Form 1 application with the ATF. Form 1 applications cover building an SBR yourself. Form 4 applications cover buying a complete SBR, made by a firearm manufacturer, from an FFL. Form 4 applications are typically done with the help of your local dealer. We're focusing on doing everything yourself at home.

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First, Register on ATF eForms

 

You need to first create an account on the ATF's eForms website, which can be found here: https://eforms.atf.gov/. To register, click the "REGISTER" button on the homepage.

You'll be brought to the User Registration page. Here, you'll need to enter your email address, first and last name, home address, and phone number. You'll also create a password and generate a security question and answer to recover your account, should you forget your password or be locked out of your account.

Note that when registering, you will be asked to enter a "Cadence" and "Title" below your first and last name. Only fill this out if your legal name includes any roman numerals. Otherwise, leave this blank.

After registering, your username will be sent to your email address. Check your email to confirm your ATF eForms account creation.

After registering, log into eForms by clicking "LOG IN" on the homepage.

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Select ATF Form 1 (5320.1, Application to Make and Register a Firearm)

After logging in, you'll see the eForms dashboard with all available ATF forms. Select ATF Form 1 (5320.1) from the menu. This is the "Application to Make and Register a Firearm." If you log out at any point before submitting the application, or if you need to wait before submitting it, you can access your application from this dashboard. Simply click on "+ DRAFT" on the left vertical menu, then click on the "Form 1" located in the dropdown.

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Form 1: Select Individual or Trust (Page 0 of 9)

Immediately after selecting the Form 1 application, you'll be required to select whether you're registering your SBR as an Individual or Trust. If you're filing with a Gun Trust, you'll first need a signed, certified copy of your Trust, which you will upload later, on the Electronic Documents page of the application. You'll also need to upload passport photos and fingerprints, and provide all required personal information for every member of your Trust on the Responsible Persons page.

We are filing this Form 1 application as an Individual, but we'll also cover how to upload your Trust documents and enter all information on the Responsible Persons page (which is required for both types of applications).

After selecting Individual or Trust, click Next.

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Form 1: Introduction (Page 1 of 9)

After selecting Individual or Trust, you'll be greeted with the first page of the Form 1 application. This introductory page provides some basic instructions for filing as an Individual or Trust.

After reading this page, click Next.

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Form 1: Application Payment Notice (Page 2 of 9)

No matter the application type, you'll be required to pay a $200 tax before your SBR's registration is approved -- unless you're exempt for any of the reasons described above, which do not typically apply to individual or trust applicants. The "Tax Paid ($200)" is selected by default.

Click Next.

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Form 1: Applicant Information (Page 3 of 9)

On the Application page, ensure "No FFL" is checked at the top. You must also confirm all pre-populated personal information (which is automatically entered based on what you provided during your eForms account registration) is correct, which includes:

• First Name
• Middle Name (if applicable)
• Last Name
• Cadence (if applicable)
• Address
• ZIP Code
• City
• County
• State
• Phone Number
• Email Address

Note that if any personal information is incorrect, you must save the application, then click on "MY PROFILE" at the top of the page. There, fix any incorrect personal information before going back to the application by clickg on "HOME," then "DRAFT". Correcting your personal info on "MY PROFILE" will also fix the information auto-populated in the application.

For "Title of the Submitter of the Application," enter "OWNER" for Individuals and enter "TRUSTEE" for Trusts.

Below, you'll be required to answer "YES" or "NO" questions to the following Maker's Questions. Note that if you must answer "YES" to any of these questions, your application may be denied.

After confirming all personal information is correct and answering all questions, click Next.

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Form 1: Responsible Persons (Page 4 of 9)

On the Responsible Persons page, you'll upload your fingerprints and passport photo as an Individual. You'll also click "Add Responsible Person" in the top left, and add all members of your Trust if filing as a Trust.

To upload photos and fingerprints, click the small paper and pencil icon ("Edit Line Item") underneath "Actions to enter all required information, photos, and fingerprints for yourself and each Trust member (if applicable).

Note that under "Status", any red triangles or other icons can be hovered over to learn more about any errors or concerns that may be present for each Responsible Person. The red triangle indicates there are errors on that individual's line item that must be corrected before submitting the application.

After clicking on the "Edit," an "Add Responsible Person" pop-up will display. When editing yourself, some of your personal information will again pre-populate. Confirm all information is correct. Here, you must upload your passport photo by clicking "Browse" next to "Photo." You must also upload your .EFT fingerprint file by clicking "Browse" next to "Electronic Fingerprints."

Also be sure to add your social security number (optional, though not entering it may delay your application), as well as your date of birth, birth country, birth state, state of residence, sex, ethnicity, and race.

After uploading a photo, fingerprints, and all additional information, click Save & Close.

Repeat this process for all Trust members (if applicable). Then click Next.

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Form 1: Chief Law Enforcement Officer (page 5 of 9)

Here, you'll enter your Chief Law Enforcement Officer's information. You must include the name of their department, their name, their title, and their station's address.

This individual can be the chief of your local police, your county sheriff, or the head of State Police. Keep in mind that you'll be required to provide a copy of your approved Form 1 application to the CLEO, so it's best to enter the CLEO closest to you.

After entering the CLEO's information, click Next.

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Form 1: Line Item (Page 6 of 9)

Here, you'll enter the information for your SBR. If you're building an AR-type rifle, you'll enter the lower receiver's engraved information. Click on "Add Firearm" in the top left. A pop-up will display:

Next to "Manufacturer Name Marked on The Firearm," begin typing the manufacturer of your lower receiver. Once the manufacturer populates, select it. Then click "Verify Manufacturer" below.

Note that if you're using an unrecognized manufacturer, or if you're building an SBR using an un-engraved receiver (like an 80% lower), you'll need to manually type in the full manufacturer name. In the case of an individual, it's best to use your own name. If registering using a Trust, it's best to use the Trust name. Keep in mind this manufacturer name must be engraved on the receiver after approval and before assembly.

If using an unrecognized or custom manufacturer, click Verify Manufacturer. Another pop-up will display asking that you verify you're using an unrecognized manufacturer name.

Next, enter the Manufacturer Country. If your receiver has a city and state engraving, enter "UNITED STATES." If building using an 80% lower, also enter "UNITED STATES." Otherwise, enter which country the receiver was manufactured in.

Then click Next.

On this second page of the pop-up, you must enter the "Product Type" from the dropdown menu, which will be "SHORT BARRELED RIFLE." Next, enter the Model, Caliber, and Unit of Measure for the caliber.

In this example, we're using an M4 Carbine as our model, 5.56 as the caliber, and Unit of Measure as "MM," since 5.56 is the millimeter measurement of the caliber in question.

If your model, caliber and unit of measure are not recognize, you must check the box above "My item description is not in the list, create new item." Then you can enter all required information.

Be sure to enter the length of your SBR's barrel, and the overall length of the SBR itself. Since your SBR cannot be legally assembled before the application is approved, you'll likely need to estimate its overall length.

"Description" can be left blank, unless you've had to check the "My item description is not in the list" box. In this case, enter a basic description of your SBR, such as what type of receiver you're using, and the general configuration of the rifle.

In the box marked "State Why You Intend to Make Firearm," You may simply enter "ALL LAWFUL PURPOSES."

Then click Next.

On this third and final page of the pop-up, you must provide a photo of any engravings located on your SBR's receiver. This allows the ATF to confirm the accuracy of the serial number, model, and other information you've entered.

Upload a .JPEG of the receiver, add a basic description of the photo ("ENGRAVING" is sufficient), then click "Add Document."

In the top right, under "Line Item Summary," confirm all the information you entered on the previous pages is correct.

Click Finish.

The pop-up will disappear. Back on the main Line Item page, you'll now see your SBR's information; here, you can again confirm all information you entered is correct before proceeding.

Click Next.

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Form 1: Electronic Documents (Page 7 of 9)

If you're filing as an Individual, you can skip this page by clicking Next.

If you're filing as a Trust, you'll upload your Trust's notarized and signed documentation here using the "Browse" button underneath "File." Note that your Trust should be uploaded as a .PDF or Word Document.

Under "Document Type," select "CORPORATION/TRUST/OTHER LEGAL ENTITY." Under that, in "Description," enter the legal name of your Trust. Finally, click "Add Document."

After uploading your Trust, click Next.

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Form 1 Info Verification (Page 8 of 9)

On this page, you'll find a summary of all the information you previously entered throughout the application. Take your time, scroll down the page, and verify all personal, trust members, and firearm information have been entered correctly.

After verifying all information is accurate, click Next.

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Form 1: Payment & Submission (9 of 9)

You've reached the end -- now all you need to do is pay the $200 tax stamp fee, then digitally sign and submit your Form 1 application. To pay, click the large "Pay" button. A pop-up will display:

On this pop-up, enter your name, your billing address, and the credit or debit card you'd like to pay with. Then click "Continue."

The following page, confirm all payment info is correctly entered. Check the box authorizing payment, and click "Continue."

After submitting payment, you'll be provided a pop-up receipt containing your eForm application number, the Pay.gov transaction ID, and an agency tracking number. Screenshot this receipt for your records. Click Close.

After closing the pop-up receipt, click the "Sign & Submit" button. You'll be required to enter the PIN number you created during account registration. After entering the PIN, your application can be submitted.

Once submitted, you'll receive another pop-up with a submission receipt:

You may also screenshot this pop-up for your records. You'll receive an email confirming your Form 1 application has been submitted. If your SBR's manufacture and model were already in the ATF's database, your application will move to a "SUBMITTED/IN PROCESS" status.

If you entered a new, unrecognized, or custom manufacturer and model number, your application will move to a "PENDING RESEARCH" status. At this point, no further needs to be taken. You're done!

What Happens Next?

Now you simply need to wait for your application to be approved. As of this article's publication, eForm 1 applications that are submitted using digital fingerprints are being processed quite quickly.

How Long Will My Approval Take?

Most applications are approved within 7 days, and many are approved in as little as 24 to 48 hours. If your application encounters any issues, you'll be notified via email, with notes provided by the ATF on what errors must be corrected before you resubmit your application.

How Will I Receive My Approval?

Form 1 approvals are only ever sent to the email address you provided during your account registration. You will not receive any paper copies, or a physical tax stamp, in the mail. You simply need to print a copy of your approval (which includes the tax stamp on the form) once you receive it.

After receiving your approval, you can assemble and configure your SBR as you please! Before assembly, ensure your SBR has all required engravings, including your first and last name (if Individual) or the Trust name (if a Trust), the place of manufacture (your city and state), and the specific caliber you entered on the application.

Can I Modify my SBR?

Yes. You can swap upper receivers and stocks, modify the barrel length and overall length, and even change calibers as you wish. You do not need to submit a new Form 1 application or fill out any other paperwork to modify your SBR after it's approved.