1) When you receive your application for a renewal, do not wait till the last minute to send it in. Act upon it ASAP and return it promptly. I was amazed to hear and see examples of FFL's who wait till a few weeks before they expire to submit the application. The Licensing Center sends the renewal notice out 90 days before you expire for a good reason; send it back as soon as you receive it.

2) Check your FFL expiration date from time to time. If you're 60 days from expiring; do not wait for them to call you; call them and ask about your renewal. If you move your business and/or the Post Office changes even a portion of your mailing address you are required by law to notify the Licensing Center of the change of address. How can they contact you with a renewal notice if they can't find you? Do yourself a huge favor: let them know of any change in either your business name and location and address change.

3) If you run into a question on the application that your not sure how to answer, call them, or e-mail them at NLClicenseapplication@atf.gov. Do not leave the question unanswered; the examiners have no choice but to return the incomplete application to you, have you complete it send it back which takes a lot of additional time.

4) If you're structured as a sole proprietorship and you take on a partner you are now considered to be a partnership and are no longer under the title of a sole proprietorship. Conversely, if you incorporate, you need to include that information. We saw many applications that could not be processed because the applicant gave information that was inconsistent with the structure of the applicant's business.

5) We are often asked by FFL's if they are required to fill in the question re: notification of your local Chief Law Enforcement officer that you are planning on conducting a business is mandatory for the processing of a new or renewal application. It is required information and the law prohibits them from processing your application unless you comply and answer this question. There is no other way to guarantee your application will be rejected and sent back to you for proper completion than to not answer this question.

6) As a result of September 11th, and the increased level of security, the National Licensing Center is now including a Certification of Compliance form # OMB 1512-0571 in the FFL application kits. You must complete this and return it in order to have your application processed. This requirement was added by our elected officials, and the ATF National Licensing center is merely complying with the requirements they have to work under in order to help us stay in business and process our FFL applications on a timely basis.

The ATF National Licensing Center is comprised of approximately 20 Legal Instrument Examiners who are responsible for verifying every bit of information an applicant/FFL is asked to provide in conjunction with their application. You can reach the National Licensing Center at (404) 417-2750 or by e-mail at NLClicenseapplication@atf.gov.