Federal Register #ATF-2026-0336

Proposed Rule: Joint Registration for Spouses under the National Firearms Act

This proposed rule from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) aims to modernize firearm registration for spouses under the National Firearms Act: - Government Buyer: - Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF), Department of Justice - Regulatory Change Details: - Allows spouses to file joint applications to make, transfer, receive, and register firearms under the NFA - Grants both spouses equal rights to possess and make NFA firearms - Eliminates the need for transfer applications between registered spouses - Removes requirement for spouses to create legal trusts for joint registration - Revises ATF forms (Forms 1, 4, 5, and 23) and processes to support joint registration - Unique/Notable Requirements: - Focuses on reducing regulatory burdens and costs for spouses - No products, OEMs, or vendors are involved; this is a regulatory change, not a procurement - Place of Performance: - ATF Headquarters, 99 New York Ave. NE, Washington, DC 20226

Description

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) proposes amending Department of Justice regulations to authorize spouses to file a joint application to make, transfer or receive, and register a firearm under the National Firearms Act (NFA). If approved, both spouses would have a joint right to make or possess the firearm(s), and transferring the firearm(s) between registered spouses would not constitute a further transfer, thus not requiring a transfer application. This rule aims to reduce regulatory burdens and costs by allowing joint registration, alleviating legal hurdles after a registered owner spouse dies, and reducing the need for spouses to create legal trusts. The proposal includes revisions to forms and processes to accommodate joint registration for spouses.

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