ATF eForms

[SpyderArms]

Looks like ATF is going to keep eForms. Just got this letter today.

U.S. Department of Justice
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Assistant Director
April 16, 2014
http://www.atf.gov

Dear Industry Colleague:

As a result of recent changes in state laws concerning certain National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms and devices and other factors, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has experienced an exponential increase in NFA applications in recent years and months. For example, in fiscal year 2005, while ATF processed nearly 41,600 NFA applications, by 2013 that number had skyrocketed by more than 380 percent to more than 199,900 applications. The increase is significant because of the volume as well as the short period of time in which applications have spiked.

To expedite processing, in 2013, after more than a year of development, ATF launched its “eForms” to provide a tool for more efficient filing of ATF firearms forms. When ATF implemented the eForms system, paper NFA Tax-Paid applications took 9 months to process, while eForms reduced processing time to within 100 days. After a year of successful implementation, in January 2014, ATF attended the annual Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show (SHOT Show) to spread the word about eForms and the system’s efficient processing of applications. Improvements noted in the eForms system include the following:

• form submission and payment processing time reduced to approximately 5 minutes from 3-4 business days;

• elimination of 8 weeks of data entry processing backlog;

• elimination of an estimated 30 days processing time due to errant data entry.

With these statistics in mind and based on the feedback from industry, the eForms initiative has clearly addressed a long overdue industry need. As a result, the number of registered users has grown from 673 in 2013 to more than 10,000 today. In fact, the number of eForms submitted has exceeded 50,000, with the most significant volume seen in Form 3 and Form 4 applications. Since January 2014, approximately 50 percent of NFA applications have been submitted via eForms. This surge in demand has created the need to temporarily scale back eForms submissions while the system is enhanced to handle greater capacity in the future.

To accommodate this substantial increase in application volume, ATF must enhance the eForms initiative to ensure that we can meet the industry’s needs as the volume of applications continues to exceed growth expectations. Our goal is to decrease processing times and continue to enhance NFA availability without impact from significant application spikes or volume increases as seen during the last few years.

To accomplish this goal, ATF will take aggressive steps immediately regarding eForms and existing
paper application processes. Measures already taken include the following:

• ATF has surged staffing availability to seven days per week to process both eForms and paper
applications. As a result, ATF has already reduced the backlog of applications from more than
80,000 to 73,700, an almost 8 percent reduction in the total backlog since March 20, 2014.
Monthly processing volume has increased from 17,200 to 23,600 per month due to the surge,
representing a 37 percent increase in form processing.

• ATF is immediately hiring 15 additional staff to assist in processing NFA applications. In
addition, another 15 current staff members are cross-training to assist with NFA application
processing.

• Staff from across ATF have been recruited to assist in backlog processing.

• ATF has prioritized Form 3 and Form 4 paper application processing, as appropriate, while we
are bolstering eForms capabilities. This action will ensure that the highest volume of pending
applications is given higher priority and that industry needs are met.

• ATF has engaged world-class private sector companies to assist in enhancing eForms capacity
and functionality to provide industry with the most efficient service possible.

• ATF will limit routine maintenance and processing within the eForms system to one day each
week, which will allow registered industry users to have the full eForms system capacity
available during other days. Each Wednesday, a day selected based on use patterns and with the
input of our customers, ATF will close the system for routine maintenance and processing.
Application processing will continue outside of the system on all weekdays, but ATF will avoid
routine maintenance and processing within the eForms system on other days to ensure that
eForms remains available to our customers.

• This week, eForms will once again be available initially for the processing of Form 6 and Form
6A. As capacity is enhanced over the next several weeks, eForms will then continue to accept
Forms 1, 2, 5, 9, 5300.11 and 10. All users may continue to submit paper forms throughout this
process, and ATF will continue to surge and prioritize to ensure that this enhancement process
does not impede commerce. Ultimately, our largest volume of requests, Form 3 and Form 4, will
return to the new and improved eForms, which we expect to accomplish in the short term.

• ATF will continue to monitor application processing timelines on a weekly basis to ensure that
progress is being made in the reduction of the backlog. At the same time, ATF will enhance the
eForms system in ways that may avoid backlogs in the future, despite the spikes and volume
increases. As additional enhancements or surge steps become apparent, we will adapt our plans
to address those needs.

ATF and industry have benefitted from the eForms and ATF remains fully committed to its success and to the reduction of the backlog in paper and eForms applications. The steps outlined above reflect ATF’s commitments, and we will ensure that our industry colleagues remain informed of our progress and have the opportunity to provide input on eForms enhancements.
We offer our sincere thanks to the eForms user community for your patience and support of the eForms system as these enhancements are completed.

Sincerely,
Marvin G. Richardson
Deputy Assistant Director
ATF Enforcement Programs and Services


Here is a link to the actual PDF

[240witsr]

This is great news... Hopefully my Specwar form 4 won't take a year for approval.

[Dave1965]

80,000 forms at $200 each = $16 MILLION

Major money maker for the ATF

[adayton]

Looks like Forms 3 and 4 are going to be the last to be added, though ....

[gaston_kalash]

I just got off the phone with the atf asking about my form 1 I submitted on 3-21-2014 (eforms) and he said currently it is pending and could take up to 6 months to get anything back for any of you curious about how long the wait is. I was under the assumption that I would get it back within 100 days.

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[Toddinlou]

Hey 6 months is an improvement. I thinking about submitting a form 1 and try out the trust an eform system. Nfa toys are fun.

[gaston_kalash]

Hey 6 months is an improvement. I thinking about submitting a form 1 and try out the trust an eform system. Nfa toys are fun.

I could be wrong but I don't think there accepting eform form 1's right now. I don't see the option on the site for form 1's anymore.

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[Toddinlou]

Yah... It's not back up yet for form 1 or 4 but they plan on having it back up and running soon from what I've read

[gaston_kalash]

When I was talking to them before I gave them my info they said something about no longer accepting form 1 efiles not for sure what she meant by that but that's what she said and according to the email I got yesterday goes more with what you said Toddinlou

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[Toddstang]

Guys,
Please keep this on topic of original post.
If you want to bash one another, please start a separate thread.
I cleaned up the mess in here because a lot of us have a suppressor on order and this thread is kind of important to us.

[240witsr]

Fair enough. I happen to be one of those waiting.

[gaston_kalash]

well I guise I won't find out how long it takes to get my efiled form 1 back but I will find out how long it takes to get a refund. : (

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[gaston_kalash]

I sent my refund request in Friday and got the notification that it was closed on Saturday and called the atf about the money and they said it will take up to 5-10 days to get my money refunded. If it was a mail in form 1: y would have taken 10-12 weeks. Glad I efiled.

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[gaston_kalash]

I sent my refund request in Friday and got the notification that it was closed on Saturday and called the atf about the money and they said it will take up to 5-10 days to get my money refunded. If it was a mail in form 1: y would have taken 10-12 weeks. Glad I efiled.

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follow up just got my money refunded today. Took 18 days or 12 business days. Sent request on may 16 money refunded June 3.

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[gaston_kalash]

Just got this eforms update looks like form 1's are back up.

Good afternoon:

We are pleased to announce the following updates to the eForms system:

1. Performance enhancements –We were able to address some of the technical issues. You will see improvements in the overall performance of the system.

2. We are able to add the ATF Form 1 back to the eForms system. Our plans are to closely monitor the performance of the system in order to determine if we will be able to add additional forms back to the system.

Below is an update on the status on our processing of paper and electronic NFA applications. In the future, this information will be available through links on the eForms login screen:

In follow-up to ATF’s letter dated April 16, 2014, regarding the status of the eForms system; this update is being provided to inform the industry of ATF’s progress in addressing eForms and paper NFA applications. To accommodate the substantial increase in application volume that has recently occurred, ATF is working diligently to decrease processing times while continuing to enhance the eForms platform.

What is our progress to date?

From a peak of over 81,000 pending NFA applications at the end of February 2014, as of June 18, 2014, ATF has reduced the number to less than 63,000 applications pending (23% reduction in pending applications). In the last four weeks, although the NFA Branch received over 17,800 applications we processed more than 22,400 applications.

The statistics in the table below represent the processing of NFA Forms over the past four weeks.

NFA FORMS PROCESSED BY WEEK

Date (Week of) 5/28/2014 6/4/2014 6/11/2014 6/18/2014

All Forms 4,815 5,629 5,635 6,323

eForms 1,199 1,204 1,905 1,682

Paper Forms 3,616 4,425 3,730 4,641

At the same time, ATF has directed additional resources to NFA application processing:

· There are currently 15 Legal Instrument Examiner (LIE) applicants currently in the background investigation phase of hiring.

· The use of overtime funding has been authorized for those employees processing NFA applications.

· ATF has cross-trained LIEs from various other ATF branches to support NFA application processing. This is an ongoing process and has already beneficially impacted application processing.

· ATF has dedicated additional data entry contract resources to reduce the time it takes for an application to be entered into the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR). As a result, data entry time has already been reduced from eight weeks to two weeks.

If you have any questions regarding any of the information included in this email, you may contact us through the eForms system by using “Ask the Experts” or by emailing us at eforms.admin_atf.gov.

Thank you for your continued support of eForm

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[adayton]

+1 on this ... Just received the email myself ...
It appears they are getting their $hit in order ...
Hopefully, it won't be long and Forms 3 and 4 will be back in the mix...

[Wyldman]

I'll believe it when I see it. I've dealt with these people for far too long to just take them at face value.

From the Wyldphone

[Tyler]

It's up and running with people already in pending status.

[Smithengineered]

Let's hope they continue to improve. I just called yesterday to check on my Form 1 trust and was told it should be approved sometime in Dec....12 months

[gaston_kalash]

Looking at some turn around times online in form 1's being e-filed ad looks like most now are being approved within 3 weeks.
I submitted one on Labor Day I'm hoping it will only take that long.


Sent from somewhere over yonder.

[Smithengineered]

Looking at some turn around times online in form 1's being e-filed ad looks like most now are being approved within 3 weeks.
I submitted one on Labor Day I'm hoping it will only take that long.


Sent from somewhere over yonder.

Nice!