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FFL eZ Check System [2022 Guide]

The ATF’s FFL eZ Check system is one of the most important lines of defense against fraud, making sure you are doing business with a real, properly licensed FFL. However, it does come with some drawbacks, but that’s no reason to discount the many benefits it actually does provide.

We’ll take a look at the entire system and why it matters, and then why it is imperative that you use it whenever dealing with an FFL you are unfamiliar with.

What is FFL eZ Check?

This simple online tool lets you check all FFLs for their validity with just a few quick keystrokes. Seriously, the website’s design probably hasn’t been updated since Bill Clinton was in office, so it’s super basic and exceptionally easy to use. Just enter the first 3 and last 5 characters of the FFL and it will let you know right away if it is valid or not.

If the number comes back as legit, then go ahead and proceed with the transaction. If not, then don’t. Super simple!

Why Use FFL eZ Check?

Physically, an FFL is just a piece of paper with some outdated and often pixelated government-issued graphics, business information, and a license number. Simply put, making a fake FFL document or altering a real one would be very easy to do. That means verifying the FFL’s validity with the ATF’s FFL eZ Check is very important.

Without first verifying an FFL, you could find yourself in the disastrous position of having shipped a firearm to a con artist or criminal. At best, you might be out some money; at worst, one or more guns could now be in the hands of dangerous criminals.

The Importance of ATF eZ Check

The eZ Check system is crucial to protect you from fraud and letting guns get into unauthorized hands.

It is a simple fact of life that with modern graphic editing software, a pretty good fake FFL can be whipped up by people of even modest skill. The FFL system as a whole is a relic of a bygone era and at its heart is still woefully outdated in terms of credential security. (In other words, typical government behavior.) Long gone are the days when simply handing someone an official-looking, supposedly-government-issued paper document could be trusted without a second thought.

However, FFL eZ Check is the solution to this lack of trust in FFL documents. Using the simple procedures the ATF has implemented, you can immediately verify any commercial FFL, and ensure that you are in fact dealing with an authorized person.

Fake FFLs have been used to get guns shipped to unauthorized persons, which makes them extremely dangerous. Unless you are absolutely certain that you are dealing with a known and legitimate FFL, then the ATF eZ Check could be a literal lifesaver that keeps a gun out of the hands of a prohibited person.

It is the duty of every FFL holder to ensure that they have covered every possible avenue to avoid fraudulent transactions, and fortunately, the ATF’s FFL eZ Check is a very simple tool that has enormous impact on fighting fraud. Best of all, it takes only a few seconds to use. Seriously: you could have run it dozens and dozens of times in the same amount of time it has taken you to read this far.

When Not to Use FFL eZ Check

FFL eZ check cannot check Type 03 and Type 06 FFLs. For an 06 FFL, there is a hard and fast rule: you never, ever transfer a firearm to an 06 FFL. 06 They are only approved for the manufacture of ammunition. Nothing more, nothing less.

Type 03 “Curio and Relic” FFLs are where some people have issues. The ATF does not have a tool in place to verify if an 03 FFL is legitimate or not. Some dealers simply refuse to accept an 03 FFL, but that brings with it some potentially serious issues. Refusing every 03 FFL on the grounds that one or two who might be trying to do business with them are fraudulent means that you will be reducing your overall sales and restricting holding back your business.

Trusting an 03 FFL is generally easier than a commercial FFL since it can only be used for guns 50 years old or older, unless specifically on the ATF’s list of Curio and Relics firearms. Full guidelines and the current C&R list can be found here. If somebody using an 03 FFL wants a gun that isn’t a C&R, you cannot transfer it to them on their C&R. It’s just that simple. You can also ask for other identifying information to go with the C&R license if that makes you feel better about it.

Many Americans hold an 03 FFL, and sellers who have guns in their inventory that qualify for the use of the C&R license do well in terms of their sales numbers. Essentially, there is little reason to not accept them for transactions that are permitted with that type of FFL.

Is the FFL eZ Check for Background Checks?

No, the FFL eZ Check is not to be used for background checks. That is a completely different and separate system and the two are not interchangeable.

Is FFL eZ Check Only for Current FFLs?

Nope! FFL eZ Check is open to anyone to use. If you’re shipping a gun, it’s a good idea to check and make sure that the FFL is still valid before you send it off to them.

How Much Does ATF’s FFL eZ Check System Cost?

The ATF’s FFL eZ Check is absolutely, positively 100% free for anyone and everyone to use. It is a valuable asset and the ATF wants to make sure that it’s available to anyone who wants to use it, so there is no fee whatsoever to use it.

Can FFL eZ Check Be Used for an Ammunition Manufacturer?

We touched on this briefly above, but it bears repeating. You cannot use the FFL eZ Check for an ammunition manufacturer. They are not allowed to send and receive guns with their specific type of FFL.

What are FFL eZ Check Benefits?

Getting ahold of someone – anyone – at a government agency can be frustrating at best. The biggest benefit of the eZ Check is that you can get the answer you need right away online. There’s no waiting on hold, talking to automated machines, etc.

How Do You Use eZ Check for FFLs?

Just enter the first 3 and last 5 characters of the FFL and it will let you know right away if it is valid or not. If the number comes back as legit, then go ahead and proceed with the transaction. If not, then don’t. Super simple!

How to Check FFL eZ Check Results?

Once you enter the information from your copy of an FFL into the eZ Check system, simply look it over to make sure everything is right. Ensure that the license is still valid, the name(s) is right, the address is correct, etc.

When to Use the eZ Check System?

You should use the eZ Check System any time you’re planning to mail a gun to an FFL holder. It will quickly tell you if their FFL is still valid or not. No muss, no fuss – just a simple answer.

What is the ATF FFL eZ Check Account?

There’s no such thing as an eZ Check account. The ATF wants to make the system as quick and easy to use as possible, so there’s no need to register, create a user name, come up with a new password, etc. 

What is the ATF’s eZ Check System For?

Fake FFLs have been used to get guns shipped to unauthorized persons, which makes them extremely dangerous. Unless you are absolutely certain that you are dealing with a known and legitimate FFL, then the ATF eZ Check could be a literal lifesaver that keeps a gun out of the hands of a prohibited person.

It is the duty of every FFL holder to ensure that they have covered every possible avenue to avoid fraudulent transactions, and fortunately, the ATF’s FFL eZ Check is a very simple tool that has an enormous impact on fighting fraud. Best of all, it takes only a few seconds to use. Seriously: you could have run it dozens and dozens of times in the same amount of time it has taken you to read this far.

Conclusion

The ATF’s FFL eZ Check system is a valuable tool for identifying the legitimacy of an FFL and ensuring you are sending or receiving guns from an actual FFL who is operating within the bounds of their license. It is an important tool to combat fraud and violent crime, and should be used whenever possible, especially since it is free and easy to use!

There are a lot of different kinds of FFL’s out there. Do you know the difference?

Thinking about getting your own FFL? Great! FFL123 has been helping people just like you get their FFL for almost two decades, and will walk you through the entire process, and provide support even after you get your license!

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