Chances are that when you are looking for the best solvent trap, you have heard people talking about how long it can take for ATF Form 1 to be approved, but you may not know what to expect once you file. The fact is that there is a lot of leeway in how long it can take for approval, depending on how you choose to file.
There are a number of options open to you, and like with anything to do with government bureaucracy, it can get a little convoluted. So, let’s take a quick look at how long you can expect depending on what method you choose to file.
Filing Your ATF Form 1 Through Mail or eFile
First of all, if you would like to file an ATF Form 1, you actually have two primary options to perform the filing, including filling out the paper form and mailing it in or filing electronically.
The fastest of these two options by a very large margin is to file electronically. If you choose to file electronically and as a trust instead of as an individual, a distinction we will get into soon, you will generally receive approval in less than a month. In terms of filing for NFA firearms, this is pretty incredible. In some cases, you may even find your filing takes as little as two weeks; however, do not count on it since the most common time falls closer to one month.
If you choose to file Form 1 by paper, you can expect a much longer wait ahead of you. This form of filing is rarely done anymore, and it certainly is not recommended. If you choose to go this route, be ready for a long wait because this will likely take seven months to a year on average.
Filing as a Trust Vs. an Individual
Many people choose to file as an NFA trust instead of as an individual for the many advantages it offers. As a trust, you can allow family and friends to be added to the paperwork for the item, and they can use it freely without you needing to be present at all times. The good news is that this will also make your paperwork process a lot faster as well. For some reason, the ATF chooses to file Form 1 for trusts far faster than they do for individuals, and this means approval is a lot quicker.
Generally, the only reason you would file as an individual is for the slightly easier questions involved in the filing. However, a lot is sacrificed in terms of flexibility, and it is often no easier to file this way, which is why few people choose to file as a trust nowadays. You will get a much faster response time by filing as a trust with approval generally coming months quicker than when filing as an individual. If you choose to file as an individual, be ready for a long wait.
Final Thoughts
Many users of solvent traps like to understand their options for ATF Form 1. If you do your homework and file ATF Form 1 by the quickest possible route, which is filing electronically as a trust, then you should only be waiting for about a month to receive approval. If you file either by paper or as an individual, you may be waiting for seven months up to a year. Visit armoryden.com for more information.