Free Newfoundland and Labrador Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale
Firearms in Newfoundland and Labrador are working equipment — moose hunting, trapping, and coastal subsistence — and the private sale of a non-restricted long gun now runs through a federal verification step that no amount of local custom overrides. Under the amendment in force since May 18, 2022, no long gun legally changes owners until the RCMP Registrar has looked at the buyer's licence and handed back a reference number for that specific transfer. Newfoundland keeps nothing of its own on file; licence conditions and ATTs run through the provincial Chief Firearms Officer.
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Newfoundland and Labrador Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Tax Details
GST/HST may apply on firearms sales if the seller is a GST registrant. Private individual-to-individual sales are typically exempt from sales tax.
Exemption: Transfers between immediate family members may qualify for an HST exemption. Contact Service NL for the current statutory declaration requirements.
Inspection Requirements
No safety inspection is required for private firearm sales, but both parties must comply with the Firearms Act (Canada).
Newfoundland and Labrador Gun / Firearm Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Start with the buyer's PAL — it must cover long guns, or be an RPAL if what you're selling is restricted.
- The Registrar's licence check comes before the handover, and its reference number is the proof it happened.
- That number goes on the bill of sale, together with the two licence numbers, the sale amount and the day.
- The gun itself gets a full description: manufacturer, model, action type, bore, barrel length and the serial stamped on it.
- Salt, bog, and hard weather leave their mark — disclose bore and metal condition honestly in writing.
- A restricted piece brings extra steps: re-registration with the RCMP and a transport authorization out of the CFO's office.
- Sign in duplicate; each side leaves with an original.
Common Pitfalls
- Treating a moose rifle sale as a purely local matter: the verification requirement is federal and applies to every non-restricted transfer.
- Losing the reference number: it is the proof the licence check happened.
- Understating corrosion on a coastal working gun — an honest note is worth more than a quiet sale.
- Assuming the absence of a provincial registry means fewer federal obligations.
Pro Tip
A Newfoundland rifle is a tool, and its sale is a federal transaction. Verify the licence, take the reference number, and be honest about the rust.