Free Arkansas Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale
Arkansas has no state permit or registration for buying a gun, and the Arkansas State Police issue an optional concealed handgun carry license. Private party sales between Arkansas residents require no background check and no state paperwork, but the bill of sale is the seller's documentation that the firearm left their possession on a specific date to a specific person, which matters if the gun is ever tied to a crime.
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Arkansas Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know
Sales Tax Details
6.5% state sales tax plus applicable local taxes applies to firearms sold by dealers. Private party sales between individuals are generally not subject to sales tax collection requirements on the seller.
Inspection Requirements
No state inspection required. Federal law prohibits transfer to prohibited persons; seller responsibility to avoid knowingly selling to a prohibited individual.
Arkansas Gun / Firearm Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist
- Record the firearm's make, model, caliber/gauge, and full serial number on the bill of sale.
- Include both parties' full legal names, addresses, and signatures, plus the date of sale and the purchase price.
- Verbally confirm the buyer is an Arkansas resident and has stated they are not a prohibited person (convicted felon, domestic violence misdemeanant, etc.) — note this confirmation on the document.
- Seller and buyer each retain a signed original of the bill of sale.
- Store the bill of sale indefinitely — there is no statute of limitations on the value of this record.
- If selling a machine gun, make sure ATF has approved the Form 4 before handing it over. For a suppressor, ATF stopped requiring approval on October 9, 2026, but write its serial number on the bill of sale.
Common Pitfalls
- Not retaining a copy of the bill of sale — if the firearm is later used in a crime, the seller has no documentation showing when and to whom they transferred it.
- Selling to someone you have reasonable cause to believe is a prohibited person — even without a background check requirement, knowingly selling to a prohibited individual is a federal felony.
- Transferring a machine gun without ATF Form 4 approval — Arkansas's permissive gun laws do not change the federal rule for machine guns.
- Omitting the serial number from the bill of sale — this is the only identifier law enforcement uses to trace a firearm; an incomplete bill of sale offers far less protection to the seller.
Pro Tip
Although Arkansas law imposes no formal requirements on private firearm sales, treating every transfer like a dealer would — documenting the serial number, both parties' identities, and the date — costs nothing and provides meaningful protection to the seller for the life of the firearm.