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Free Illinois Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale

Illinois is one of the strictest states in the country for private firearm transfers. Every transfer — including between two private individuals — requires the buyer to hold a valid FOID card AND requires the seller to verify the buyer's FOID with the Illinois State Police BEFORE handing over the gun. State law adds a 24-hour waiting period for long guns and 72 hours for handguns. The 2023 Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) further bans the sale or transfer of defined assault weapons and large-capacity magazines. Cook County (Chicago) layers additional rules. Failure to follow any of these is a criminal offense — far beyond a paperwork problem.

Illinois Requirements: Transfer title within 20 days. 6.25% sales tax.

Seller Information

Buyer Information

Gun / Firearm Details

Sale Information

Condition & Warranty

Important: Federal and state laws may require a background check for firearm transfers. This bill of sale does not replace any legal requirements for background checks, waiting periods, or other regulations. Please consult your local laws before completing this transaction.

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Private firearm sales carry more legal requirements than most buyers realize — background check laws, waiting periods, and prohibited-person rules vary widely by state. Our guide explains when a bill of sale is legally required and what it must say. Read: Do I Need a Bill of Sale? →

Illinois Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — What You Need to Know

Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Agency
ISP
Illinois State Police, Firearms Services Bureau
Primary ID Field
Serial Number
Sales Tax
6.25%
Title Required
No
Illinois does not title firearms, but Illinois has one of the strictest private-transfer regimes in the United States. EVERY firearm transfer — private OR dealer — requires the buyer to have a valid FOID (Firearm Owner's Identification) card, and the seller MUST verify the buyer's FOID through the ISP FOID verification system before transferring the gun. Both parties must keep a record of the transfer (including the FOID number and the firearm's description and serial number) for at least 10 years. A written bill of sale with serial number and verification confirmation is essential.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

Dealer firearm sales are subject to 6.25% Illinois state sales tax plus local rates. Private-party occasional sales between individuals not in the business of selling firearms are typically exempt from sales tax under the occasional-sale rule, BUT all the FOID, waiting-period, and verification rules still apply.

Exemption: Casual sales between private individuals (not dealers) generally fall under the occasional-sale tax exemption. Note: tax exemption does NOT exempt the sale from FOID verification, waiting periods, the 10-year recordkeeping rule, or the 2023 Illinois Assault Weapons Ban (PICA).

Inspection Requirements

Illinois imposes mandatory waiting periods on firearm delivery: 24 hours for long guns and 72 hours for handguns. The seller may not transfer possession of the firearm before the waiting period expires. The 2023 Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA) bans the sale and transfer of "assault weapons" and large-capacity magazines as defined in the statute; pre-ban owners had to register grandfathered firearms with ISP. Cook County and the City of Chicago add additional firearm regulations on top of state law.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by Illinois State Police (FOID verification and PICA registration) — not the same agency that handles cars in Illinois. Plan for separate filings.

Illinois Gun / Firearm Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Buyer presents a valid, unexpired Illinois FOID card; seller confirms by photographing it
  2. Seller verifies the buyer's FOID with the Illinois State Police FOID verification system and obtains a confirmation/approval number
  3. Wait the mandatory period: 24 hours for long guns, 72 hours for handguns, before transferring possession
  4. Confirm the firearm is NOT a banned assault weapon or large-capacity magazine under PICA — sales of those are prohibited
  5. Bill of sale records make, model, caliber, serial number, FOID numbers of both parties, ISP verification number, transfer date, and waiting-period compliance
  6. Both parties keep a copy for at least 10 years (Illinois recordkeeping requirement)
  7. In Cook County or Chicago, comply with additional local registration and ammunition tax rules

Common Pitfalls

  • Transferring a firearm without verifying the buyer's FOID — this is a criminal offense for the seller, not a paperwork slip
  • Skipping the 24-hour (long gun) or 72-hour (handgun) waiting period — waiting periods apply to PRIVATE sales too, not just dealer sales
  • Selling or transferring a PICA-banned assault weapon or LCM — this is illegal under the 2023 statute regardless of grandfathering
  • Failing to keep the 10-year transfer record — required by Illinois law
  • Selling a handgun to a non-Illinois resident in a private transfer — federal law requires interstate handgun transfers to go through an FFL
  • Ignoring Cook County / Chicago add-on rules — additional registration, ammunition tax, and assault-weapon ordinances apply on top of state law

Pro Tip

Illinois firearm transfers require valid FOID for the buyer, ISP FOID verification by the seller, 24/72-hour waiting periods, 10-year recordkeeping, and PICA compliance — with additional rules in Cook County and Chicago.

Illinois Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — FAQs

Can I sell a gun privately in Illinois without going through a dealer?
Yes, private transfers between Illinois residents are allowed, but they are heavily regulated. The buyer must hold a valid FOID card. The seller MUST verify the buyer's FOID through the Illinois State Police verification system and receive a confirmation number BEFORE transferring the gun. Both parties must keep a record of the transfer for 10 years. The mandatory waiting period (24 hours long gun / 72 hours handgun) also applies. Skipping any of these is a criminal offense.
What is a FOID card and do I really need one?
The Firearm Owner's Identification (FOID) card is required to lawfully possess any firearm or ammunition in Illinois. It is issued by the Illinois State Police after a background check. Illinois is one of only a handful of states with this regime — without a FOID, you cannot buy, receive, or even possess a firearm or ammo. As a seller, you cannot transfer to anyone without a valid FOID, and you must verify it with ISP before the sale completes. As a buyer, apply for a FOID before you start shopping.
How long is the waiting period for firearm transfers in Illinois?
24 hours for long guns (rifles, shotguns) and 72 hours for handguns. The waiting period runs from the time of FOID verification to the time the buyer takes physical possession of the firearm. This applies to BOTH dealer sales and private-party sales. Sellers cannot deliver the firearm before the waiting period expires, even if the buyer is a longtime friend with a valid FOID.
What does the 2023 Illinois Assault Weapons Ban (PICA) prohibit?
The Protect Illinois Communities Act (PICA), signed in January 2023, bans the manufacture, sale, delivery, import, and purchase of "assault weapons" and large-capacity magazines as defined in the statute. Owners who lawfully possessed covered firearms before the ban were required to register them with ISP by January 1, 2024 to keep them under grandfather status — but registered grandfathered firearms cannot legally be sold or transferred to another Illinois private party. If you are unsure whether a firearm is covered, consult an Illinois firearms attorney before listing it for sale.
Are there extra rules in Cook County or Chicago?
Yes. Cook County and the City of Chicago have their own firearm ordinances that layer on top of Illinois state law: additional registration requirements, an ammunition tax, restrictions on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines (in some cases stricter than PICA), and limits on where firearms can be carried or stored. If either party to the transfer lives in Cook County or Chicago, check the local ordinance before completing the sale — local rules can add criminal penalties on top of state-level offenses.

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