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Free Louisiana Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale

Louisiana is one of the most permissive firearm states in the country — no permit-to-purchase, no waiting period, no firearm registration, and as of July 4, 2024, full constitutional carry for any law-abiding adult 18 or older. A private-party firearm sale between Louisiana residents requires no background check, no FFL transfer, and no government paperwork. That said, a written (and ideally notarized) bill of sale is strongly advised: it documents the date and serial number you transferred ownership, which protects you if the firearm later turns up at a crime scene. Sales of NFA items (suppressors, SBRs, machine guns) follow federal ATF rules, and Louisiana law (R.S. 40:1785) also makes it a crime to possess or sell one that was not registered or transferred under federal law.

Louisiana Requirements: A notarized title or bill of sale is needed. The 40 days is the sales-tax due date after the sale; the tax is paid when applying for title and registration. 5% 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? →

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

Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Louisiana Firearm Bill of Sale (Notarized recommended)
Agency
LSP / ATF
Louisiana State Police (concealed carry permits) / ATF (federal firearms law)
Primary ID Field
Serial Number
Sales Tax
Exempt
Title Required
No
Firearms have no state title in Louisiana. The bill of sale plus the federal Form 4473 (when purchased through a Federal Firearms Licensee) constitutes the ownership record. Private party sales between Louisiana residents do not require an FFL transfer or background check under state law. Machine guns require ATF Form 4 approval, CLEO notification and the $200 tax — federal rules that Louisiana law (R.S. 40:1785) also enforces. Since October 9, 2026, ATF no longer requires approval or registration for suppressors and SBRs, but R.S. 40:1785 still bans these items unless registered or transferred under federal law, so ask a Louisiana firearms attorney before you skip the Form 4.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

Private-party firearm sales between Louisiana residents are generally treated as casual non-dealer transactions and not subject to sales tax collection at the point of transfer. Dealer sales are subject to standard 5.0% state + parish sales tax (8–11% combined).

Exemption: Casual private-party isolated sales between individuals (non-dealers) are not subject to sales tax. Dealer-to-consumer sales are taxed.

Inspection Requirements

No state-mandated inspection or registration of firearms in Louisiana. Louisiana adopted CONSTITUTIONAL CARRY effective July 4, 2024 (Act 2 of 2024 First Extraordinary Session) — any law-abiding adult 18+ may carry a concealed handgun without a permit. The Louisiana State Police still issues optional concealed handgun permits for reciprocity with other states. No permit-to-purchase, no waiting period, no firearm registration, and no "assault weapon" or magazine-capacity restrictions exist at the state level.

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

  1. Confirm both buyer and seller are Louisiana residents and legally allowed to possess firearms (not prohibited persons).
  2. Record make, model, caliber, and serial number on the bill of sale.
  3. Include date, sale price, and full names/addresses of buyer and seller.
  4. Ask to see the buyer's Louisiana ID — though not legally required, it documents residency.
  5. Notarize the bill of sale (recommended in Louisiana given civil-law tradition).
  6. For a machine gun, complete ATF Form 4 and wait for ATF approval before transfer; for suppressors and SBRs, ATF stopped requiring approval on October 9, 2026 (see atf.gov/nfa), but Louisiana law (R.S. 40:1785) still requires them to be registered or transferred under federal law, and ATF still accepts a Form 4 filed voluntarily.
  7. Keep your copy of the bill of sale indefinitely as proof of transfer date.
  8. For interstate private sales, federal law requires shipment through an FFL.

Common Pitfalls

  • Selling to a person you know or suspect is a prohibited person — federal felony regardless of state law.
  • Failing to record the serial number — you lose your paper trail if the gun is later used in a crime.
  • Ignoring NFA rules for suppressors/SBRs/machine guns — federal ATF requirements still apply.
  • Shipping a firearm directly to an out-of-state buyer — federal law requires FFL-to-FFL transfer.
  • Assuming constitutional carry means anyone can carry — prohibited persons (felons, domestic-violence misdemeanants, etc.) still cannot.

Pro Tip

Louisiana is permissive — no permit, no waiting period, no registration — but a notarized bill of sale with the serial number is still smart paperwork.

Louisiana Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — FAQs

Does Louisiana require a background check for private firearm sales?
No — Louisiana does not require a background check, FFL transfer, or any government paperwork for a private-party sale of a firearm between Louisiana residents who are both legally allowed to possess firearms. There is no state firearm registry. Federal law still applies: it is a federal crime to knowingly sell a firearm to a "prohibited person" (felon, domestic-violence misdemeanant, person under indictment, drug user, dishonorably discharged veteran, etc.), and ignorance of buyer status is a thin defense if the gun is used in a crime. A bill of sale documenting the buyer's ID and the transfer date is your best protection.
What is constitutional carry and when did it take effect in Louisiana?
Constitutional carry — sometimes called "permitless carry" — means any law-abiding adult 18 years of age or older may carry a concealed handgun in Louisiana without obtaining a permit. Louisiana enacted constitutional carry in a 2024 extraordinary session law that took effect July 4, 2024. Open carry has long been legal in Louisiana for adults 18+. The Louisiana State Police continues to issue optional concealed handgun permits because many other states only honor permit-holders for reciprocity. Federal "gun-free zones" (post offices, federal courthouses, schools, etc.) remain off-limits regardless of constitutional carry.
Should I notarize a private firearm bill of sale?
Notarization is not legally required for a private firearm transfer in Louisiana, but it is strongly recommended given the state's civil-law tradition and the legal weight courts give notarized documents. Notarization establishes that both parties actually signed on the date stated, which becomes important if the firearm is later recovered at a crime scene with the seller still listed as the last known owner. For $5–$10 at a bank or UPS Store you get a Louisiana notary acknowledgment that virtually closes the door on "I never sold him that gun" disputes. Always record make, model, caliber, and serial number.
Can I sell a firearm to a buyer from another state?
Not directly — federal law (Gun Control Act of 1968) prohibits a non-licensee from transferring a firearm to a resident of another state except through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in the buyer's state of residence. To sell a handgun to an out-of-state buyer, you ship it to an FFL in their state, and the FFL runs a NICS background check and completes a Form 4473 before releasing the firearm. Long guns may be sold in person across state lines if the FFL handles the transfer in either state and the sale complies with both states' laws. Louisiana state law alone does not permit private interstate transfers — federal law preempts.
Do I need to do anything special for NFA items like suppressors or short-barreled rifles?
Yes — NFA items (suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, machine guns, AOWs, destructive devices) are governed by federal law regardless of Louisiana's permissive stance. Machine guns and destructive devices still need ATF Form 4, photographs, fingerprints, CLEO notification, the $200 tax and ATF approval, and you may not transfer one until ATF approves. Since October 9, 2026, ATF no longer requires approval or registration for suppressors, short-barreled rifles and shotguns, and AOWs, though it still accepts a Form 4 filed voluntarily. Louisiana law (R.S. 40:1785) still bans possessing or selling these items unless they were registered or transferred under federal law, with one to five years in prison for a first offense, and it is not settled whether that covers items ATF no longer registers, so file the Form 4 or ask a Louisiana firearms attorney first. Federal rules on prohibited persons and out-of-state buyers still apply to all of them, and a Louisiana bill of sale is the best record of the sale.

Other Louisiana Templates

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