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Free North Carolina Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale

North Carolina firearm transfers changed materially in **2023**, when the General Assembly **repealed the Pistol Purchase Permit requirement** for handguns (S.L. 2023-8). Before the repeal, every private handgun sale required the buyer to present either a sheriff-issued pistol purchase permit or a concealed-carry permit. After repeal, private handgun and long-gun sales between NC residents require **no permit and no background check** — making a careful, signed bill of sale the only paper trail either party will have.

North Carolina Requirements: Notarization required. Transfer title within 28 days. 3% 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? →

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

Primary Form
Standard bill of sale
Agency
ATF / NC Sheriff (CHP)
No state firearm titling — federal ATF rules apply
Primary ID Field
Serial Number
Sales Tax
4.75%
Title Required
No
No state title or registration for firearms in NC. Federal Form 4473 applies only to dealer (FFL) sales. As of 2023, NC private handgun sales no longer require a Pistol Purchase Permit; private long-gun sales never have.
Inspection
Not required

Sales Tax Details

Firearms purchased from an NC dealer (FFL) are subject to 4.75% state sales tax plus local sales tax (combined 6.75–7.5%). Private-party sales between individuals are not subject to NC sales tax.

Inspection Requirements

No state-mandated firearm inspection. Federal background check (NICS via Form 4473) is run by the FFL on dealer sales. Private sales in NC require no background check post-2023 repeal of the pistol-purchase-permit law.

Registration

Registration for this vehicle type is handled by No firearm registration in NC — not the same agency that handles cars in North Carolina. Plan for separate filings.

North Carolina Gun / Firearm Sale — Step-by-Step Checklist

  1. Verify buyer is an NC resident, 18+ for long guns, 21+ for handguns (federal floors)
  2. Confirm buyer is not a federally prohibited person (felon, domestic-violence misdemeanant, adjudicated mentally ill, etc.) — buyer self-attests in writing
  3. Bill of sale: make, model, caliber, serial number, sale price, sale date, both parties' full names/addresses/DOB, both signatures
  4. Include language: "Seller has no reason to believe Buyer is prohibited from possessing firearms under federal or NC law"
  5. For interstate transfers: must go through an FFL in the buyer's home state (federal law)
  6. Keep your copy of the bill of sale indefinitely — it's your proof of transfer if the gun later turns up in a crime
  7. Optional but recommended: route the sale through an FFL for a NICS check ($25–$50)

Common Pitfalls

  • Selling to someone you suspect is prohibited — federal felony (knowing transfer to a prohibited person, 18 U.S.C. § 922(d))
  • Skipping the bill of sale entirely on a post-2023 private handgun transfer — no other record exists, and you're the last documented owner
  • Selling to an out-of-state resident face-to-face — federal law requires interstate transfers go through an FFL in the buyer's state
  • Transferring an NFA item (suppressor, SBR, machine gun) without ATF Form 4 approval — federal felony
  • Assuming a concealed-carry permit substitutes for a NICS check on a dealer sale — only certain state-issued CHPs qualify, and NC CHPs do for FFL sales

Pro Tip

NC's 2023 repeal of the pistol-purchase-permit makes private gun sales easier — and the bill of sale more important than ever, since it's now the entire paper trail.

North Carolina Gun / Firearm Bill of Sale — FAQs

Do I still need a Pistol Purchase Permit in North Carolina?
No — not as of March 29, 2023. The General Assembly repealed N.C.G.S. § 14-402 through Session Law 2023-8, eliminating the long-standing sheriff-issued Pistol Purchase Permit requirement for buying handguns in NC. The repeal applies to both dealer and private sales. Dealer (FFL) sales now use only the federal NICS background check via Form 4473. Private (person-to-person) handgun sales between NC residents now require no permit and no background check — a major shift from pre-2023 law. Long-gun private sales never required a permit.
Is a background check required for a private gun sale in NC?
No. After the 2023 repeal, NC has no state-mandated background check on private firearm transfers between individuals — handguns or long guns. Federal law also does not mandate background checks on private intrastate sales. You can voluntarily route the sale through an FFL who runs a NICS check (cost: typically $25–$50), and many sellers do exactly this for legal cover. Federal law DOES still prohibit knowingly transferring a firearm to a prohibited person, and ignorance is a weak defense — when in doubt, use an FFL.
Can I sell a gun to someone from out of state?
Not directly — federal law (18 U.S.C. § 922) requires interstate firearm transfers to go through a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) in the buyer's state of residence. You ship the gun to an FFL near the buyer; the FFL runs a NICS check on the buyer and completes Form 4473. This applies even to long guns, which used to allow some face-to-face contiguous-state sales — modern practice routes everything through an FFL. Selling face-to-face to a resident of South Carolina, Virginia, Tennessee, or Georgia without an FFL is a federal felony.
What should an NC gun bill of sale include?
Make, model, caliber, serial number (verify it on the firearm), sale price, sale date, full legal name/address/DOB of both buyer and seller, NC driver's license or ID number, and both signatures. Add a buyer attestation: "I am at least 18 (long gun) / 21 (handgun), an NC resident, and not prohibited from possessing firearms under federal or NC law." Have the buyer sign that attestation. Make two originals — keep one indefinitely. Post-2023, this document is the entire chain-of-custody record if law enforcement traces the firearm back to you.
What happens if the gun I sold is later used in a crime?
ATF traces firearms by serial number through the chain of FFLs. If the trace stops with you (last documented FFL purchaser), agents will contact you to ask what happened to it. A signed, dated bill of sale showing the gun was lawfully sold to a specific person on a specific date — with their ID info — is exactly what investigators want. Without it, you're the last known owner and may face questioning, civil liability, or worse. Post-2023, with no permit record either, the bill of sale is your only documentation. Treat it accordingly.

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