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nitis

Handloader
Dec 20, 2008
658
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I recently contacted my local FFL whom I would use should I ever need to do a transfer. I was shocked at what these guys charge to do a transfer. One was $50 plus dros of $25. Another Was $80 plus dros and said he was going up to 95 after the first of the year.

Now I do live in California where everything is just a little more difficult but man.

However I came accross something curious as the guy who told me 50 also stated he would have to collect sales tax even though the purchase was made out of state. I ran that by the guy who was charging 80 and he said that there was no such thing. I do know my uncle in nevada told me that they passed a law there that you have to pay tax on this type of transaction.

Anyone know the truth or can shed some light on who is wrong or right?

Also what exactly is involved in the dros or background check ? Does this actually link your name to a serial number of said gun in a database somewhere? I know for handguns this is a must but is it the same on long guns?

Just trying understand how it all works.
 
I can't speak for all states, but many states, including Alabama where I live, have adopted a philosophy of sales tax applying to anything you purchase via delivery to the state. On our state income tax forms (don't get me started...) there is a line regarding how much you purchased from catalogs and the like. Then they charge you the state sales tax on that amount against your state income tax bill. I'm a tax hating son of a gun, for sure, and this is just one more way they get you. I have a friend who is buying land in Belize as we speak, for the time when, as he calls it, "...the revolution breaks out." Some days I wonder if he knows something I don't. If I could afford a good charter fishing boat, I'd move to the islands in a minute, that's for sure, these days.
 
Here in Colorado I have a guy that will do it for $20.00. I think sportsmans does it for about $40.00. But remember you have to pay a FFL on each side...so now you are up to about $80.00. I have no idea what a dros is.
 
dros is the background check or whatever you want to call it. What do you mean you have to pay an ffl on both ends?
 
Generally, the shipper pays the first ffl, the buyer the second. Oh, and here in Alabama, the price range for processing one through is anywhere from $15 to $65. You can guess who I'd use, can't you?
 
Like Dubyam said. Unless you are buying it from an FFL, someone has to pay a ffl to ship, and someone pays an FFL to it pickup.
 
It is not required to mail/ship something from and FFL, contrary to dealers trying to make an extra 40-50 bucks. You can mail/ship a firearm to an FFL with the signed FFL packaged with the gun.

The buyer, upon receipt, is responsible to pay the FFL for the background check and whatever fee the FFL holder charges. It costs 25 bucks here but since I'm military, the FFL dealer charges me $20 total out the door with my new gun.
 
YoteSmoker":c4eyf77k said:
It is not required to mail/ship something from and FFL, contrary to dealers trying to make an extra 40-50 bucks. You can mail/ship a firearm to an FFL with the signed FFL packaged with the gun.

The buyer, upon receipt, is responsible to pay the FFL for the background check and whatever fee the FFL holder charges. It costs 25 bucks here but since I'm military, the FFL dealer charges me $20 total out the door with my new gun.
Click to expand...

you are right on that you dont have to be an ffl to ship just have the info from the one you are shipping to
 
Calif has a used tax (same rate as sales tax) for out of state sales on the books from vendors. If the FFL is a vendor tax is owed so assume guy who want to charge you for sale tax is playing it safe.
 
The best I can do around here is $75 and they have started to collect sales tax also. Yes the background check will tie your name etc to that firearm(serial # and other info) be it a pistol or long gun. No way around it thru a dealer. Even when it is a private party transfer thru a dealer as required by law. Welcome to big brother.
 
Shooters Pro Shop only charges for the background check, which in Oregon is $10, and only because that is what they charge us. So, if you are located in Central Oregon come on in. :grin:
 
Antelope_Sniper":2nhlpddd said:
Like Dubyam said. Unless you are buying it from an FFL, someone has to pay a ffl to ship, and someone pays an FFL to it pickup.
Click to expand...

If you sell a rifle or shot gun, lets say on gun broker, you have to ship it to the buyers FFL for the transfer. You don't have to take it to an FFL to ship it to another FFL. You can package it yourself and mail it from the USPS to the buyers FFL to do the transfer.
If you are going hunting in another state you can mail your gun to where you are going rather than taking it with you on the plane.
The only time an FFL needs to be involved in the shipment of a rifle or shotgun is when there is a transfer in ownership.
Hand guns are a different animal and I don't remember all the details. If my memory serves me the Post office is the only one that will ship a hand gun but they will only recieve a hand gun to ship from an FFL.
 
ok looks like we got the shipping figured out what about the sales tax?

I am thinking that maybe it has to do with if the person with the FFL is a retailermaybe they have to show it in their inventory therefore resulting in the need to collect the tax?

I know if you put a gun on consignment in a shop if it does not sell you have to pay the dros and wait 10 days since it had to be counted in the inventory of the ffl.
 
It was better when all this was only a problem in communist countries. But then I guess it still is. :?
Greg
 
Greg Nolan":39gffm2z said:
It was better when all this was only a problem in communist countries. But then I guess it still is. :?
Greg
Click to expand...

Thats great. You hit the nail on the head.
I was starting to laugh as I was realizing it's true and not that funny.
 
It was better when all this was only a problem in communist countries. But then I guess it still is.
Greg
Click to expand...

Senor Chavez congratulates the USA on its selection of a Communist for a president.

I was starting to laugh as I was realizing it's true and not that funny.
Click to expand...

T'ain't funny, McGee.
 
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