ATF/DOJ audits - what to look out for....

[EBR Works]

Let's make this thread a discussion of the kind of stuff encountered during ATF/DOJ audits. I think that this would be helpful to the newer FFLs here if you guys would share your experiences.

Common "gotchas", omissions, WTF moments would be great.

I have not been audited...yet. So I have nothing to add other than the funny comic..


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[kemasa]

Well, first is know the calendar, there are only 28 days in Feb, so if the inspector goes by the day of the month and you have a customer who waits until the last minute, the inspector might think that it exceeded 30 days. You don't have to turn in all your paperwork if you move and they issue a new FFL number.

The main thing is to make sure that you mark the proceed box, typically when you check the status just before delivery of the firearm. Go through all your paperwork to make sure that everything is signed and such, just like the inspector will. Doing this on a monthly basis is a good idea.

If you don't know exactly what firearms you have, do an inventory every so often. Missing firearms is not a good thing. If you ship a firearm and forget to log where you sent it, you could have a problem. I keep ALL paperwork with the shipping, including a printout that it was delivered, which means I have multiple sources of all information.

[Direct Action Solutions]

If using an electronic A&D book, make sure it is up to date with the BATF's constantly changing requirements. Remember that 07FFL's have different requirements than an 01 or 03.

[FortCourageArmory]

We check DROS paperwork after it is completed and again when gun is delivered and one final time when entering the info into our A&D book. This usually catches any mistakes before the auditor finds them. Like Kemasa said, do inventory at least twice a year (more is better but dependant on staffing and inventory). Missing guns are a real headache. Also, if you make a mistake, it's better you catch it and correct it before you are audited.

Your first audit the ATF will generally be more forgiving since you will be new to this. As long as you present yourself as trying to do the right thing, you shouldn't have any/many issues. And if you do, correct them ASAP and the ATF will be OK. The auditors I have met so far have not been scalp hunters, just government employees doing their jobs.

[BannedinBritain]

You will be descended upon by black helicopters and armored vehicles!