NFA branch not cashing tax stamp checks?

[MCMXI]

I sent in six form 4s for a friend at the end of March and two more for him in June. The six were sent with a check for $1200 and the two with a check for $400 but neither check has been cashed yet . I called the ATF yesterday and a woman told me that they're processing end of March forms now and that I should call back in a week. However, I'm really surprised that the checks haven't been cashed. Typically they get cashed within a week of arrival. Any ideas? The same woman told me that the forms get opened in a different building and then they're sent over to another building with information stating "paid". She mentioned that some people have received tax stamps without ever having a check cashed. This is messed up!

 

[Acera]

She mentioned that some people have received tax stamps without ever having a check cashed. This is messed up!

Why can't I be that lucky...........................

 

[medalguy]

It's the government. Of course it's messed up.

 

[CraigC]

My check was deposited March 14th after having been sent a week prior. Haven't looked for the one I sent the day before the deadline.

 

[kell490]

I wonder if they figure out the stamp was never paid for can they come back on you. ATF is sneaky that way some big collectors years ago got raided and million dollar collections confiscated only to find out each one was stamped but took weeks in court rooms to get them back only to find the ATF busted and bashed them up keeping them piled up in a locker.

 

[rb288]

Well, I sent 1 sbr, 1 sbs, and 2 suppressors in the first of July and had all 4 checks cashed within a week of sending up.
Maybe, it has something to do with putting multiple forms on one check.
Unfortunately, you may not know whether they have them for a month or so, until they get entered into their system.
And, yes, I have heard that some people have never had their checks cashed.

 

[jmorris]

IIRC the checks always cashed inside 14 days for me, might be another 4 months before they went "pending" but they opened them up and got the money right away.

 

[giggitygiggity]

I mailed in a Form 4 on 11 July to beat the 41F postmark deadline. It arrived on 13 July and the ATF charged my credit card on 18 July. Amazing how they can open a package, look at the credit card numbers, take your money, and then wait around for 6-12 months before approving your permission slip (tax stamp application). They should be taking my money only when approving my stamp. They probably charge right away so credit card numbers don't become outdated or checks voided by the time they get around to processing the application. Regardless, their lack of timliness should not be made everyone else's problem.

 

[CraigC]

My last one was sent the 12th and cashed the 20th. Comes up as an electronic transaction, rather than a check.

 

[Swing]

Every form I've ever done (F1/F4) either had the check cashed within a few days it was received. Or, if eForms, it hit my credit card instantly. That includes the F1 I put in less than 48-hours before 41F went into force. So, this is a new one to me.

 

[bikemutt]

I've never had a check/credit card not clear in days with ATF.

 

[Theohazard]

I don't know if this is the cause of your problem, but I can tell you that our shop has had issues in the past with bundling multiple submissions together with one large check or one copy of the trust, even though the ATF tells you to do it that way.

It's not a good idea to send one large check or just one copy of your trust for multiple items; once in a while the submissions get split up and then they each don't have a corresponding check or trust copy to go with it. We had the ATF flat-out deny one customer's silencer and then approve the other, all because he sent in one $400 check and one copy of his trust for two items.

I know it works right most of the time, but we've learned to always send in a separate $200 check and trust copy for each submission. There's no reason to make it easier for the ATF to mess up.

 

[MCMXI]

It's not a good idea to send one large check or just one copy of your trust for multiple items; once in a while the submissions get split up and then they each don't have a corresponding check or trust copy to go with it.

When it was time to submit the six Form 4s I called the NFA branch and was told to include two copies of the trust, six form 4s with copies of each, a check for $1,200 and a cover letter explaining the $1,200 check. I did all that and now am concerned since there may be no way to trace the application. I have a hard time believing that they wouldn't cash the check, even if they're not sure what it's for.

 

[Charles S]

This may or may not be relevant to the discussion. I mailed two Form 4s (individual) with one $400 check on July 13th. The check went through as an electronic transaction today (July 26th). I know my timing sucks, but it took forever to get the Omega I ordered. While waiting on the Omega I found a Harvester and purchased that.

 

[MCMXI]

Some good news for my buddy today. I called the NFA branch this morning and according to the nice lady all six Form 4s went "pending" on 3/9. She informed me that according to their records the check for $1,200 was cashed on 3/29. That's a relief to put it mildly. I'm not sure why my buddy's bank shows the checks ($1,200 and $400) as not being cashed but maybe he's lucky.