California Form BOF 4544A is the Collector In-State Acquisition of Curio or Relic Long Gun Report that licensed Curio and Relic (C&R) collectors must file with the California Department of Justice Bureau of Firearms within five days of acquiring a curio or relic long gun from a private party inside California. The form is the legal record that proves a collector reported the transaction, that the firearm entered the state’s Automated Firearms System (AFS), and that the buyer holds a valid federal Type 03 Federal Firearms License paired with a California Certificate of Eligibility.
Skipping or fumbling this report is not a paperwork annoyance. It is a misdemeanor under California Penal Code § 27565 and a fast track to losing your Certificate of Eligibility, which means losing your right to acquire C&R firearms in California at all. The Bureau of Firearms processes tens of thousands of long gun reports each year, and internal Bureau audits have flagged error rates above 12% on collector-submitted forms, with serial number transcription and seller information leading the rejection list.
- 📋 The exact line-by-line meaning of every field on Form BOF 4544A and what to write in each box
- 🧾 Three real filled-out scenarios you can pattern your own report on
- ⏱ The 5-day deadline, the fee schedule, and the channels you can use to file
- ⚠️ The 10 most common mistakes that get reports rejected and what they cost you
- 🛡 How to keep your Certificate of Eligibility safe by filing cleanly the first time
This guide walks through the current revision of Form BOF 4544A as posted on the California DOJ Bureau of Firearms forms page. Always confirm the revision date in the bottom-left corner of the PDF before filing, because the Bureau periodically updates field labels and barcode positions.
What Form BOF 4544A Is and Who Must File It
Form BOF 4544A is California’s mandatory acquisition report for curio or relic long guns — rifles and shotguns that are at least 50 years old or are listed on the ATF Curios & Relics List — when the buyer is a California-resident collector who holds both a federal Type 03 C&R FFL and a current California Certificate of Eligibility. The Bureau of Firearms uses this report to add the firearm to the buyer’s record in the Automated Firearms System and to log the transfer out of the seller’s record.
The form exists because California treats C&R collectors differently from ordinary private buyers. A regular private-party transfer must run through a licensed dealer using the Dealer Record of Sale (DROS) process. A qualified collector with a valid Certificate of Eligibility, by contrast, may acquire a C&R long gun directly from another private party and self-report the transaction using BOF 4544A under the authority of California Penal Code § 26960.
You must file BOF 4544A if all four of these statements are true. You hold a current federal Type 03 C&R FFL issued by the ATF Federal Firearms Licensing Center. You hold a current California Certificate of Eligibility verified through the Bureau’s COE program. You acquired the long gun from a private party physically located in California. The long gun qualifies as a curio or relic under federal C&R rules.
If the firearm is a handgun, you do not use BOF 4544A. You use Form BOF 4542A, the Collector In-State Acquisition of Curio or Relic Handgun Report, and you must complete the report through a licensed dealer who runs a DROS. If the seller is out of state, you also do not use 4544A — out-of-state acquisitions are handled under federal interstate transfer rules and reported separately. The 4544A lane is narrow on purpose: California resident, California seller, qualifying long gun, qualified collector.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filing BOF 4544A goes faster and cleaner when you gather everything before you open the form. The Bureau routinely rejects reports that are missing a single identifier, and a rejection restarts your 5-day clock at zero risk.
- Your federal C&R FFL (Type 03), because the license number goes in the report header and the Bureau cross-checks it with the ATF database.
- Your California Certificate of Eligibility number, because the Bureau will not process the report without an active COE on file and the number must match exactly.
- A government-issued photo ID (California Driver License or California ID card), because the ID number anchors your identity in the AFS record.
- Your California residence address, because C&R collector privileges only apply to California residents and the address must match your COE record.
- The seller’s full legal name, address, ID type, and ID number, because the firearm is logged out of their record using these details.
- The firearm’s full descriptors: make, model, caliber or gauge, barrel length, overall length, type of action, color, and serial number, because every one of these fields populates AFS.
- The acquisition date, because that date starts the 5-day reporting clock under Penal Code § 27565.
- Proof the firearm qualifies as a C&R, either the manufacture date showing 50+ years or the ATF C&R list citation, because Bureau analysts spot-check this.
- The $19 reporting fee (subject to update — confirm on the Bureau’s fee page), because reports submitted without payment sit unprocessed.
- A clean scan or clear photo of the firearm’s serial number stamp, because if the Bureau later disputes a digit, your photo is your evidence.
If any one of these is missing, stop and find it before you start typing. A report that goes in incomplete is worse than a report that goes in one day later, because rejections create a paper trail that auditors read.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The only authoritative copy of BOF 4544A lives on the California DOJ Bureau of Firearms forms page. Download the PDF directly from that page every time you file. Do not reuse a saved copy from a year ago, because the Bureau updates barcodes, OCR anchors, and field labels without sending notice to license holders.
Most collectors today file through the California Firearms Application Reporting System (CFARS), the Bureau’s online portal. CFARS lets you create an account tied to your COE, submit BOF 4544A as a digital form, pay the fee by credit card, and download a stamped confirmation receipt. The CFARS path is the Bureau’s preferred channel and produces the fastest AFS update — usually within 48 hours.
A paper version of BOF 4544A is still accepted by mail for collectors who cannot use CFARS, although the Bureau strongly discourages it. The paper form is the same PDF posted on the forms page; print it single-sided on white letter paper, complete it in black ink or with a typewriter-style PDF fill, and mail it with a check to the Bureau’s Sacramento address listed on the last page of the form.
If you are a brand-new C&R holder and CFARS will not let you log in, the most common reason is that your COE is still in “issued, not loaded” status. Call the Bureau of Firearms COE unit at (916) 227-7527 and confirm your COE is active in their system before you try the portal again.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form BOF 4544A Line by Line
Form BOF 4544A is divided into three logical zones: the Collector/Purchaser Information block at the top, the Seller Information block in the middle, and the Firearm Description block at the bottom, followed by a certification and signature line. Walk through each field in order. Skipping around is the single biggest cause of mismatched data on the final form.
Field 1: Collector/Purchaser Last Name, First Name, Middle Name
This field asks for your full legal name as it appears on your California Certificate of Eligibility and your driver license. Enter the name in LAST, FIRST, MIDDLE order, in capital letters, with a comma after the last name and a space after the first name. Example: Maria Lopez Hernandez writes LOPEZ, MARIA HERNANDEZ in this box.
If you have a hyphenated last name, keep the hyphen and do not insert a space. If you go by a middle initial only, write the single letter followed by no period — Bureau OCR strips the period anyway. The most common mistake here is writing your married name when your COE still lists your maiden name; the report will fail the COE cross-check and bounce back unprocessed, which the Bureau treats as a non-filing for purposes of the 5-day clock. A misconception worth correcting: this field is not for “the name you usually go by,” it is for the name on your government records, period.
Field 2: Date of Birth
Enter your date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY numeric format with two-digit month, two-digit day, and four-digit year separated by forward slashes. Example: Marcus Chen, born March 4, 1972, writes 03/04/1972 in the date of birth box.
Do not write out the month, do not use dashes, and do not use a two-digit year. CFARS validates this field against your COE record and rejects anything that does not match to the day. The most common mistake is transposing the month and day, especially for collectors who learned the European DD/MM/YYYY format; the consequence is an automatic rejection because the date will not align with your COE. A misconception filers carry: the form does not “auto-correct” obvious typos. If you write 13/04/1972, CFARS does not flip it for you; it errors out.
Field 3: California Driver License or ID Number
This field asks for your eight-character California Driver License number or California Identification Card number issued by the California DMV. Enter the letter in capital form followed by the seven digits, with no spaces and no dashes. Example: Janet Park enters D1234567 if her CDL is D1234567.
If you carry a federal REAL ID-compliant California license, the number you use is still the same eight-character ID printed on the front of the card, not the document discriminator on the back. The most common mistake is using a passport number or a military ID because the collector does not have a current CDL; that is an instant rejection because the field is California-specific. A misconception: “expired but recently renewed” is not the same as “current.” Always use the number on your active card, not the number on the card you just turned in.
Field 4: Residence Address
Enter your full California residence street address, including unit or apartment number, city, county, and ZIP code. Use a physical address, not a P.O. Box. Example: Marcus Chen writes 4821 Walnut Grove Ave, Apt 7, Rosemead, Los Angeles County, 91770.
If your mailing address differs from your physical address, the residence address field is for the physical address where you actually live, because California ties firearm possession privileges to physical residency. The most common mistake is entering a P.O. Box; the consequence is rejection because the Bureau cannot verify residency from a box. A misconception: a vacation home or a second residence does not qualify. The Bureau wants the address that matches your COE and your CDL.
Field 5: California Certificate of Eligibility Number
Enter the multi-digit COE number printed on your current Certificate of Eligibility, exactly as the Bureau issued it, with no leading zeros stripped. Example: Janet Park enters 123456 if her COE certificate reads COE# 123456.
If you cannot find your COE number, log into your CFARS account and pull it from your profile rather than guessing from memory. The most common mistake is entering an expired COE number, which triggers an automatic denial and a referral to the Bureau’s compliance unit; expired COEs are a red flag that often leads to a follow-up call from a Bureau analyst. A misconception: a federal C&R FFL alone is not a COE. Federal and state authority are separate, and California requires both.
Field 6: Federal Firearms License Number (Type 03)
Enter your full 15-character federal C&R FFL number issued by the ATF, formatted exactly as the license shows it, including the dashes. Example: Marcus Chen enters 9-95-XXX-XX-XX-12345 if that matches his Type 03 license.
If your FFL is within 90 days of expiration, renew it before you file because the Bureau cross-checks expiration dates against the ATF database. The most common mistake is dropping a dash or transposing two digits in the middle segment; the consequence is the report sitting in a “manual review” queue for weeks. A misconception: a Type 01 dealer license is not a substitute for a Type 03 collector license on this form. BOF 4544A is for collectors only.
Field 7: Seller’s Last Name, First Name, Middle Name
Enter the seller’s full legal name in LAST, FIRST, MIDDLE order, capital letters, exactly as it appears on the seller’s California Driver License or California ID card. Example: a seller named Robert James Whitaker is entered as WHITAKER, ROBERT JAMES.
Always copy the seller’s name directly from their physical ID at the time of transfer, not from a text message or email. The most common mistake is recording a nickname or a name from a paper bill of sale that the seller wrote casually; the consequence is that the firearm will not properly transfer out of the seller’s AFS record, which can later look like the seller never disposed of it. A misconception: “I trust the seller, I don’t need to see ID” is not acceptable practice. California law and Bureau guidance require ID verification at the point of transfer.
Field 8: Seller’s Date of Birth
Enter the seller’s date of birth in MM/DD/YYYY format, copied from their California ID. Example: a seller born July 22, 1958 is entered as 07/22/1958.
If the seller refuses to share their date of birth, you cannot legally complete the transfer under collector rules — walk away. The most common mistake is leaving this field blank because “the seller didn’t want to give it”; the consequence is an incomplete report that the Bureau will reject and that may flag the transaction for compliance review. A misconception: the seller’s age is verified separately from their identity. The Bureau uses the DOB to confirm the seller is the right person on the AFS record.
Field 9: Seller’s California Driver License or ID Number
Enter the seller’s California Driver License or ID number in the same eight-character format you used for your own. Example: D7654321.
If the seller has just moved to California and only holds an out-of-state license, the seller does not yet have authority to sell a firearm in California as a private party, and BOF 4544A is the wrong form. The most common mistake is recording a license that has expired; the consequence is rejection because the AFS will not match an inactive ID to the seller’s record. A misconception: a Real ID and a standard CDL use the same number format, so do not assume the longer document discriminator on a Real ID is what the form wants.
Field 10: Seller’s Address
Enter the seller’s full California physical residence address, including unit, city, county, and ZIP. Example: 218 Brookhaven Dr, Sacramento, Sacramento County, 95823.
If the seller’s ID lists a different address than where the seller actually lives now, use the address on the ID and note the current address in the comments field if your version of the form provides one. The most common mistake is using the seller’s mailing P.O. Box; the consequence is the same as in your own residence field — rejection. A misconception: the seller’s address does not have to match yours, and the form does not require you to live in the same county.
Field 11: Firearm Make
Enter the firearm’s manufacturer exactly as stamped on the receiver, in capital letters. Example: a Springfield Armory M1 Garand is entered as SPRINGFIELD ARMORY.
If the make on the firearm is an importer mark rather than the original manufacturer, list the original manufacturer in the make field and note the importer in any importer field the form provides. The most common mistake is writing a colloquial name like “Garand” in the make field; Garand is the model, not the make, and Bureau analysts will kick the report back. A misconception: surplus rifles do not always carry the country of origin as the make. A K31, for example, is made by WAFFENFABRIK BERN, not “Switzerland.”
Field 12: Firearm Model
Enter the model designation as printed on the firearm or in the manufacturer’s records. Example: M1 GARAND or MODEL 70.
If the firearm has multiple model designations across its history, use the original factory designation. The most common mistake is using the catalog name from a retailer rather than the receiver-stamped model; the consequence is that the AFS record will not match standard reference data and may be flagged. A misconception: there is no “miscellaneous” model option. Every entry must reflect a real, traceable model.
Field 13: Caliber or Gauge
Enter the caliber or gauge as expressed on the firearm or in standard reference (e.g., 30-06, 7.62X54R, 12 GAUGE). Example: a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 is 7.62X54R.
If the firearm has been re-barreled to a different caliber, enter the current caliber, not the original. The most common mistake is using metric and imperial inconsistently — 7.62 NATO and .308 WIN are not interchangeable for AFS purposes; the consequence is a mismatched record that will haunt later sales or transfers. A misconception: AFS does accept “MULTI” for a few specific multi-caliber firearms, but not as a default escape hatch. Use the actual caliber whenever possible.
Field 14: Barrel Length and Overall Length
Enter the barrel length and overall length in inches, to the nearest quarter inch. Example: an M1 Garand entry reads 24” / 43.5”.
If you do not have a way to measure precisely, use the manufacturer’s published spec rather than guessing. The most common mistake is recording a barrel length under 16 inches on a long gun without realizing that may make the firearm a Short Barreled Rifle requiring NFA registration — BOF 4544A is the wrong path for an SBR. A misconception: “long gun” does not just mean “rifle.” Shotguns belong here too, as long as they meet C&R criteria.
Field 15: Type of Firearm and Action
Select or enter the firearm type (rifle, shotgun) and action type (bolt, lever, semi-auto, pump, single shot). Example: RIFLE / SEMI-AUTO for an M1 Garand.
If the action is unusual (e.g., straight-pull bolt), pick the closest standard category and clarify in the comments. The most common mistake is leaving the action field blank because the collector “wasn’t sure”; the consequence is a Bureau call asking for clarification, which delays AFS update by days. A misconception: this field does not determine whether the firearm is an “assault weapon” under California law. C&R-listed firearms have their own pathway, but you must still confirm the specific firearm is not a California-defined assault weapon.
Field 16: Color
Enter the dominant color or finish of the firearm: BLUED, PARKERIZED, STAINLESS, WOOD STOCK / BLUED METAL. Example: a typical M1 Garand reads WOOD / PARKERIZED.
If the firearm has been refinished in a non-original color, list the current finish. The most common mistake is leaving this field blank because “the form already has a make and model”; the consequence is a rejected report because the Bureau treats color as a required descriptor. A misconception: camo patterns are not “multi-colored.” Use the dominant base color.
Field 17: Serial Number
Enter the serial number exactly as stamped, including all letters, digits, and any prefix or suffix, in capital letters with no spaces unless they appear on the firearm itself. Example: 3456789 or SA-3456789.
If the firearm has multiple serial numbers (common on imported surplus), use the receiver number, not the bolt or stock number. The most common mistake is mistaking the letter O for the digit 0 or the letter I for the digit 1; the consequence is an AFS mismatch that can flag the firearm as “unaccounted for” in the seller’s record and “phantom” in yours. A misconception: leading zeros do not “drop off.” Enter every character that is stamped, including a leading zero.
Field 18: Acquisition Date
Enter the date you took physical possession of the firearm in MM/DD/YYYY format. Example: 05/12/2026.
If the seller delivered the firearm before you signed paperwork, the acquisition date is the date of physical transfer, not the date of the bill of sale. The most common mistake is back-dating the acquisition date to make the 5-day window look better; the consequence can be a perjury referral because you certify this date under penalty of perjury at the bottom of the form. A misconception: weekends and holidays count toward the 5 days, with no automatic extension.
Field 19: Certification and Signature
Read the certification language carefully. By signing, you swear under penalty of perjury under California law that every statement on the form is true and that you meet the eligibility criteria of a California C&R collector. Sign in blue or black ink (paper) or apply your CFARS digital signature (online), and date the signature in MM/DD/YYYY format.
If you are filing through CFARS, the digital signature box is generated by the portal after you authenticate with your COE credentials. The most common mistake is signing the form with a date that does not match the acquisition date logic — e.g., signing before you acquired the firearm. The consequence is automatic rejection. A misconception: an electronic typed name is not always a valid signature; CFARS uses a token-based digital signature that ties to your account, and a paper form requires a real ink signature.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
These three filled-out walkthroughs show how three different collectors handle BOF 4544A start to finish. Match your own facts to the scenario closest to yours.
Scenario 1: Marcus Chen Buys an M1 Garand at a California Gun Show
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Collector Name | CHEN, MARCUS LEE |
| Date of Birth | 03/04/1972 |
| CDL Number | D1234567 |
| Residence Address | 4821 Walnut Grove Ave, Apt 7, Rosemead, Los Angeles County, 91770 |
| COE Number | 123456 |
| Federal C&R FFL | 9-95-XXX-XX-XX-12345 |
| Seller Name | WHITAKER, ROBERT JAMES |
| Seller CDL Number | D7654321 |
| Firearm Make / Model | SPRINGFIELD ARMORY / M1 GARAND |
| Caliber | 30-06 |
| Serial Number | 3456789 |
| Acquisition Date | 05/12/2026 |
Marcus files through CFARS the same evening, pays the $19 fee by credit card, and downloads the stamped confirmation. His AFS record updates within 36 hours.
Scenario 2: Janet Park Buys a Mosin-Nagant 91/30 from a Neighbor
| Form Section | What Janet Enters |
|---|---|
| Collector Name | PARK, JANET MICHELLE |
| Date of Birth | 11/19/1965 |
| CDL Number | D9988776 |
| Residence Address | 218 Brookhaven Dr, Sacramento, Sacramento County, 95823 |
| COE Number | 789012 |
| Federal C&R FFL | 9-95-XXX-XX-XX-67890 |
| Seller Name | NGUYEN, DAVID THANH |
| Seller CDL Number | D5544332 |
| Firearm Make / Model | TULA ARSENAL / 91/30 |
| Caliber | 7.62X54R |
| Serial Number | 9130-AB-44217 |
| Acquisition Date | 04/02/2026 |
Janet files BOF 4544A through CFARS three days after the transfer and keeps a printed copy of the receipt with her bound book.
Scenario 3: Aisha Rahman Buys a Pre-1964 Winchester Model 70 from an Estate Sale
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Collector Name | RAHMAN, AISHA NOOR |
| Date of Birth | 07/22/1980 |
| CDL Number | D2233445 |
| Residence Address | 945 Pacific Crest Ln, San Diego, San Diego County, 92109 |
| COE Number | 345678 |
| Federal C&R FFL | 9-95-XXX-XX-XX-24680 |
| Seller Name | CARLSON, MARGARET ANNE (EXECUTOR) |
| Seller CDL Number | D6677889 |
| Firearm Make / Model | WINCHESTER / MODEL 70 |
| Caliber | 30-06 |
| Serial Number | G123456 |
| Acquisition Date | 05/01/2026 |
Aisha notes in the comments that the seller is the executor of the estate and attaches a copy of the letters testamentary to her CFARS submission.
How to File the Completed Form
Once the form is filled, you have two filing channels available, and the Bureau strongly prefers the online channel. Pick the channel that fits your situation, but file inside the 5-day window no matter which path you choose.
Online via CFARS. Log into the California Firearms Application Reporting System using your COE-linked account, select “Collector Long Gun Acquisition,” fill in the digital BOF 4544A, upload any supporting documents (estate paperwork, importer marks photos), pay the $19 fee by Visa, MasterCard, or Discover, and submit. CFARS issues a confirmation number and a stamped PDF receipt instantly. Save the PDF — it is your proof of filing. Processing time to AFS is typically 24 to 72 hours.
By mail. Print the completed BOF 4544A on white letter paper, sign in black or blue ink, attach a check or money order for $19 made payable to “California Department of Justice,” and mail the package by USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt to the address printed on the back of the form (currently the California DOJ Bureau of Firearms, P.O. Box 820200, Sacramento, CA 94203-0200, but always confirm on the forms page). Keep the certified mail receipt and the green return card. Processing time is typically 4 to 8 weeks.
In person. The Bureau does not accept walk-in BOF 4544A submissions at its Sacramento headquarters. Do not drive there to drop off the form; you will be redirected to CFARS or to the mail channel.
Fax. The Bureau does not accept BOF 4544A by fax. Any fax submission is treated as a non-filing and will not stop the 5-day clock.
Whichever channel you use, your proof of filing is the document you want to keep with your bound book of C&R acquisitions. CFARS confirmations are the cleanest proof; certified mail receipts work but are weaker. Without proof, you have no defense if the Bureau later claims your report never arrived.
What Happens After You File
Once the Bureau receives a clean BOF 4544A, an analyst loads the firearm into the Automated Firearms System under your name and Certificate of Eligibility number, and removes it from the seller’s AFS record. You will receive a confirmation through CFARS or, for paper filings, a mailed acknowledgment letter. Keep this acknowledgment with the firearm’s record in your bound book.
If the Bureau spots a problem — a serial number that doesn’t match an existing AFS entry, a mismatched seller record, an expired COE — an analyst will mail a deficiency notice or call you. You typically have 30 days to cure the deficiency. Ignoring a deficiency notice is treated as a non-filing and can trigger a Penal Code § 27565 referral.
Once the firearm is in AFS under your name, you can lawfully possess and transport it as a California C&R holder. You can also later transfer it to another qualified collector or, with appropriate process, sell it through a dealer using DROS. The AFS entry stays with the firearm for the rest of its life in California.
If you ever sell, gift, or otherwise dispose of the firearm, you must again notify the Bureau using the appropriate disposition report so the firearm leaves your AFS record. Failing to file the disposition report is one of the most common ways a collector ends up looking like the “current owner” of a firearm they sold years ago.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
- Filing past the 5-day window. Late reports are a misdemeanor under Penal Code § 27565 and can cost you your COE.
- Using an expired COE number. The report bounces and the Bureau may flag your file for compliance review.
- Using an expired Type 03 FFL. The ATF cross-check fails and the report sits in manual review for weeks.
- Transposing serial number characters. A single wrong digit creates a phantom firearm in AFS that haunts every later transfer.
- Writing a P.O. Box as residence. The Bureau rejects on residency grounds because P.O. Boxes do not establish California residency.
- Recording a nickname for the seller. The seller’s AFS record will not clear and the Bureau may suspect a straw transaction.
- Using BOF 4544A for a handgun. Handguns require BOF 4542A and a dealer-run DROS — the wrong form is a non-filing.
- Using BOF 4544A for an out-of-state seller. Interstate transfers fall under federal rules; this form is California-only.
- Skipping the color or barrel length field. The Bureau treats every descriptor as required, and blanks trigger rejection.
- Forgetting to pay the $19 fee. A report without payment is not processed, and the 5-day clock keeps running.
- Backdating the acquisition date. This is perjury territory under the certification language and can lead to criminal referral.
- Mailing the form without certified tracking. If the Bureau says it never arrived, you have no proof.
Do’s and Don’ts
- Do file through CFARS whenever possible, because it produces an instant timestamp and the cleanest proof of filing.
- Do verify your COE status before you start, because an expired COE makes the entire transaction unlawful, not just the report.
- Do photograph the firearm’s serial number stamp at the time of transfer, because that photo is your evidence if the Bureau later disputes a digit.
- Do copy the seller’s information directly from a current California ID, because hearsay or text-message data is a recipe for rejection.
- Do keep a printed copy of every CFARS confirmation in your bound book, because paper survives platform outages and account lockouts.
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Do confirm the firearm is C&R-listed or 50+ years old before you treat it as eligible, because non-C&R firearms cannot use this lane at all.
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Don’t use BOF 4544A for handguns, because handguns require BOF 4542A and a dealer DROS.
- Don’t treat a federal C&R FFL as a substitute for a California COE, because California requires both.
- Don’t wait until day 5 to file, because a CFARS outage on day 5 still leaves you legally late.
- Don’t edit the PDF after you sign it, because any post-signature change voids the certification.
- Don’t assume the Bureau will call you about a small mistake, because most rejected reports come back as cold deficiency notices weeks later.
- Don’t sell or gift the firearm without filing the matching disposition report, because the Bureau will keep treating you as the owner.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing on your own:
- Cost. The Bureau fee is $19; a paid filing service or attorney adds far more.
- Speed. A focused collector can complete CFARS in under 20 minutes.
- Privacy. No third party sees your collection records.
- Learning curve. You understand your own AFS history better when you file your own reports.
- Control. You pick the timing within the 5-day window and you keep your own proof.
Cons of filing on your own:
- No safety net. If you mis-enter a serial number, no one catches it before submission.
- Edge cases are hard. Estate transfers, importer-marked surplus, and re-barreled firearms can confuse first-time filers.
- Compliance risk. A perjury misstep on the certification line can trigger criminal exposure.
- Time. Reading every field carefully takes longer than handing it to a service.
- Audit pressure. If the Bureau later audits your bound book, errors in your own filings are entirely yours to defend.
BOF 4544A vs. BOF 4542A at a Glance
| Form Feature | BOF 4544A vs. BOF 4542A |
|---|---|
| Firearm type covered | BOF 4544A is for long guns; BOF 4542A is for handguns. |
| Filing channel | BOF 4544A goes through CFARS or mail directly to the Bureau; BOF 4542A must run through a licensed dealer’s DROS. |
| Fees | BOF 4544A is $19; BOF 4542A involves DROS fees plus dealer charges. |
| Wait period | BOF 4544A has no 10-day wait for the collector; BOF 4542A still triggers a 10-day waiting period. |
| Required licenses | Both require a Type 03 FFL and a current COE. |
FAQs
Do I have to be a California resident to file BOF 4544A?
Yes. California’s collector privilege is tied to residency. Out-of-state collectors cannot use BOF 4544A and must comply with federal interstate transfer rules instead.
Can I use BOF 4544A for a handgun?
No. Handgun acquisitions require Form BOF 4542A and must run through a licensed dealer using the DROS process.
What is the deadline to file BOF 4544A?
Yes, there is a hard deadline: 5 calendar days from the date you take physical possession, under Penal Code § 27565. Weekends count.
Can I file BOF 4544A by fax?
No. The Bureau does not accept fax filings. Use CFARS or mail.
Do I write my full middle name or just the initial in Field 1?
Yes, write it as it appears on your COE. If your COE uses the full middle name, use the full middle name; if it uses an initial, use the initial.
Should I include leading zeros in the serial number field?
Yes. Enter every character stamped on the receiver, including leading zeros, because AFS treats 0123 and 123 as different firearms.
Do I need both a federal C&R FFL and a California COE?
Yes. California requires both. A federal C&R FFL alone does not authorize private-party C&R acquisitions in California.
Can I use a P.O. Box for the residence address in Field 4?
No. Field 4 requires a physical California residence address. P.O. Boxes are rejected on residency grounds.
What if my COE expired between the acquisition and the filing?
No, the transfer is not lawful in that case. Your COE must be active on the acquisition date, not just on the filing date.
Is the $19 fee refundable if the Bureau rejects my report?
No. The fee covers Bureau processing whether the report is accepted or rejected, so file cleanly the first time.
Can my spouse file BOF 4544A on my behalf?
No. The certification line is a personal oath under penalty of perjury and must be signed by the collector named on the form.
Do I have to file BOF 4544A for a firearm I inherited?
Yes, if the inherited firearm is a C&R long gun and the transfer happened inside California from a California estate. Out-of-state inheritances follow different rules under federal law and the ATF C&R guidance.
What happens if I file BOF 4544A on day 6?
Yes, you can still file, but the late filing is a misdemeanor under Penal Code § 27565 and can jeopardize your COE renewal. File anyway — non-filing is worse than late filing.
Can I use BOF 4544A for a Short Barreled Rifle?
No. SBRs are NFA-regulated and follow ATF NFA registration rules, not the California C&R collector pathway.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California Form CR-181 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California BOF Gun Show Vendor License + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California BOF Operation of Law Firearms Acquisition + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form BOF 1015 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form BOF 4542A (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form BOF 8016 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out ATF Form 23 (w/Examples) + FAQs