Tennessee Firearm Bill of Sale
Tennessee does not require a bill of sale, but the Tennessee Department of Revenue recommends one. Fill in the form below and download a free, one-page Tennessee firearm bill of sale PDF that includes everything the Tennessee Department of Revenue looks for. Nothing you type leaves your browser.
Seller
Buyer
Firearm details
Price and terms
How to sell a firearm in Tennessee
A firearm bill of sale records a private gun sale: the make, model, caliber and serial number, the price, the date, and a statement from each party that the sale is legal where it is taking place. It is the seller's proof that the firearm left their possession on a specific date.
Seller steps
- Confirm you hold clear ownership. If a lender is on the title, get the lien release before you list it.
- Agree on the price and fill in the Tennessee firearm bill of sale above with the buyer. Record the serial number.
- Both parties sign and each keeps a copy. Tennessee does not require a notary.
- Check Tennessee's private-sale rules. If the state requires a background check or a licensed-dealer transfer, complete that step before the firearm changes hands.
- Hand over the firearm and keep your signed copy of the bill of sale for your records.
Buyer steps
- Check the description against the firearm itself before you sign.
- Keep the signed bill of sale with your records; it is your proof of ownership and purchase price.
- If you bought it for a business, give the bill of sale to your bookkeeper for the asset record.
Before you sign
- Copy the serial number exactly; letters and numbers like O/0 and I/1 cause problems.
- Check your state's private-sale rules first. Several states require a background check through a licensed dealer for private sales.
- Record a government ID number for the buyer only if your state requires it; otherwise ID type and state is enough.
- Both parties sign and keep a copy.
Why a bill of sale matters for a firearm
- Proves the date the firearm changed hands if it later turns up somewhere it should not.
- Records the serial number so the buyer can show lawful ownership.
- Includes a buyer eligibility statement, which many sellers insist on.
- Some states require private sales to go through a licensed dealer; the bill of sale travels with that paperwork.
Want both parties to walk away with a signed copy and a notary page ready? The $9 ready-to-sign pack adds them.
Tennessee at a glance
- Bill of sale
- Not required, strongly recommended
- Notary
- Notarization optional
- Official state form
- None published; any signed bill of sale is accepted
- Where the buyer registers
- Tennessee Department of Revenue (www.tn.gov/revenue/title-and-registration.html)
- License plates
- Stay with seller
Tennessee county clerks title a used vehicle on the assigned title and odometer statement; a notarized bill of sale is required only when the seller has no title and the buyer applies for certification of ownership. Gifts and low-price sales use the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers. Plates stay with the seller.
Checked October 2026 against the state's own guidance. Rules change; confirm before you file.
Other Tennessee forms
- Tennessee Vehicle Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Motorcycle Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Boat Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Trailer Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Mobile Home Bill of Sale
- Tennessee RV Bill of Sale
- Tennessee ATV / UTV Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Dirt Bike Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Golf Cart Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Jet Ski Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Snowmobile Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Scooter / Moped Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Equipment Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Tractor Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Horse Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Dog Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Livestock Bill of Sale
- Tennessee General Bill of Sale
- Tennessee Business Bill of Sale
Firearm Bill of Sale in other states
Tennessee firearm bill of sale questions
Is a bill of sale required to sell a firearm in Tennessee?+
Tennessee does not require a bill of sale, but the Tennessee Department of Revenue recommends one. Tennessee county clerks title a used vehicle on the assigned title and odometer statement; a notarized bill of sale is required only when the seller has no title and the buyer applies for certification of ownership. Gifts and low-price sales use the Affidavit of Non-Dealer Transfers. Plates stay with the seller. Tennessee has no mandatory form, so any complete, signed bill of sale like the one generated here is accepted.
Does a Tennessee firearm bill of sale need to be notarized?+
Tennessee does not require notarization. Two signatures are enough. If you want extra certainty, the ready-to-sign pack includes a notary acknowledgment page you can use anyway.
Does the buyer need to file a firearm bill of sale in Tennessee?+
No. Firearms are not titled or registered with the state, so there is nothing to file. The signed bill of sale is the ownership record; each party keeps a copy. Check Tennessee's private-sale rules, since some states require a licensed-dealer transfer or background check.
Is a bill of sale required for a private gun sale?+
Federal law does not require one for sales between residents of the same state, but a growing number of states require private sales to go through a licensed dealer with a background check. Check your state's rules on the state page before selling.
Should a firearm bill of sale be notarized?+
It is not required anywhere, but some sellers choose to notarize it for a stronger record. The ready-to-sign pack includes a notary block.