EFT file vs. FD-258 cards
An EFT file is an electronic fingerprint file, a digital record of your prints in the standard format used for electronic fingerprint exchange. It is created from a digital capture, and you upload it with your eForm. An FD-258 is the standard FBI applicant fingerprint card, the paper card you mail in with a paper application.
Both carry the same fingerprints. What differs is how they reach ATF. With an EFT file, there is no card to mail, lose or damage in transit, and the capture is quality-checked on screen before the file is created. With a card, the prints are only reviewed after the card arrives. ATF’s own guidance on electronic filing is on the ATF eForms page.
Which ATF form uses which
| Your filing | Fingerprint format |
|---|---|
| Form 1 or Form 4 filed through ATF eForms | EFT file upload accepted |
| Form 1 or Form 4 filed on paper | FD-258 fingerprint cards |
| FFL application (Form 7) | FD-258 cards, unless ATF instructions say otherwise |
If you are not sure how you are filing, check with your dealer or trust attorney before your appointment. Getting the format wrong is one of the easiest ways to lose time on an NFA application, so it is worth confirming first. A NICS firearm appeal is a different process again; see our NICS appeal fingerprinting page.
Gun trusts and responsible persons
When an NFA item is filed through a trust or other entity, each responsible person needs their own fingerprints. Each person gets their own EFT file or their own cards, depending on how the application is filed. We can fingerprint a whole trust in one visit, which keeps everyone on the same timeline. If a dealer or FFL/SOT regularly sends customers for prints, call us to set up a simpler process.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Getting cards for an eForm. If you are filing electronically, an EFT file is usually the simpler route. Mailing cards for an eForm adds time and another chance for something to go wrong.
- Getting an EFT file for a paper form. A paper application needs FD-258 cards. An EFT file cannot be attached to a paper form.
- Forgetting a responsible person. Check the trust documents for everyone who counts as a responsible person before you book, so the whole group can be printed together.
- Relying on old instructions. ATF updates its forms and systems. Check the current instructions for your form rather than a forum post or an old checklist.
How the appointment works
Our ATF eFile fingerprinting service is live now at our Kansas City office. When you book, tell us which form you are filing and whether it is an eForm or paper. We verify your ID, capture your fingerprints digitally, check the quality on screen, and provide your EFT file for upload with your eForm. Most appointments take about fifteen minutes.
If you need cards instead, our ATF, FFL and NFA fingerprinting service provides FD-258 cards for paper filings, and our FD-258 ink card page covers the card service in more detail. We serve filers from both the Missouri and Kansas sides of the metro. We cannot promise ATF will accept any submission, because ATF controls acceptance, but we will match the format to the instructions for your form.
Send us your agency instructions, ORI number, application requirements or fingerprint request. We’ll help you identify the correct fingerprinting method before your appointment.
What to bring
- A valid, unexpired government-issued photo ID
- Which form you are filing (Form 1, Form 4 or Form 7) and whether it is an eForm or paper
- The fingerprint instructions for your form, if you have them
- For a trust or entity: each responsible person, each with their own ID
- Any cards your dealer or ATF provided, if you are filing on paper
What it costs
- ATF / EFT Fingerprinting: $75 per person.
- FD-258 Fingerprinting (ink cards): $45, plus $20 for each additional card. Cards and a mailing envelope are supplied.
Filing for several responsible persons? Each person is priced individually. Call us and we will quote the full trust before you book.