Tennessee Firearm Bill of Sale
Tennessee exempts occasional sales of used or second-hand firearms by people not engaged in the firearm business from the state's dealer background-check requirement, so an occasional lawful intrastate private transfer generally needs neither an FFL nor a state background check. It's a separate state offense to knowingly sell or transfer a firearm to someone you know is prohibited by state or federal law, and a separate offense for that prohibited buyer to knowingly attempt the purchase.
A Bill of Sale still earns its place at the meetup. It's the buyer's and seller's own record of what was sold, to whom, and when — useful if a firearm is ever reported lost or stolen, if a question comes up about who owned it on a given date, or simply so both sides have something in writing beyond a handshake.
This Tennessee-specific template mirrors the fields Tennessee gun owners actually need: full party details, the firearm's make, model, caliber, and serial number, the sale terms, and an eligibility acknowledgment written around Tennessee's private-sale rules.
No printing required. Both parties can complete and sign the Bill of Sale from their phones when you meet, then receive signed PDF copies by email.
Prefer paper instead? Download the blank Tennessee template, print it, and bring it to the meeting.
Download Tennessee PDF TemplateTennessee private-sale law snapshot
Background check: Tennessee exempts occasional sales of used or second-hand firearms by people not engaged in the firearm business from the state dealer background-check requirement.
Bill of Sale requirement: A bill of sale is not generally required for a lawful occasional intrastate private transfer, though it cannot cure an illegal transfer.
An occasional lawful intrastate private transfer generally needs neither an FFL nor a state background check.
The exemption applies to occasional transfers by people not engaged in the firearm business. Verify identity, residency, age, and eligibility; interstate transfers ordinarily require an FFL.
It is a separate state offense to knowingly sell or otherwise transfer a firearm to someone the seller knows is prohibited by state or federal law from owning, possessing, or purchasing one, and a separate offense for the prohibited buyer to knowingly attempt the purchase. A seller who transfers a firearm to a person the seller knows has been judicially committed to a mental institution or adjudicated a mental defective is likewise exposed unless that person's rights have been restored.
A parent, guardian, or other adult who intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly provides a handgun to a juvenile, or who permits a juvenile to possess one, can face liability if the adult knows of a substantial risk the juvenile will use it to commit a felony; the general juvenile handgun-possession ban has separate defenses for supervised hunting, licensed hunting or trapping, firearms-safety instruction, and organized competition.
When to use a Tennessee Bill of Sale
- Confirm both parties are Tennessee residents — an in-state private sale is treated differently under federal law than a sale to an out-of-state resident, which generally has to go through an FFL.
- Confirm the buyer is not someone you know is prohibited by state or federal law, including someone judicially committed to a mental institution or adjudicated a mental defective whose rights have not been restored.
- Don't rely on the private-sale exemption if the activity amounts to dealing rather than an occasional sale.
- Don't provide a handgun to a juvenile, or permit one to possess it, if you know of a substantial risk it will be used to commit a felony — the general juvenile handgun-possession ban has separate defenses for supervised hunting, licensed hunting or trapping, safety instruction, and organized competition.
- Record the firearm's make, model, caliber or gauge, and serial number, along with the price and transfer date, then have both parties sign and keep a copy.
Tennessee Firearm Bill of Sale FAQ
- Do I need a bill of sale to sell a gun in Tennessee?
- No. A bill of sale is not generally required for a lawful occasional intrastate private transfer, though it cannot cure an illegal transfer. An occasional lawful intrastate private transfer generally needs neither an FFL nor a state background check either.
- Can I sell a gun to anyone in Tennessee without a background check?
- For an occasional, lawful in-state private sale by someone not engaged in the firearm business, generally yes — Tennessee exempts that transfer from the state dealer background-check requirement. You still may not knowingly sell or transfer to someone you know is prohibited by state or federal law, and juveniles are covered by a separate handgun-possession framework.
- Does a Tennessee bill of sale need to be notarized?
- No — this template does not require a notary, and the reviewed Tennessee sources do not identify a notarization requirement for a private firearm sale. If a specific transaction calls for one, wait to sign until the notary is present.
- What if the buyer is from out of state?
- Interstate transfers ordinarily require an FFL. Verify identity, residency, age, and eligibility before relying on the in-state private-sale exemption described here.
- Is this Tennessee bill of sale a substitute for an FFL transfer?
- No. A Bill of Sale documents a transaction; it does not replace an FFL transfer, background check, or any other legal requirement that applies to a specific sale — for example, an interstate transfer, or a sale involving an NFA-regulated firearm.