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How to Sell a Gun in Massachusetts
Selling a firearm in Massachusetts is legal for most law-abiding adults, but the process must follow both federal law and Massachusetts state regulations. This guide covers what private sellers need to know to sell legally and responsibly.
- legal
- safe
- bill of sale
How to Sell a Gun in Massachusetts — Quick Overview
- Who Can Sell: Most law-abiding adults who legally own a firearm may sell it in Massachusetts
- Private Sales: Require a background check through a licensed FFL dealer
- Background Check: Required for all transfers — must go through a licensed FFL dealer
- Waiting Period: None
- Prohibited Transfers: Cannot sell to anyone under 21 or any person prohibited under federal law
- License Required: Only if you regularly sell for profit (federal FFL required)
- Gun Registration: Required — all transfers must be reported as required by Massachusetts law
- Bill of Sale: Not legally required but strongly recommended — protects the seller from future liability
Table of Contents
Who Can Legally Sell a Gun in Massachusetts
Age Requirements for Selling a Gun in Massachusetts
Selling a Gun Through a Licensed Dealer in Massachusetts
How to Sell a Gun Privately in Massachusetts
Step-by-Step Guide to Selling a Gun
Why Many Sellers Use GunTransfer
Waiting Periods and Registration in Massachusetts
Massachusetts Gun Laws Every Seller Should Understand
FAQ About Selling a Gun in Massachusetts
Massachusetts FID Card and LTC
Who Can Legally Sell a Gun in Massachusetts
Under federal law and Massachusetts law, most adults who legally own a firearm may sell it privately. However, the seller bears responsibility for not transferring to a prohibited person.
To legally sell a firearm, a person generally must:
- Be legally eligible to possess firearms under federal law
- Be at least 21 years of age
- Not be engaged in the business of dealing firearms without a federal FFL
- Sell only to buyers who are eligible to receive firearms
Federal law prohibits certain individuals from possessing or transferring firearms. A seller who knowingly transfers to a prohibited person commits a serious federal crime.
A seller must not transfer a firearm to persons who:
- Have been convicted of a felony
- Have been convicted of a domestic violence misdemeanor
- Are subject to a qualifying restraining or protective order
- Are unlawful users of or addicted to controlled substances
- Have been adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution
- Are under 21 years of age
- Are illegal aliens or have renounced U.S. citizenship
Knowingly selling to a prohibited person is a serious federal crime — punishable by up to 10 years in prison and fines up to $250,000. Always verify the buyer’s eligibility.
Understanding these requirements is the essential first step before selling any firearm in Massachusetts. GunTransfer performs a background check on all buyers and generates a bill of sale that protects the seller.
Age Requirements for Selling a Gun in Massachusetts
21
years old minimum to sell or trade handguns at a dealer
18
21
21
Selling a Gun Through a Licensed Dealer in Massachusetts
Typical process when selling through a dealer:
Selling through a dealer means you are not responsible for vetting the buyer — the FFL handles all required background checks. It is the simplest way to ensure a fully compliant transfer in Massachusetts.
How to Sell a Gun Privately in Massachusetts
While private firearm sales are permitted in Massachusetts, all private transfers must go through a licensed FFL dealer for a background check. Direct person-to-person transfers without a dealer are illegal in Massachusetts.
Private firearm sales are common when:
- Selling a used firearm to another gun owner
- Selling inherited firearms
- Selling to a friend, family member, or collector
Both buyers and sellers remain responsible for complying with federal firearm laws. The seller must not knowingly transfer to a prohibited person. GunTransfer performs a background check on the buyer and documents the transfer with a legally sound bill of sale.
Although Massachusetts requires the transfer to go through a licensed FFL dealer, many sellers use GunTransfer to create a clear record that ownership has transferred — protecting them from future liability.
MASSACHUSETTS GUN SALE QUICK REFERENCE
| SALE TYPE | BACKGROUND CHECK | WAITING PERIOD | KEY NOTES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Dealer (LTC) | Required — MA State Police | None specific | 21+ handguns. LTC required. Assault weapons and large-capacity mags banned. |
| Licensed Dealer (FID) | Required — MA State Police | None specific | 18+ non-large-capacity long guns. FID required. |
| Private Sale | Reported to State Police | None specific | Buyer needs valid FID/LTC. Must report to state police within 7 days. |
| Assault Weapons | Prohibited | Prohibited | Banned in Massachusetts. |
| Magazine > 10 rounds | Prohibited | Prohibited | Large-capacity magazines prohibited. |
Step-by-Step
Step-by-Step Guide on How to Sell a Gun in Massachusetts
The process for legally selling a firearm in Massachusetts generally includes the following steps.
1
Confirm your eligibility to sell
Make sure you are legally permitted to possess and transfer firearms under federal and Massachusetts law.
2
Assess the firearm’s value
Research fair market value using online guides or get a local dealer appraisal.
3
Find a qualified buyer
Locate a buyer through personal contacts or local channels. Both parties must meet at a licensed FFL dealer to complete the transfer.
4
Verify buyer identity and age
Request a valid government-issued photo ID. Confirm the buyer is at least 21 years old. The FFL dealer will verify identity as part of the background check process.
5
Document the transfer with a bill of sale
Use GunTransfer to generate a bill of sale recording both parties, the firearm description, serial number, sale price, and date. GunTransfer also performs a background check on the buyer.
6
File your copy
Store your signed GunTransfer bill of sale securely — it is your permanent proof that the firearm left your possession on a specific date, critical if it is ever questioned.
We handle the legal part for you.
Massachusetts requires a licensed dealer for private transfers. We route you to a local FFL at no markup and handle the bill of sale and permanent records for you. Flat $50.
Why Many Sellers Use GunTransfer
Private firearm sales are permitted in Massachusetts, but without documentation there is no proof that ownership transferred — leaving the original owner potentially connected to any future incident involving the firearm.
Document the firearm’s serial number and full description
Record the exact date ownership transferred away from you
Protect yourself from future liability if the gun is later misused
Demonstrate responsible, law-abiding gun ownership
For sellers, a documented GunTransfer bill of sale is proof the firearm left your hands on a specific date — which can be critical if the gun is later lost, stolen, or involved in an incident. GunTransfer makes this documentation simple for every private sale in Massachusetts.
Waiting Periods and Registration in Massachusetts
Massachusetts does not impose a waiting period on firearm sales. Once both parties agree and the transfer is documented, the firearm may change hands immediately — for both dealer sales and private sales.
Massachusetts requires firearm registration. The new owner must register the firearm as required by Massachusetts law after the transfer is complete.
While no waiting period applies, sellers should still take the time to verify buyer identity and complete a GunTransfer bill of sale before handing over the firearm.
Massachusetts Gun Laws Every Seller Should Understand
Although Massachusetts has specific private sale laws, sellers should understand these important regulations before completing any transfer:
- You cannot sell to any prohibited person under federal law — doing so is a serious federal crime regardless of whether a background check was conducted
- You cannot sell to anyone under 21 years of age
- ALL private transfers must go through a licensed FFL dealer for a background check
- Selling a stolen firearm is a crime under both state and federal law
- If you regularly sell firearms for profit, you must obtain a federal FFL — unlicensed dealing is a federal felony
- Massachusetts has an assault weapons ban — certain firearms cannot be sold or transferred within Massachusetts
- Massachusetts has a 10-round magazine limit — magazines over this capacity cannot be sold or transferred
Frequently Asked
Questions
Do I need a license to sell a gun in Massachusetts?
No. Private sales do not require a federal firearms license.
Do private gun sales in Massachusetts require a background check?
Is a bill of sale required when selling a gun in Massachusetts?
What happens if I sell without going through an FFL in Massachusetts?
The Massachusetts FID Card and LTC
Massachusetts issues two credentials and they are not interchangeable. An FID card (M.G.L. c.140 § 129B) entitles the holder to purchase, possess and carry rifles and shotguns that are neither large capacity nor semi-automatic, and the ammunition for them — and nothing else. A License to Carry (§ 131) covers firearms generally, including large capacity ones. FID is 18 and up; LTC is 21 and up and requires a personal interview on a first application.
The trap when your buyer holds an FID. Under § 128A(b), transferring anything to an FID holder beyond a non-large-capacity, non-semi-automatic rifle or shotgun also requires them to hold a permit to purchase under § 131A. That permit costs $100 and is valid for no more than ten days from issue, so it has to be timed to the sale rather than obtained in advance.
Run the transfer through the portal at or before the point of sale — not afterwards. § 128A(g) requires that the sale be conducted through the electronic firearms registration system prior to or at the point of sale, and the Commonwealth says the same: report any private sale through the MIRCS Unified Gun Portal at or before the point of sale. Older guidance calls this the eFA-10; the portal is the current system. A separate duty in § 121B(b) requires all parties — buyer as well as seller — to report the transaction within seven days.
Missing it is not a formality. Under § 121B(e) a first offense carries a fine of up to $1,000, a second up to $7,500 and up to six months, and a third up to $10,000 and one to five years — and failure to report is itself grounds for suspending or permanently revoking your license.
Four a year. Section 128A caps private transfers to individuals at no more than four firearms per calendar year. Transfers to a licensed dealer, an FFL or a qualifying museum or historical society are not counted against it.
No family exemption. Section 128A does not carve one out. A transfer to your own child or spouse runs through the portal like any other.
Fees and terms: $100 to apply for or renew either credential ($25 for an FID for someone under 18, and for a law-enforcement LTC; waived from age 70). Both expire on the holder’s birthday not less than five and not more than six years after issue, so the term is five to six years rather than a flat number.
Two dates that matter right now. The 2024 overhaul (Chapter 135 of the Acts of 2024) took effect on October 2, 2024 and is in force. Its registration and serialization requirements carry a compliance deadline of October 28, 2026. And Question 9 on the November 3, 2026 ballot is a referendum on whether to keep or repeal Chapter 135 — a yes keeps it, a no repeals it. The law is not suspended while that vote is pending, so everything above applies in the meantime. Check the Commonwealth’s own guidance before relying on this page after the vote.
Verified October 2026
Explore All GUN Laws across the country
50 State Guides
How to Sell a Gun by State → How to Buy a Gun by State → Gun Transfer Laws by State → Background Check Laws by State → Private Gun Sale Laws by State → Gun Waiting Period Laws by State → Gun Inheritance Laws by State →Massachusetts Guides
How to Buy a Gun in Massachusetts → Gun Transfer Laws in Massachusetts → Private Gun Sale Laws in Massachusetts → Background Check Laws in Massachusetts → Waiting Period Laws in Massachusetts → Gun Inheritance Laws in Massachusetts →Ready to Transfer ?
Massachusetts Firearm Sale Resources: ATF — Identifying Prohibited Persons | ATF — Brady Law & 3-Day Default Rule | FBI NICS | Giffords — Massachusetts Gun Laws | ATF State Laws & Ordinances
A handshake isn’t a transfer.
Make it legal.
In Massachusetts, the seller carries the federal liability. One undocumented sale to the wrong person is the difference between a clean record and 18 U.S.C. § 922(d). For \$50, you get proof you did it right.
- Real background check on the buyerMulti-source federal, state & county criminal + sex-offender records.
- Official bill of sale, signed by both partiesElectronic. Documented to hold up in court.
- Lifetime digital records in your Gun VaultPull them 5, 10, 20 years from now.
- Routed to a local licensed dealer — no markupMassachusetts requires an FFL; we handle the paperwork and records.
Fast, clean, and I have the paperwork forever. Exactly what I wanted and cheaper than my local FFL.— Marcus R., verified seller
Secure checkout · No FFL markup · No range fees · Flat $50 every time.
About this guide
- Published by
- Gun Transfer, which has handled private firearm transfers since 2016. Written and maintained in-house.
- Sources
- Federal law (18 U.S.C. § 921–931), the ATF’s published rules and guidance, and the statutes of the state this page covers. Primary sources are linked throughout the text above so you can check any of it yourself.
- Last reviewed
- . Firearm law changes often, and a page that was right in April can be wrong by August.
- Found something wrong?
- Tell us and we will check it: info@guntransfer.com or 855-750-5500.
This is general information, not legal advice. We are not a law firm and no attorney has reviewed this page. Firearm law varies by state and by situation, and the consequences of getting it wrong fall on you — so verify anything you are relying on against your state’s current statute, or ask a lawyer licensed there.
