Enter transaction details between business (including business) and firearms licence holders through the Business Transactions form.
Using the Business Transactions form
Some transactions between business (including gunsmiths) and firearms licence holders need to be recorded using the Business Transactions form.
On this page
Business Transactions form
Why you’re required to record transactions online
Providing information through the Business Transactions form means we can make sure firearms licence holders are aware of their requirements to register arms items.
Entering details into the Business Transactions form does not register the arms items in the Firearms Registry.
When you need to use the Business Transactions form
Business are required to use the Business Transactions form when suppling or receiving any of the following specified items with licence holders:
- standard firearms, including high-energy airguns
- restricted firearms and magazines
- pistols
- restricted weapons
- major firearm parts (that are not integrated into a firearm)
- pistol carbine conversion kits (PCCKs)
- ammunition sales.
A major firearm part is:
- the action (frame, receiver, or upper receiver and lower receiver) of a firearm
- the frame of a pistol, or
- a calibre conversion component or kit of a pistol.
You must record the transaction at the time of sale, or as soon as possible afterwards.
What to record in the Business Transactions form
Arms item information
For each arms item, you are required to record:
- make
- model
- identification marking (for example, a serial number)
- action type (as appropriate)
- calibre/gauge (as appropriate)
- magazine capacity (as appropriate).
If you supply or receive a pistol, restricted firearm, restricted magazine, restricted weapon or PCCK, you will also need to record some details of the buyer’s permit to possess, including:
- permit number
- issue date
- office location (code).
Other information
You'll also be required to submit the following information:
- business details, including name and the business licence number and version number
- customer details, including name, address, firearms licence number and version number (if applicable)
- transaction type
- date of transaction.
On and from 24 June 2025, the sale of ammunition must be recorded in the Business Transactions form.
What to record in your business book
Keep recording the following transactions in your business book:
- business-to-business transfers of arms items and ammunition
- airgun sales and supply including airgun projectiles
- exports to individuals without a New Zealand firearms licence
- arms items surrendered by anyone in accordance with Section 342 of the Arms Act 2026
- standard magazine sales.
For auctions, you’re also required to continue to record the:
- date and place of the auction
- name of the auctioneer who conducted the auction
- method of delivery of the item to the purchaser.
Note: You are still required to use the Firearms Licence Checker tool to validate licences, for transactions entered into your business book.
New registry obligations
Under the Arms Act 2026, Business licence holders need to ensure information about arms items in their possession is recorded in the Arms Registry.
Some Business licence holders (formerly Dealer licence holders) who have not previously provided information to the Arms Registry, may be required to provide this information by 24 June 2029 to help keep the Registry complete and up to date.
The extension of this timeframe by one year (previously scheduled for 2028) will allow the new digital Arms System to be developed, which is expected to simplify how businesses register their arms items.
Obligation to provide information to arms registry | Arms Act 2026, Section 361 | New Zealand Legislation website
Obligations relating to registry | Arms Act 2026, Section 30 | New Zealand Legislation website
Ammunition sales to be recorded in the Business Transactions form
On and from 24 June 2025, the sale of ammunition is required to be recorded in the Registry using the Business Transactions form. On and from this date, ammunition sellers are no longer required to record ammunition sales in a record book. Received ammunition must still be recorded in a record book.
How to use the Business Transactions form
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Provide details about the main business
You'll need to provide the following details about the main business licence holder for your business:
- First and last name
- Business licence number
- Version numberNote: If you cannot validate the business licence details, call us for help on 0800 844 431. We're available 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday.
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Provide details about the customer
You’ll need to provide the following details about the customer:
- First and last name
- Firearms licence number
- Version number (if applicable)
- AddressNote: The form will check the customer’s details when you enter the information. If they cannot be validated, you won’t be able to move to the next section of the form. You must not continue with the transaction.
Call Firearms Safety and Education New Zealand for help on 0800 844 431. We're available 8:30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday. -
Provide details about the transaction
You’ll need to provide the following details about the transaction:
- Transaction type (for example, supplied or received)
- Date of transaction
You also have the option to include a business reference code. This is so you can link the transaction back to a staff member or other system reference.Depending on the item type (such as whether it’s a rifle, shotgun etc), this may include the make, model, action, calibre/gauge, the magazine capacity, and the identification marking (serial number).
Note: If the item requires a permit to possess you must enter the details of the customer’s permit.
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Check the summary and Submit the form
Review the summary, which shows all the information you have entered. If anything is missing or incorrect, you can return to the previous pages and make changes.
Before submitting the form, you must confirm that the information you have provided is true and correct, and that you understand the information is provided as part of the licensed business record keeping obligations under section 98 of the Arms Act 2026.
Submit the form. -
Note the online reference number
The final screen will confirm that the transaction has been completed and will provide a reference number, along with the date and time the transaction was submitted.
Please keep a record of the reference number, as it may be needed if you contact us about this transaction in the future. If you would like information about your transaction, you will need to contact us and provide the reference number.From this page, you can be taken back to Step 2 to submit another transaction under the same business licence.
Watch our video for step-by-step instructions on how to use the Business Transactions form
Requesting information about transactions you have recorded
If you’re a business who only deals with standard firearms, you can request and receive submitted transaction data, but your staff cannot request or receive data.
If you’re a business who deals with standard and endorsed firearms and has endorsements on your business licence for business purposes, you can request and receive this data. Your staff who have a firearms licence and endorsements on that licence for business purposes can request the data but the data will only be sent to the business.
Records cannot be amended but we can delete records if they are incorrect. You’ll need to re-enter the transaction information.
We’ll only send records to the business email address and will only include licence numbers and the arms items and permit details. For security reasons, it will not include names and contact details of the licence holder and customer.
If the Business Transactions form is unavailable
If the Business Transactions form is unavailable due to technical issues or an outage, record the transaction in your business records book, using the Firearms Licence Checker to validate the licence.
The transaction should then be entered into the Dealer Transactions form as soon as it becomes available again.
If you’re having a problem with the form, call us on 0800 844 431 between 8:30am and 5pm, Monday to Friday.
| Need help? | |
 | Phone 0800 844 431 (04 499 2870) 8.30am to 5pm, Monday to Friday |