Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association

View Poll Results: Should a new gun purchased from a shop have a fee

Voters
39. You may not vote on this poll
  • Yes

    7 17.95%
  • no

    32 82.05%
Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast
Results 21 to 30 of 34
  1. #21
    Join Date
    Apr 2012
    Location
    Near Scranton, Pennsylvania
    (Lackawanna County)
    Posts
    1,625
    Rep Power
    21474849

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    I have no problem with a business charging a premium transfer/PICS fee for receiving firearms bought online. It’s kinda like Trump's tariffs. Why should they help you buy a gun from somewhere else if they can sell it to you...especially with new guns.

    I also have no problem with someone going elsewhere to get your gun sent.

    As for having to pay $5 for the transfer rather than having the business absorb it as a cost of doing business, I have two points...1j FFL's make next to nothing on new firearm sales and 2) If a $5 PICS fee is what pushes a gun's price into unaffordable, you probably shouldn’t be buying it in the first place.

  2. #22
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    NEPA, Pennsylvania
    (Wyoming County)
    Posts
    2,320
    Rep Power
    21474849

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    Quote Originally Posted by gnbrotz View Post
    I understand there is a cost to the dealer for the check, but I think that more often than not, I think it's used as an excuse to pad profit. I don't think there is any reason it can't be factored into the price, and the local shop where I bought 2 firearms very recently does just that. I know how to figure sales tax, and I know the fee is attached to every sale and how much it *actually* is. Playing games with the fee makes me distrust you as a business person.

    I didn't answer the poll, because I think it's worded poorly. I know a fee is mandatory, so I'm not opposed to it, but I don't agree with inflating it. If the question really is "Should the fee be included in the posted/sticker price?", them my answer would be "Yes."
    ^THIS.

    Sorry OP but your Poll is poorly worded. Let me break this down for you. On average using a credit card costs ~3% to the retailer, which is why if you are familiar with using Gunbroker you will often see a ~3% credit card charge listed to sale price. If you buy in state you pay 6% sales tax. 6% can make a big difference when you are price shopping, and why many choose to buy out of state to avoid the sales tax. It is hard to compete with sales tax and low margins on guns in the first place.

    Now if you are buying in State here is how the State charges for Background checks. $2 for PICS and $3 per firearm which the state calls a taxable surcharge.

    Example: If you buy 4 lower receivers from me there is a $2 PICS charge and $12 surcharge that I have to send to the State. On the other hand if you bought those 4 lowers from AIM Surplus and had me transfer them to you the charge is $2 for PICS only as the lowers came from out of state and are non-taxable. Makes it damn hard to compete. That is why FFL's charge a transfer fee to offset their loss from out of state sales.
    "It seems that the Constitution is more or less guidelines than actual rules"
    My feedback: http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=305685

  3. #23
    Join Date
    Aug 2016
    Location
    Douglassville, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
    Posts
    234
    Rep Power
    1983590

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    Just bought an out of state rifle that was transferred to my LGS on Friday. I was charged $50

  4. #24
    Join Date
    Jan 2013
    Location
    central Pa, Pennsylvania
    Posts
    218
    Rep Power
    5914691

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    Just bought one at grice on the 10th, receipt states, $2.00 pa instant check fee and uniform firearms act fee $3.00.

  5. #25
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    USN Retired, Pennsylvania
    (Monroe County)
    Posts
    4,068
    Rep Power
    21474856

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    Just make sure the real PA fees are not sales taxed. They are non taxable.
    I might give an "out the door" $ but will break it down on the bill.
    But you buy if from me you just pay the mandatory fee, the rest is in the markup. Even on here for all the haters that god forbid I try to make $10-20 on something and not want to "sell it at cost to get it off the shelf"

    Transfers are a different ball of wax.
    Not making anything on the gun, my costs for opening an business getting State and Fed lic, and time to A&D it. Yea expect to pay some fees.
    Owner Trigger Time LLc 01 FFL/NFA Saylorsburg, PA. Sales/Service/Transfers/Training
    NRA CRSO/Pistol/Rifle/Shotgun inst. BSA Rifle/Shotgun Merit badge counselor. US Navy Marksmanship Team Staff

  6. #26
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Moon Twp., Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Age
    49
    Posts
    265
    Rep Power
    272896

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    FYI, The $5 background check is untaxed so it should not be hidden in the total purchase. Every two weeks the dealer submits there state surcharge forms which is where your $5 goes to.


    Quote Originally Posted by rellisonii View Post
    Pennsylvania charges 3 dollars for the back ground check and 2 dollars for the instant check system. I have bought from dealers that include in gun price and others that do not.
    <a href=http://www.filehive.com/files/080820/bowkillpa.jpg target=_blank>http://www.filehive.com/files/080820/bowkillpa.jpg</a>

  7. #27
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    NEPA, Pennsylvania
    (Wyoming County)
    Posts
    2,320
    Rep Power
    21474849

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    Quote Originally Posted by bowkillpa View Post
    FYI, The $5 background check is untaxed so it should not be hidden in the total purchase. Every two weeks the dealer submits there state surcharge forms which is where your $5 goes to.
    Untrue, for an instate purchase from a retailer both PICS and the surcharge are taxable. If it's a transfer PICS is not taxable

    Correspondence received from Dept. of Revenue:
    If you are selling the firearm, then all associated charges will be subject to PA sales tax, whether the charges are separately stated or not. The bottom line is that if you are not the seller of the firearm, your service fee nor the background check is subject to PA sales tax.
    Last edited by ExFlyinguy; March 13th, 2018 at 01:55 PM.
    "It seems that the Constitution is more or less guidelines than actual rules"
    My feedback: http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=305685

  8. #28
    Join Date
    Aug 2008
    Location
    Moon Twp., Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
    Age
    49
    Posts
    265
    Rep Power
    272896

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    When the store orders a firearm from the supplier a tax is paid on it. When a gun purchase is made in the store the customer pays a tax on it. When a pics is completed the customer pays a $5 fee which is not taxed. If you want to challenge that come to my storefront and my printed receipt of purchase is there for you to see.


    ETA: Also if you do a person to person transfer in the store the fee in non taxed..



    Last edited by bowkillpa; March 13th, 2018 at 11:54 AM.
    <a href=http://www.filehive.com/files/080820/bowkillpa.jpg target=_blank>http://www.filehive.com/files/080820/bowkillpa.jpg</a>

  9. #29
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    NEPA, Pennsylvania
    (Wyoming County)
    Posts
    2,320
    Rep Power
    21474849

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    Quote Originally Posted by bowkillpa View Post
    When the store orders a firearm from the supplier a tax is paid on it. When a gun purchase is made in the store the customer pays a tax on it. When a pics is completed the customer pays a $5 fee which is not taxed. If you want to challenge that come to my storefront and my printed receipt of purchase is there for you to see.


    ETA: Also if you do a person to person transfer in the store the fee in non taxed..
    *EDIT UPDATE: I was wrong; Bowkill is correct and I apologize!

    My updated response from Dept. of Revenue:

    Background checks, regardless of who does them, are not subject to PA sales tax, unless they are done in conjunction with a credit check. The only place that you will find this referenced is in Regulation 60.11, Credit reporting services.
    http://www.pacode.com/secure/data/06...60/s60.11.html

    Thanks for your inquiry,
    Last edited by ExFlyinguy; March 13th, 2018 at 02:19 PM.
    "It seems that the Constitution is more or less guidelines than actual rules"
    My feedback: http://forum.pafoa.org/showthread.php?t=305685

  10. #30
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    USN Retired, Pennsylvania
    (Monroe County)
    Posts
    4,068
    Rep Power
    21474856

    Default Re: Fees when purchasing a new gun?

    It's also stated in our secret PICS manual.
    Owner Trigger Time LLc 01 FFL/NFA Saylorsburg, PA. Sales/Service/Transfers/Training
    NRA CRSO/Pistol/Rifle/Shotgun inst. BSA Rifle/Shotgun Merit badge counselor. US Navy Marksmanship Team Staff

Page 3 of 4 FirstFirst 1234 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. Hunting Fees in PA?
    By stud40111 in forum Hunting
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: January 23rd, 2011, 09:27 PM
  2. fees when purchasing from gun shop
    By heatheroo in forum Pistols
    Replies: 22
    Last Post: February 17th, 2010, 11:54 PM
  3. Handgun fees
    By kiladonut in forum General
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: December 11th, 2008, 08:26 PM
  4. FFL FEES
    By 91xlt in forum General
    Replies: 10
    Last Post: March 11th, 2008, 03:32 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •