Frequently Asked Questions

General Questions & Accepted Businesses

How is Tactical Payments different from other merchant service providers?

Tactical Payments works exclusively with 2nd Amendment friendly processors and sponsor banks, which enables us to provide the most reliable credit card processing solutions in the firearms industry. We offer competitive rates, friendly customer support, and easy integrations with GunBroker and other firearm industry software and retail platforms.

What types of firearms industry businesses does Tactical Payments accept as clients?

We provide merchant accounts for all types of gun industry businesses, including businesses that are considered “high risk” by other merchant services providers, as well as businesses that are rejected by the big banks for “political” or ideological reasons. Our clients include local “brick and mortar” gun retailers, as well as online firearms dealers who sell primarily via GunBroker and other internet platforms. We also provide merchant services for pawn shops, shooting ranges, training services, ammunition retailers, and manufacturers and retailers of accessories and related products.

Do you provide merchant accounts for non-US based businesses?

Sorry, we are unable to provide merchant services for foreign or offshore businesses, or any company that is headquartered outside of the USA. To be approved for a merchant account with Tactical Payments, the business owner must have a valid SSN and US issued identification (driver’s license, US passport, etc).

Do I need an FFL to obtain a merchant account?

Yes, if you are selling firearms, you will need a valid or pending FFL to accept credit and debit card payments. Ammunition and accessories sellers do not typically require a license.

Application & Setup Process

How do I apply for a merchant account?

To apply, first you need to complete the online application (which takes about five minutes), and upload any additional required documents. Next, you can review our full proposal (which includes pricing), and DocuSign it when you’re ready. When your assigned underwriter approves your account, you can start processing payments right away.

What information should I be prepared to provide during the underwriting process?

To be approved for a merchant account with Tactical Payments, the business owner must have a valid SSN and US issued identification (driver’s license, US passport, etc). Additionally, if you are selling firearms, you will need a valid or pending FFL. You will also be asked to estimate your average monthly sales volume, as well as the breakdown by transaction type (e.g., e-commerce vs. phone order).

How long does it take until I get approved for my merchant account?

After you apply, your merchant account will be pre-approved within 24 hours. Next, you will usually be fully approved (that is, through underwriting) within three to five business days. Rest assured that we will work as diligently as possible to get your account approved in a timely manner. Our priority is to get your merchant account up and running as fast as possible.

How do I integrate my merchant account to my shopping cart?

Our customer success team is ready to guide you through all of our shopping cart integrations. For some of our most popular integrations, however, you can refer to the integration guides below:

Required Application Documents

Requested Document: Voided business check

Purpose: A voided business check verifies your business bank account, ensuring deposits go to the correct account and preventing fraud.

What we need: A pre-printed check showing your business name, bank name, routing number, and account number. The bank account on the check must match the one you want to receive credit card deposits.

How to get it: Use an existing business check that shows your business name printed and write “VOID” across the front, or request one from your bank. If you don’t have checks listing your business name, provide a Bank Letter instead.

No Checks? Use a Bank Letter

Purpose: The bank letter confirms ownership of your business checking account when business checks are unavailable.

What we need: A letter on official bank letterhead including:

Full name of bank and business
Bank routing and account number
Statement that the account is “in good standing”
Signature and contact info of a bank officer

How to get it: Request a “Verification of Deposit” or “Account Letter” from your business banker. Most banks issue this within one business day, and many now issue them instantly via your bank’s online portal.

Requested Document: Owner’s ID

Purpose: Federal banking regulations require identity verification (KYC/AML compliance) for all business owners with more than 25% ownership of a business with a merchant account.

What we need: A clear, valid copy of a government-issued photo ID (Driver’s License, Passport, or State ID) belonging to the owner or signer on the account. It must be current and not expired.

How to get it: Upload a scanned or photographed copy of your current ID. Ensure the photo and text are readable.

Requested Document: Monthly Bank Statements

Purpose: Underwriting reviews recent bank statements to confirm financial stability, business activity, and the ability to handle refunds and chargebacks.

What we need: The most recent three months of business bank statements. Include all pages, even blank ones. If your business is new, you may provide the owner’s personal bank statements instead.

How to get it: Log into your online banking and download PDF statements for the last three months. If PDFs aren’t available, screenshots of full statements are acceptable.

Requested Document: Credit Card Processing Statements

Purpose: Your business’ previous credit card processing statements help underwriting assess sales volume, refund activity, and chargeback history to determine appropriate risk levels and pricing.

What we need: The most recent three months of credit card processing statements from your current or previous processor. Include all pages, in PDF format.

How to get it: Log into your processor’s online portal and download PDF statements. If unavailable, take screenshots of each page. If your business hasn’t processed before, you may skip this step.

Federal Firearms License (FFL)

Purpose: If your business sells firearms, underwriting must confirm compliance with federal ATF regulations. The FFL verifies your authority to legally sell or manufacture firearms.

What we need: A current copy of your FFL showing:

Business name
Premises address (matching your application)
FFL number and expiration date
License type (e.g., Dealer, Manufacturer, Importer)

How to get it: Download your FFL from the ATF eZ Check system or your ATF eForms account. You can also request a copy directly from your compliance officer. Note: If you only sell ammunition, parts, or accessories, an FFL is not required.

Merchant Account Details

What is a “rolling reserve”?

A rolling reserve is a type of cash reserve used to protect the merchant account and the bank from potential losses due to chargebacks. In this case, a percentage of the credit card volume processed (typically 5-10%) is held in reserve. Risk management will gradually release held funds from the reserve after 6 to 12 months of consistent processing with low chargebacks.

Certain types of businesses will be required to have a rolling reserve to be approved for a merchant account initially. This can be reconsidered after the business has established positive processing history with the bank.

What is a “monthly minimum fee”?

A monthly minimum fee is a fee that only applies if you do not use your merchant account enough to meet the monthly minimum. Most businesses naturally meet this threshold through regular transactions, so they never pay a monthly minimum fee. For businesses that do not use their account in a given month, however, a fee up to $59 applies, proportional to the amount you process below that minimum.

What This Means for You:

If you regularly process at least $1,750 in cards with our Cash Discount plan, or $6,000 in our Flat Fee plan, you won’t be effected.
If you process less, you may see a small monthly fee proportional to the amount you processed under your monthly minimum.
If you don’t process at all, the monthly minimum fee will apply to keep your account active.

Equipment

Can I install the iPOSGo Tap to Pay app on multiple mobile devices?

Each iPOSGo Tap to Pay mobile app order can only be installed on a single mobile device to ensure secure and efficient processing of orders. If you need to enable multiple Android or iPhone devices to accept orders on your TacticalPay merchant account, you will need to place separate orders for each device. You can order additional mobile app installs at our Equipment Shop.