The FBI does not charge a fee to do NICS checks. States that operate as points of contact for NICS checks, on the other hand, may levy a fee in accordance with state law. Some states may also require you to pay for your NICS check if you are not able to meet this requirement by complying with federal requirements. In most cases, having a record of criminal activity means you will be denied access to purchase a firearm. Even if you have been exonerated, many private sellers will refuse to sell you a gun if they believe there is a chance you could use it to harm someone. There are several types of records that can appear on your background check report. Each type has its own associated fee that must be paid before we can complete your background check. These fees vary depending on the type of record involved and where the record is located. Generally, records from local law enforcement agencies are the least expensive to obtain and records from state or federal agencies are the most expensive. For example, if you were arrested but never charged with a crime, there is no charge for that record. If you were found not guilty by reason of self-defense, then you would not want that to prevent you from buying a gun.