Absentee allowance??
As with all privately owned NFA, if you leave and go an area that you cannot own/possess the items, you can sign the unit over to a "Responsible Person", baring the fact that this individual isn't banned from possession or purchase of firearms/related items if he/she were to go obtain the item themselves.
In the case of a Corporation or Trust, by placing the item in the care of a 3rd party, you are by no means affiliating a transfer as long as the Responsible Person letter gives a clear a definitive date schedule as to when the item will return to your (or corporate) possession. In the way of many of our LLC's the company is usually comprised by 1 employee. When this person has to temporarily leave the area, under corporate governance, can assign corporate matters to any individual he/she wishes (via a simple Power of Attorney Agreement). If you temporarily give control of your company to another person, for all legal intents and purposes, that person is now the owner (under the clauses of the POA Agreement), for the duration of the agreed upon time. Its the same with corporate assets.
A Responsible Person letter is essentially a Power of Attorney Agreement. It's best to have it notarized. List full names, identifying information, places, dates, and if possible times as to when it becomes effective, and when It sunsets.
A corporate asset is a corporate asset... regardless of its legal affiliation.
Individuals and companies are legally allowed to 'rent' NFA items out at will. You can also place the items into someone else's care for safekeeping while on TDY or "temporarily" out of the area or rent it to them at will.
The ATF nor the Government expect owners of NFA or Firearms to rush out and get a safety deposit box every time they leave the area.... Nor do they wish you to stick it in-between your bed and box-springs and leave it in your apartment unprotected.... Its the lesser of two evils.
Obviously, if you or the corporate title has an NFA item, then you are pretty well aware of the applicable laws (the base-line ones anyways), and should be responsible enough not to sign it over to a felon to watch over it.... regardless of your responsible person letter, if the person you've put in charge of it cannot legally possess the item as if it were theirs... you're screwed.
If you're leaving for a long period of time, it is best to put it into a safe-deposit-box, but you can legally sign it over to be 'governed and protected' by another responsible person for the duration of time that you will be gone.
Be VERY careful that you do not ‘straw purchase’ an NFA item and think that this clause will get you around giving your NFA item to someone as a gift… If the ATF wants, they will ask and inquire about the situation as to how the item is in possession of the responsible person. There better be a DAMN good explanation.
If you are a corporate owner, just Power of Attorney the corporation governance to the person, and all corporate assets fall suite.
If you are an individual or have a ‘trust’, a “responsible person”, notarized letter would serve to give temporary custody of your ‘NFA child’…. Temporary being the key word.
The ATF is chuck full of VERY smart people. They are not stupid, and will be able to tell EXCEPTIONALLY QUICKLY if the intentions of the “Responsible Person” letter are for that person to actual care for the item while you are away, or if it’s a ‘transfer’.
If I were going to give my NFA to some else to watch over it for me, I would write the RP letter, notarize it (4 copies) and send 2 copies along with 2 ATF Form: 5320.20’s and a 2 copies of a letter that you write explaining what you are wanting to do. Do this SEVERAL weeks in advance (or as soon as you know you leaving the area).
You can also keep it open ended, you don’t have to close it out. BUT BE ON ACTUAL TRAVEL OR ACTUALLY AWAY! Don’t be stupid with it thinking the ATF will not prosecute your as$ because you gave someone a “Responsible Person” letter and they happen to be your next-door neighbor, and you’re home. Or think that you can “rent” your item to that person for a long period of time….. don’t be stupid!
People at gun shows not only sold replacement wipes for suppressors but every other part including the tubes one would need to build one… so now a single baffle for a suppressor is considered a silencer….. Don’t abuse the privilege of allowing your NFA to be cared for by someone else. It will F*&$ that convenience up for everyone else that is abiding by the laws.