Written by Justin Park|
Last updated
As of January 1, 2026, suppressors cost $200 less to own thanks to a 2025 bill that dropped the federal National Firearms Act’s tax stamp. Improvements to government turnaround times by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms also mean that buyers are waiting days instead of the months it used to take to get a suppressor.
These changes have led to a massive surge in purchases of suppressors and other NFA-restricted items. The National Shooting Sports Foundation reports that there were 150,000 NFA Form 4 submissions on January 1 compared to an average daily submission volume of 2,500 in 2025.
Somewhat confusingly, there technically is still an NFA form to fill out and tax stamp to buy—it just costs $0 now. So while there’s still paperwork and process to endure, acquiring hearing protection for hunters and target shooters is cheaper and faster than it has been since 1934.
What Changed with Suppressors?
The National Firearms Act of 1934 established the current process for legally acquiring certain NFA-list items such as suppressors, short-barreled shotguns, short-barreled rifles, and machine guns (effectively banned in 1986). Inspired by the violence of Prohibition-Era gangsters, the NFA also imposed what was then an even more onerous $200 (more than $4000 today) fee to discourage ownership without having to outlaw the items outright.
The “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” from Summer 2025 didn’t repeal the tax but dropped it to $0. Interestingly, the OBBA retained a $200 tax on the transfer of machine guns which, while effectively banned for civilian ownership, are still bought and sold.
Separately, the ATF made process improvements in 2025 that greatly reduced wait times between application and approval from months to days in most cases. When I purchased a suppressor for a hunting rifle in 2023 it took almost 8 months for the ATF to approve my form. Current wait times as reported on the ATF website are now only 10 days for individual applications in early January.
How to Purchase a Suppressor
If you’re one of the many people interested in buying a suppressor without the $200 tax but aren’t sure how to follow the proper steps, there are several options.
The American Suppressor Association lays out the basic steps involved in “transferring” an NFA item, which for most people means from a dealer to you, the individual. Complete ATF eForm 4, submit with fingerprints, photos, another form, and a few other steps such as notifying local law enforcement that you’ll be receiving an NFA item.
The process can be done DIY, but many of the large suppressor marketplaces will walk you through it for free and may even complete some of the steps for you where possible. Platforms such as Silencer Central will mail you a fingerprinting kit, for example, and fill out forms for you to sign.
Better gun shops will also help you with the process if you buy the suppressor from them or transfer it to them from an online dealer and then complete the paperwork and background check at the shop.
Justin Park is a Colorado-based writer, editor, and avid hunter with a passion for the outdoors. He contributes to leading publications such as GearJunkie, Popular Mechanics, Powder, and Men's Journal, and serves as Editor of Wild Snow. Park is deeply involved in conservation and recreation advocacy, serving as Chapter Chair of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) in Summit County. He also represents RMEF on a state recreation committee focused on proactively addressing land use conflicts.