Federal Changes to U.S. Suppressor Laws – What’s New in 2026

Firearm suppressors (often called silencers) have long been among the most tightly regulated firearms accessories in the United States. For decades, purchasing a suppressor required buyers to pay a $200 federal tax, submit fingerprints and photographs, complete extensive paperwork, and wait months—sometimes close to a year—for approval under the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934 [1][2].

That landscape has changed significantly. A new federal law that went into effect on January 1, 2026, combined with major procedural reforms at the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), has removed a major cost barrier, triggered a surge in suppressor purchases, and reduced approval times to historic lows. This article explains what changed, why applications are spiking nationwide, and what buyers can realistically expect when purchasing a suppressor in 2026.

The January 1, 2026 Law: Elimination of the $200 Federal Tax Stamp

On July 4, 2025, Congress passed and the President signed a budget reconciliation bill that eliminated the federal $200 excise tax on suppressors, effective January 1, 2026 [3][4]. This tax—unchanged since 1934—was originally intended to discourage ownership by making suppressors prohibitively expensive.

As of January 1, 2026:

• The federal tax on suppressor transfers is $0

• Buyers no longer pay a tax stamp fee when submitting an ATF Form 4

• Suppressors remain regulated under the National Firearms Act

  
  

Importantly, this law does not deregulate suppressors entirely. Purchasers must still:

• Submit ATF Form 4 (or Form 1 if manufacturing)

• Provide fingerprints and photographs

• Pass a federal background check

• Receive ATF approval before taking possession

  
  

The only change is the removal of the tax itself, not the registration or approval process [3][5].

Machine guns and destructive devices remain subject to the $200 tax, as they were explicitly excluded from this provision [6].

Immediate Impact: A Nationwide Surge in Suppressor Applications

Even before the tax was eliminated, suppressor ownership was growing at an unprecedented pace. Federal data shows that by mid-2024, Americans legally owned nearly 5 million registered suppressors, almost double the total from just three years earlier [7].

Key trends driving this growth include:

• Increased awareness of suppressors as hearing-protection devices

• Broader state-level legalization (42 states allow civilian ownership)

• Faster electronic processing through ATF eForms

  
  

With the $200 tax removed, demand has accelerated further. Many buyers intentionally delayed purchases throughout 2025 to avoid paying the tax, creating a wave of pent-up demand that began filing immediately on January 1, 2026 [5][8].

Industry estimates suggest that tens of thousands of additional Form 4 submissions are expected in early 2026 alone. Dealers nationwide report record customer inquiries, particularly from first-time suppressor buyers who were previously deterred by cost [9].

ATF eForms and the Collapse of Traditional Wait Times

Historically, suppressor approvals took 8 to 12 months, with some applicants waiting over a year [2]. That timeline began changing with the introduction of ATF’s electronic filing system (eForms), and it accelerated dramatically in 2024 and 2025.

Key ATF Process Changes

• Nearly all NFA applications are now filed electronically

• Background checks are initiated immediately upon submission

• Applications with clean background checks are fast-tracked

• Complex cases are separated so they no longer delay routine approvals

As a result, approval times fell from months to weeks—and then to days.

Current Wait Times (Early 2026)

Based on industry tracking and ATF reporting:

• Individual eForm 4 approvals: typically 4–10 days

• Trust eForm 4 approvals: often under one week

• Some approvals occur within 24–72 hours for clean submissions

  
  

By comparison, paper submissions now exceed five years in estimated wait time, making eForms effectively mandatory for modern buyers [10][11].

Will the January 2026 Surge Increase Wait Times?

There is a strong possibility of short-term delays as the ATF processes the influx of applications triggered by the tax elimination. Regulatory consultants and industry analysts warned in late 2025 that many buyers were holding applications until the tax dropped to zero, which could temporarily strain the system [8].

However, several factors suggest any slowdown will be limited:

• ATF staffing levels were increased ahead of January 2026

• Streamlined digital workflows remain in place

• Most applications receive instant background check clearance

  
  

Even if approval times increase modestly, industry consensus is that weeks—not months—will remain the norm throughout 2026.

Industry and Advocacy Response

Firearms Industry

Suppressor manufacturers and dealers widely support the change, noting that the tax removal:

• Lowers the cost of entry for lawful buyers

• Encourages hearing-safe shooting practices

• Reduces inventory bottlenecks caused by long waits

  
  

Several large dealers reported that products once held in storage for months are now shipping almost immediately after arrival [12].

Gun Rights Organizations

Second Amendment advocacy groups view the tax elimination as a partial victory. While suppressors remain regulated, many organizations argue that removing the tax undermines the original legal justification for suppressor registration, potentially opening the door to future court challenges [13].

Multiple lawsuits are already in progress, questioning whether suppressors can remain subject to NFA controls now that no tax is collected [14].

Law Enforcement and Critics

Gun-control groups opposed the tax repeal, arguing it could increase suppressor availability. However, federal trace data continues to show that suppressors account for a very small fraction of firearms used in crimes, and all suppressor purchasers are still subject to federal background checks and registration [15].

What Buyers Should Know in 2026

For customers considering a suppressor purchase now:

• Federal tax cost: $0

• Paperwork requirements: unchanged

• Average approval times: days to weeks

• Demand: very high, especially early in 2026

  
  

The combination of lower cost and fast approvals makes 2026 the most accessible period for suppressor ownership in modern U.S. history.

Conclusion

The federal law that took effect on January 1, 2026 marks the most significant change to suppressor regulation in nearly a century. By eliminating the $200 tax stamp while preserving background checks and registration, Congress lowered financial barriers without removing oversight.

Coupled with ATF eForms reforms, suppressor ownership is now faster, cheaper, and more straightforward than ever before. While demand has surged, approval times remain historically short, and the market continues to expand.

For lawful gun owners, this represents a major shift toward treating suppressors as what they are increasingly recognized to be: safety equipment, not luxury items or criminal tools.

Sources

[1] Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives – National Firearms Act Handbookhttps://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/atf-national-firearms-act-handbook-chapter-2/download

[2] ATF – Current & Historical NFA Processing Timeshttps://www.atf.gov/resource-center/current-processing-times

[3] U.S. Congress – Budget Reconciliation Act of 2025 (Suppressor Tax Provision)https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/1

[4] American Suppressor Association – Federal Legislation Updateshttps://americansuppressorassociation.com/legislation/federal-legislation/

[5] Orchid Advisors – 2026 NFA Tax Stamp Changes: What FFLs Need to Knowhttps://orchidadvisors.com/blog/2026-nfa-tax-stamp-changes/

[6] Congressional Research Service – National Firearms Act Overview & Tax Structurehttps://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/R/R42957

[7] ATF FOIA Data – Registered Suppressors in the United Stateshttps://www.atf.gov/resource-center/data-statistics

[8] Firearms Compliance Forecasts – NFA Application Volume Projections (Q4 2025)https://orchidadvisors.com/blog/nfa-processing-delays-forecast/

[9] National Shooting Sports Foundation – Suppressor Market & Ownership Trendshttps://www.nssf.org/articles/suppressor-ownership-continues-to-rise/

[10] ATF – eForms System Overview & Improvementshttps://www.atf.gov/resource-center/docs/atf-eforms-overview/download

[11] Silencer Shop – ATF Approval Time Trackerhttps://www.silencershop.com/atf-wait-times

[12] Silencer Central – ATF Approval Speed & Dealer Logistics Changeshttps://www.silencercentral.com/blog/atf-eform-approvals/

[13] NRA-ILA – Legislative Alerts on Suppressor Tax Repealhttps://www.nraila.org/articles/20250705/congress-removes-suppressor-tax

[14] Silencer Shop Foundation / ASA – Federal Litigation Challenging NFA Authorityhttps://www.silencershopfoundation.org/

[15] Department of Justice / ATF – Firearms Trace Data & Crime Statisticshttps://www.atf.gov/resource-center/data-statistics