$200 federal tax on firearm suppressors goes away Jan. 1

Washington, D.C. — Legislation passed on July 4 brought a major shift to the firearms suppressor world. Starting Jan. 1, 2026, the $200 federal tax stamp on silencers will be eliminated.

Firearms owners will still have to complete the ATF Form 4 and pass a background check – none of that goes away. But the $200 payment that’s been required since the 1930s is now out the door. Any Form 4 submitted before that date will still require the tax stamp.

This law change not only applies to suppressors, but also to the purchase of short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and even AOWs (any other weapon). It’s a massive win for the National Firearms Act community and a long-overdue step toward normalizing these legally owned tools.

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What it means for buyers

When costs drop and barriers fall, people tend to act.

The industry expects to see a wave of new suppressor buyers entering the market. As with past moments of National Firearms Act reform, or panic buying, some models may sell out quickly. Buyers who know what they want should plan accordingly.

ATF processing may slow down early next year. While the tax may be gone, the paperwork isn’t. It’s expected that a surge of Form 4s will be submitted in early 2026 and the ATF’s systems and staff will feel it. Delays are likely. If the goal is to be shooting suppressed as soon as possible, filing before the rush may be worth it.

Anyone who wants to have a suppressor in-hand before the crowd floods in with applications, now might be the time to buy. Yes, the $200 tax will apply, but they early birds, so to speak, will likely beat the rush and get a suppressor approved much sooner. ATF Form 4 approval times are at an all-time low at the time this article was written.

Potential buyers cab also watch for dealer incentives now. Check with dealers to see if they’re offering any incentives or free tax stamp promotions right now. Offers are already out there, but they’re changing daily.

If you find a deal, jump on it.

Buying as a trust

Firearms owners have two primary choices for buying a suppressor: as an individual or as a legal trust. The main considerations relate to how a person intends to use the silencer and what happens to it, legally, upon death.

Individuals may buy and use a suppressor, travel with it (where doing so is legal) – everything that might be expected as an owner. There are limitations, though, on registered owners as far as who else may possess the silencer. Suppressors may not be loaned to a friend or relative unless the owner accompanies it. When the owner of a suppressor passes away, the estate executor may have a headache to deal with even if there is a named beneficiary.

Registering as a trust allows the owner to add others to the trust. These other people may possess and use the can at the owner’s discretion. And the owner may name, in trust documents, who the silencer (and trust) will pass to when that time eventually comes.

Several companies will help buyers navigate the process of buying a suppressor. Silencer Central creates a free suppressor trust for those who buy through them, so a spouse and children may also possess the suppressor. Silencer Central walks buyers through every step and double checks the paperwork before it is submitted to the ATF. And when an application is approved, they ship the suppressor to the buyer’s home, which might still take several weeks or months.

Timing the purchase

Considering the options, many buyers would rather file now, pay the $200 and beat the rush next year when the system is expected to be bogged down in a flood of applications.

Those who don’t want to pay the $200 tax and are worried about inventory shortages may buy now and file come Jan. 1, 2026.

Ultimately, it comes down to whether spending $200 is worth having a silencer in hand months earlier and beating the rush.