How to Buy a Suppressor
As of October 9, 2026, ATF no longer requires federal approval, registration, or a tax stamp to buy a suppressor. In most states where suppressors are legal, you can now buy one at a licensed dealer with a Form 4473 and a background check, and take it home the same day.
Who can buy: You must be at least 21, legally eligible to possess a firearm, and a resident of one of the 42 states where civilian suppressor ownership is legal.
Buy a suppressor the same way you buy a handgun
Step 1: Check your state's law
Federal changes do not override state law. Your state falls into one of three groups:
| Your state | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Bans civilian ownership: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. | Suppressors remain illegal to possess. | Nothing has changed. Support reform in your state → |
| State law references NFA registration or federal approval: Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin (as of November 2026) | Possessing an unregistered suppressor may violate state law, even though ATF no longer requires registration. | File a voluntary ATF Form 4 ($0) through your dealer. |
| No state registration requirement | Federal rules alone apply. | Buy on a Form 4473 and background check. Registration is optional. |
Step 2: Choose your suppressor and dealer
Buy from a licensed dealer in your home state, or buy online and have the retailer ship it to a local dealer for the transfer. Find an ASA member dealer near you →
Step 3: Complete Form 4473 and the background check
Your dealer runs a NICS check, just like any firearm purchase. Once you are approved, you take your suppressor home.
Voluntary Federal Registration
ATF still maintains the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record and still approves NFA forms filed voluntarily. You may want to register if your state's law references NFA registration, if you want documentation in case federal enforcement resumes, or if you plan to sell or transfer the suppressor later.
To register, your dealer files an eForm 4 with photos and fingerprints for each applicant or responsible person, ATF Form 5320.23 and trust documents if buying through a trust, and a copy to your Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO). There is no tax. Recent eForm 4 processing times: 5-7 DAYS.
Other Common Questions
Making your own suppressor
ATF no longer requires an approved Form 1 to make a suppressor for personal use, though you may file one voluntarily. You still may not make suppressors for sale without a manufacturer's license, and state law still applies.
Already have a Form 4 pending?
ATF will keep processing it. To withdraw an application or remove an item from the registry, email [email protected]. Think carefully first: once removed, an item cannot be re-registered unless the Attorney General declares an amnesty.
Traveling
You no longer need ATF permission (Form 5320.20) to take a suppressor across state lines. The laws of every state you travel through and hunt in still apply.
Know the risk: ATF's change is a policy of enforcement discretion, not a repeal of the NFA. ATF says enforcement could resume if Congress adds a tax, the court ruling is overturned, or the policy is rescinded. Federal law does not grandfather unregistered items, and any amnesty would be discretionary and limited to 90 days. ASA continues to fight in court and in Congress to make these changes permanent.
This page is general information, not legal advice. For specific questions, consult ATF, your dealer, or a qualified attorney.
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