Buying a suppressor got simpler in 2026, but how simple depends on your state. This guide covers where things stand today.
What changed in 2026
- 1 January 2026: the federal NFA tax on suppressors dropped from $200 to $0.
- 9 October 2026: after Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, ATF said it is not enforcing NFA registration, approval or tax-stamp requirements for suppressors. Suppressors are still listed in the National Firearms Act; ATF is choosing not to enforce those parts, and has said that can be reversed. Read ATF's guidance.
- Still true everywhere: federal law requires buying from a licensed dealer in your state of residence, with a background check on ATF Form 4473.
Step by step
1. Check your state
Civilian ownership is banned in California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. Hunting with a suppressor is legal in 41 states. See current lists for ownership and hunting.
2. Pick a can and a dealer
Suppressors ship only to a licensed dealer, an FFL that has paid the special occupational tax (SOT), in your state. They can't be shipped to your home.
3. Do the paperwork your state requires
Everyone completes a Form 4473 and a background check at the dealer. In Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Washington and Wisconsin, state law still requires an approved ATF Form 4. Dealers elsewhere may also choose to use one.
If you file a Form 4, it goes through ATF eForms with fingerprints, a photo, and a copy to your local chief law enforcement officer. ATF reported average eForm 4 approval times in August 2026 of about 6 days for individuals and 20 days for trusts (current times).
4. Pick it up
Once your paperwork clears, collect the can from your dealer.
Individual or trust?
Buying as an individual is quickest. A gun trust lets more than one person legally possess the same NFA items, which matters for families. If you're in a Form 4 state, every responsible person on a trust submits fingerprints and photos. A trust attorney can tell you whether it's worth it for you.
Age
You must be 21 to buy a suppressor from a dealer under federal law. State law may add rules about possession.
Traveling with a can
ATF Form 5320.20 has never been required to take a suppressor across state lines. The laws of the state you're traveling to still apply, so don't take a can into a state that bans them.