Last updated: October 21, 2026. Federal suppressor rules changed twice in 2026. This guide explains where things stand today and how to buy a silencer online from JCM Armory and pick it up at your local FFL. We do not ship to California or to any state where civilians can’t own suppressors.
This is general information, not legal advice. Federal enforcement policy can change, and your state’s law still applies. Check your state’s rules or talk to a lawyer before you buy.
Suppressors are now a 4473 transfer: no Form 4, no tax stamp, no wait (where state law allows).
Since October 9, 2026, ATF does not enforce Form 4 approval or registration for suppressors. You fill out a Form 4473, pass the NICS background check and take your suppressor home, the same as buying a rifle. State and local law still applies, and some states tie suppressor ownership to NFA registration (see below). Shop suppressors →
What changed in 2026
- January 1, 2026: the $200 tax stamp went to $0. Section 70436 of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (Public Law 119-21, signed July 4, 2025) amended 26 U.S.C. 5811(a) and 5821(a). It set the federal making and transfer tax at $0 for suppressors, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns and “any other weapons.” Machine guns and destructive devices still carry the $200 tax. ATF updated Form 4 and eForms with a “$0” option. [ATF Form 4 change notice]
- August 5, 2026: a federal court ruling. In Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, No. 6:25-cv-056 (N.D. Tex.), the court held that, with the tax at $0, the NFA’s registration and transfer-approval rules for these items are no longer a valid use of Congress’s taxing power. It barred ATF from enforcing them against the plaintiffs, effective August 12, 2026. The ruling covers only the plaintiffs and their members and customers, and it does not bind other courts. [ATF FAQ]
- October 9, 2026: ATF stopped enforcing for everyone. In an Open Letter, ATF announced that, as a matter of enforcement discretion, it will no longer require anyone to get ATF approval (Form 4) or register a suppressor, SBR, SBS or AOW in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record. This applies to everyone, not just the plaintiffs. ATF also won’t enforce the NFA rule against moving unregistered suppressors across state lines. [ATF press release] [ATF Open Letter]
- What did NOT change. Suppressors are still “firearms” under the Gun Control Act. Your dealer must have you fill out a Form 4473 and run a NICS background check. Prohibited persons still can’t own one. Dealers still pay the NFA special occupational tax. And state and local laws are unaffected, including state bans and state laws that require an item to be registered under federal law. [ATF FAQ]
- Form 4 and eForms still exist, but filing is voluntary. ATF says it will keep accepting and approving Form 4 and Form 1 applications for people who choose to file. Because the federal approval step is no longer enforced, the old 2023–2025 wait times for those items no longer stand between you and pickup.
- Still uncertain. ATF’s change is an enforcement policy, not a repeal of the law. A future policy, another court, or Congress could change it. ATF itself notes that the Texas ruling doesn’t bind other courts, and state attorneys general have asked that court to clarify the scope of its injunction. We’ll update this page as things change.
How to buy a silencer online from JCM Armory (October 2026)
- Check your state. Make sure civilian suppressor ownership is legal where you live (see the list below). Some states also allow them only if they’re “registered” or “possessed in compliance with federal law.” In those states, ask your FFL about filing a voluntary Form 4 with ATF.
- Pick your can. Shop our suppressors and match the caliber and thread pitch to your host firearm.
- Choose your local FFL at checkout. We ship to a licensed dealer near you. They have to be willing to transfer suppressors, so call them first.
- Pick it up your way. At JCM you choose one of the two options below.
Your two options at pickup
Option 1: Walk out today (Form 4473 + NICS)
You fill out a Form 4473, pass the NICS background check and take your suppressor home, the same as buying a rifle. Since October 9, 2026, ATF does not enforce Form 4 approval or registration for suppressors.
- Pros: no wait, no fingerprints, no photos, no trust needed.
- Keep in mind: this relies on ATF’s current enforcement policy, which could change. Some states only allow suppressors that are registered or held in compliance with federal law.
Option 2: File a voluntary Form 4 ($0 stamp)
We file an ATF Form 4 for you with the $0 tax option. Your suppressor is then registered in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record, and you get an approved form for your records.
- Pros: you have federal paperwork on file if the policy or the courts change. It also helps if your state requires NFA items to be registered under federal law, and it gives you proof of lawful ownership when you travel or move to another state.
- Keep in mind: you wait for ATF to process the form, and you may need to provide fingerprints and photos according to ATF’s current Form 4 instructions.
Not sure which to choose? Call us at (410) 419-9896.
Fingerprints, photos and trusts
Under the old rules, buyers sent in fingerprint cards and a photo with a Form 4, and many bought through an NFA gun trust so family members could use the suppressor. With federal approval no longer enforced for suppressors, none of that is required federally right now. A trust can still help with estate planning, and anyone who files a voluntary Form 4 should follow ATF’s current form instructions.
Which states allow suppressors?
Most states allow civilian suppressor ownership. Under federal law, a dealer may not sell or deliver one to you if your state or local law forbids it (18 U.S.C. 922(b)(2)). We do not ship suppressors to these places, which ban civilian possession: California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island and Washington, D.C. (Statutes: Cal. Penal Code §33410; N.Y. Penal Law §265.02(2); N.J.S. 2C:39-3(c); Mass. G.L. c.269 §10A; 720 ILCS 5/24-1(a)(6); 11 Del. C. §1444(a)(3); Haw. Rev. Stat. §134-8(a); R.I. Gen. Laws §11-47-20; D.C. Code §22-4514(a). Checked October 21, 2026.) Hunting with a suppressor is a separate question and is regulated state by state, so check your state wildlife agency’s rules.
States where the law references NFA registration. Several states only allow suppressors that are registered under, or held in compliance with, the National Firearms Act. Of the states we have state pages for, that includes Arizona, Georgia, Michigan, North Carolina, Ohio and Pennsylvania. If you live in one of these states, we recommend filing the voluntary $0 Form 4. Other states may have similar wording, so check your state’s law or call us before you choose the 4473-only option.
Silencer laws by state
State-specific rules for owning and hunting with a suppressor:
- Arizona silencer laws
- Florida silencer laws
- Georgia silencer laws
- Michigan silencer laws
- North Carolina silencer laws
- Ohio silencer laws
- Pennsylvania silencer laws
- Tennessee silencer laws
- Texas silencer laws
- Virginia silencer laws
Pair it with subsonic ammo
A suppressor works best with subsonic ammunition. Supersonic bullets make their own loud “crack” as they break the sound barrier, which a suppressor can’t remove. Subsonic loads stay under the speed of sound (about 1,100 feet per second), so with a can on the muzzle you mostly hear the action cycling. Popular pairings are 300 Blackout subsonic for rifles, 9mm 147-grain for pistols and PCCs, and 22 LR subsonic for rimfire cans. Heavier subsonic bullets may need a host and twist rate that stabilize them, so check your barrel before you buy.
Why buy from JCM Armory?
We’re a licensed dealer in Joppa, Maryland, and we have handled NFA transfers for years. We ship to your local FFL in every state where suppressors are legal, and we answer the phone: (410) 419-9896.
Frequently asked questions
Is there still a $200 tax stamp on suppressors?
No. Since January 1, 2026, the federal tax on making or transferring a suppressor is $0 under Public Law 119-21. Machine guns and destructive devices still carry the $200 tax.
Do I still need ATF approval or a Form 4 to buy a suppressor?
Not under ATF’s current policy (since October 9, 2026). At JCM you can walk out on a 4473 and NICS check, or file a voluntary $0 Form 4 if you want the registration on file. You still fill out a Form 4473 and pass a background check at your FFL, and your state’s law still applies.
How long is the wait?
With no federal approval step being enforced, you can usually pick up once your suppressor reaches your FFL and you pass the background check. If you choose to file a voluntary Form 4, ATF’s processing time applies.
Do I need fingerprints or a trust?
Not if you take Option 1. If you file a voluntary Form 4, follow ATF’s current instructions. A trust can still be useful for sharing a suppressor with family or for estate planning.
Can you ship a suppressor to my state?
We ship to licensed dealers in states where civilians can own suppressors. We never ship to California, New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Illinois, Delaware, Hawaii, Rhode Island or Washington, D.C.
Could these rules change again?
Yes. ATF’s October 2026 change is an enforcement policy, and the court ruling behind it binds only the parties in that case. We’ll keep this page updated.