How to Buy a Suppressor in 2026: Step by Step, No $200 Tax Stamp
Pick your suppressor, check out, sign, and we handle the rest. We file your eForm 4, keep you updated, and deliver to your door after approval. Since January 1, 2026, there is also no $200 federal tax stamp to pay.
Can I buy a suppressor now without a tax stamp? Yes, the $200 federal tax on suppressors dropped to $0 on January 1, 2026, so there is no tax stamp to pay. Our tax stamp guide explains the change.
Do I still need a Form 4? We file an ATF Form 4 on every suppressor we sell, because it registers the suppressor to you for life. The August 5 ruling only covers certain parties, and we explain it below.
How long does it take to get a suppressor? We file within 24 hours of your prints and photo, and the ATF averaged 6 days for individual eForm 4s and 20 days for trusts in August 2026, according to our ATF wait times page.
New to suppressors? Learn how suppressors work →
How to Buy a Suppressor Online in 6 Steps
Capitol Armory handles the process from purchase through delivery. We sell the suppressor, file your eForm 4 within 24 hours, and keep your fingerprints and trust on file so future orders are easier. Here is the process from start to finish:
- Pick your suppressor. Browse videos, specs, and real-world feedback in our suppressor catalog. If you are new to suppressors, our suppressor buying guides compare models brand by brand. If you still are not sure, call us.
- Check out and choose individual or trust. Buy in your own name for the fastest approval, or use an NFA trust so the people you name can use and inherit it. If you need a trust, our $79.95 NFA trust covers every NFA item you will ever own.
- Upload your fingerprints and photo. Upload your EFT fingerprint file and a selfie, or use our at-home fingerprint kit if you do not have an EFT yet.
- E-sign your eForm 4. We prepare your ATF eForm 4, you e-sign it, and we submit it electronically within 24 hours.
- Wait for approval. The ATF approves when your FBI background check clears, often in days. Track averages on our ATF wait times page.
- Get it delivered to your door. After approval, you complete a Form 4473 online and we ship following approved ATF Procedure 2020-1, with no dealer pickup and no transfer fee. Texas residents may also pick up in Cedar Park.
Can I Buy a Suppressor Now Without a Tax Stamp or Form 4?
Is There Still a Suppressor Tax Stamp?
No, the $200 federal tax on suppressors dropped to $0 on January 1, 2026. The tax went away, but the rest of the process did not. You still complete a Form 4, pass a background check, and submit fingerprints. Our NFA tax stamp elimination guide covers what changed and what stayed the same.
Do I Still Need a Form 4? The August 5 Ruling
On August 5, 2026, a federal court ruled in Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF that the government cannot enforce certain NFA registration requirements against the parties covered by that case. It is not a repeal of the NFA and it does not change state law, and fifteen states tie lawful possession to federal registration, so the ruling may not change anything where you live.
Some dealers now sell suppressors on a Form 4473 alone in certain states. We are in a position to proceed under this ruling, but we are waiting for guidance from legal counsel before changing our process. Until then, we continue filing Form 4s through the established process, and everything on this page still applies. If you have an order with us and want us to hold it or transfer it to a dealer of your choice, let us know.
Even if we add a 4473 option later, we will still recommend the Form 4 for long-term ownership. It registers the suppressor to you for life and lets you travel and ship it for warranty work without the same legal questions. Read What the Ruling Means for Your NFA Order, our NFA Ruling Update, and 4473-Only vs Form 4: What’s the Risk? for the details.
What Is the New Process for Buying a Suppressor?
The steps are the same as before, just without the $200 payment. Pick a suppressor, choose individual or trust, submit fingerprints and a photo, e-sign your Form 4, wait for approval, and take delivery.
How Long Does It Take to Get a Suppressor?
We file your eForm 4 within 24 hours of receiving your fingerprints and photo. From there, approval is up to the ATF, which averaged 6 days for individual eForm 4s and 20 days for trust eForm 4s on applications finalized in August 2026, according to ATF data.
Half of our customers see that fast turnaround. If approval takes longer, you or someone on your trust likely received a background check delay, which can add a few months. Current numbers and what to do about delays are on our ATF Form 4 wait times page.
Who Can Buy a Suppressor?
How Old Do You Have to Be to Buy a Suppressor?
You have to be 21 to buy a suppressor from a dealer. Trustees and beneficiaries on an NFA trust can be 18 to possess one, depending on state law, according to the American Suppressor Association.
Is It Legal to Own a Suppressor?
Yes, in 42 states, as long as you pass the federal background check and register it on an approved Form 4. Eight states and Washington, D.C. prohibit suppressors outright: California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, and Rhode Island. That means you cannot buy a suppressor in California, Illinois, or New York. Check suppressor laws by state for the details.
Can I Buy a Suppressor in Any State?
No, because federal law requires a dealer to deliver a suppressor in the state where you live (18 U.S.C. § 922(b)(3)), and your state has to allow suppressors. That is why Capitol Armory has a location in each state we serve. It lets us handle the process and ship directly to your door.
What States Can You Own a Suppressor Without a Permit?
Federally, your approved Form 4 is the permit, and it is required in every state. Each of the 42 states listed below allows suppressor ownership, and your state page covers any additional state rules.
How to Buy a Suppressor in Texas in 2026
Texas buyers follow the same six steps, with the same $0 federal tax stamp. Since we are based in Cedar Park, Texas residents can pick up in person or choose door delivery. See our Texas suppressor page for state details, or check Washington, Florida, and Missouri if you live there.
Should I Buy a Suppressor Now or Wait?
There is little reason to wait. The $200 tax is already gone, so waiting will not save you money, and eForm 4 approvals are running days to weeks instead of months.
If you are waiting to see whether the August 5 ruling lets you skip the Form 4, remember that the ruling is limited, state law still applies, and a 4473-only suppressor is not registered to you.
A Form 4 bought now is yours for life, regardless of what happens next. Congress could bring the tax back, and because the August 5 decision is a court ruling rather than a law, a higher court or future administration could wipe it away. If that happens, a registered suppressor stays legal, while an unregistered one could leave you with an item that is illegal to possess and no clear way to fix it.
Your Second Suppressor Is Just a Signature Away
We securely store your trust and fingerprints, so future orders skip most of the paperwork. After the first order, the next one is largely a signature.
Ready When You Are
Thousands of customers buy suppressors through Capitol Armory each month.
Suppressor Buying Questions
Answers to the questions we hear most before someone buys a suppressor or silencer.
How do I buy a suppressor from Capitol Armory?
Pick a suppressor on our site and check out. Then upload a photo and your fingerprints, either as an EFT file or with our at-home fingerprint kit. You can buy as an individual or through a trust. If you do not have one, you can buy ours, which is legal in all 50 states. We prepare your eForm 4, you e-sign it, and we submit it to the ATF. After approval, you complete a Form 4473 online and we ship the suppressor to your door. We prompt you at each step.
Can I buy a suppressor now without a tax stamp?
Yes, the federal tax on suppressors dropped from $200 to $0 on January 1, 2026, so there is no tax stamp to pay. You still complete a Form 4, background check, and fingerprints. Our tax stamp guide has the details.
Can I buy a suppressor without a Form 4?
Only through dealers covered by the August 5, 2026 ruling, and only in states that allow it. We are waiting for guidance from legal counsel and continue filing Form 4s through the established process. We recommend the Form 4 for long-term ownership. See What the Ruling Means for Your NFA Order.
Can you buy a suppressor just like a gun now?
In some states, dealers now sell suppressors on a Form 4473 alone under the August 5 ruling. A suppressor bought that way is not registered to you. The ruling also did not change state law or the federal rules on moving an unregistered suppressor across state lines, which is why we still file a Form 4.
How long does it take to get a suppressor?
We file your eForm 4 within 24 hours after you upload your fingerprints and photo. The ATF averaged 6 days for individual eForm 4s and 20 days for trusts in August 2026, and half of our customers see that fast turnaround. If the FBI has to review a background check by hand, approval can take months. Current approval times are on our ATF wait times page.
How old do you have to be to buy a suppressor?
You have to be 21 to buy a suppressor from a dealer. Trustees and beneficiaries on an NFA trust can be 18 to possess one, depending on state law.
Is it legal to own a suppressor?
Yes, in 42 states with an approved Form 4. California, Delaware, Hawaii, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, and Washington, D.C. prohibit them.
Can I buy a suppressor in any state?
No, because a dealer has to deliver the suppressor in the state where you live, and your state has to allow suppressors. We keep a location in each of the 42 states we serve so we can ship to your door.
Should I buy a suppressor now or wait?
If you are ready, there is little reason to wait. The $200 tax is already gone, approvals are running days to weeks, and a Form 4 suppressor is registered to you for life even if Congress brings back the tax or a higher court wipes away the August 5 ruling.
How does Capitol Armory ship to my door?
Once your Form 4 is approved, we ship your suppressor to your home following approved ATF Procedure 2020-1. There is no dealer pickup, no FFL transfer, and no extra transfer fee, and we deliver to the 42 states listed below.
How do I apply for a suppressor?
We handle the application for you. Using your photo, fingerprints, and trust if you have one, we prepare your ATF eForm 4. You review and e-sign it, then we submit it electronically and keep you updated through approval.
We Ship Suppressors Direct to These 42 States
We deliver suppressors directly to your residence in the states below, with no FFL transfer, dealer pickup, or extra transfer fee.
If you are not sure whether suppressors are legal where you live, check your state’s suppressor laws →