Suppressor law update — August 14, 2026
A federal court struck down NFA registration for suppressors on August 5, but the order is far narrower than the headlines suggest and the ATF has issued no guidance to dealers. Our process has not changed — we are still filing Form 4s, and your tax stamp is still $0. Read the full breakdown from our SOT desk →
Suppressors, short-barreled rifles and other NFA items are legal to own in Texas, and buying one is a lot less complicated than most people expect. Western Sport has been an SOT / Class III dealer since 2007 and we handle the ATF paperwork in-house — you don’t fill out forms alone at your kitchen table.
What Counts as an NFA Item
The National Firearms Act covers a specific list: suppressors (silencers), short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), any other weapons (AOWs), machine guns, and destructive devices. Everything on that list has to be registered with the ATF and transferred through a dealer like us. Suppressors are by far the most common thing our customers buy, and they’re the easiest place to start.
The $200 Tax Stamp Is Gone on Suppressors
This is the big one. As of January 1, 2026, the federal transfer and making tax on suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs dropped from $200 to $0. Machine guns and destructive devices still carry the $200 tax.
To be clear about what did not change: you still file an ATF Form 4, you still submit fingerprints and a passport photo, you still go through the background check, and the item is still registered. The tax line simply came off the form. If you’ve been putting off a suppressor because of the stamp, that reason is gone.
How Buying a Suppressor Actually Works
- Pick your can. Buy it in the store or online. We hold it here in the safe — it’s yours, it just can’t leave with you yet.
- Individual or trust. Decide whose name it goes in (more on that below).
- Paperwork. We file the Form 4 electronically, take your fingerprints and photo, and submit it. This is the part we do for you.
- ATF review. The ATF runs the background check and approves the transfer.
- Pick it up. We call you the day approval lands. Come in, sign, and take it home.
Individual or Gun Trust?
Filing as an individual is simpler and cheaper — the suppressor is registered to you, and only you may possess it. A gun trust lets you name other responsible people who can legally possess the item, and it makes passing it to family later much cleaner. Trusts cost a bit up front to set up and every responsible person on the trust submits prints and photos. Neither one is faster than the other at the ATF. We’ll walk you through which fits your situation.
How Long Does Approval Take?
Electronic filing is dramatically faster than the old paper process, but the tax change pulled a wave of buyers off the sidelines and application volume is up sharply. Rather than quote you a number that’s stale by the time you read it, call us at (817) 393-4000 and we’ll tell you what we’re actually seeing on approvals this week.
Why Buy Your NFA Items from Western Sport
- SOT / Class III dealer since 2007 — this is not a sideline for us.
- All ATF paperwork handled in-house, including fingerprints and photos.
- Real inventory in the shop in Roanoke, Texas, not a drop-ship catalog.
- We ship to FFL and SOT dealers all over the United States and will help you find one near you.
This page is general information about how NFA transfers work, not legal advice. State and local rules vary, and federal requirements change — call us and we’ll tell you where things stand today.