nfa FAQs
is atf eforms working?
1
eFORMS IS BACK UP AND RUNNING! WE ARE ABLE TO PROCESS IN-PERSON AND REMOTE CERTIFICATIONS.
Please be patient! Typically, big changes to the eForms systems take at least a week to properly work through.
Contact us on Facebook, Instagram, or via phone call (616)560-2566 to inquire about how eForms is functioning!
Thank you!
I PURCHASED A SILENCER, WHAT ARE MY NEXT STEPS?
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Wonderful! You’re one step closer to joining the club!
If you bought from our store:
-Keep your eye out for a “Docusign” email from SilencerShop. Sign that as soon as it comes in!
-Wait for an email regarding “Certification.” This is the process of electronically filing your Form 4. This can be done remotely (a desktop or laptop is REQUIRED) or in-store! Please have your ATF eForms Username (NOT your email!) and Four-Digit PIN ready!
-After certifying, we wait! Once an approval comes through, you will receive an email from eforms.notifications@atf.gov with a .PDF copy of your approved tax stamp. We recommend that you download a copy of this to your device. Printing is optional but recommended. If you miss the email, don’t stress! We send out phone calls and messages to every approval.
If you special ordered through us:
-Please be patient! We have no control over SilencerShop’s shipping times. With the high volume of orders that they have been receiving, their shipping times have been pretty slow.
-When it arrives in shop, we attach it to your SilencerShop account. You will receive a “Docusign” email upon assignment.
-Afterwards, the process is the same! Certify once the documents are prepared and then wait for approval!
If you ordered through SilencerShop:
-Thank you for selecting us as your dealer! We can not necessarily track suppressor shipments, as the information that we receive is simple. We can usually only tell if there are problems regarding missing information on your account. We are unable to determine an ETA on the arrival of your silencer. SilencerShop has to wait on an approval from the government before they are allowed to ship NFA items and they are based in Texas. Generally, it takes 1-2 weeks. With the tax stamp going away as of January 1st this year, the volume of calls and orders may make this wait time longer.
-Once it arrives, your contact information is already attached to it and the serial number will be tied to your account. The easiest way to determine whether or not the silencer has arrived to our store is to check your email. If you receive a “Docusign” email from SilencerShop that indicates that the suppressor is here! Sign the docusign on your device as soon as you see the email.
-The process is the same afterwards! Wait for the “Ready to Certify” email and either give us a call or stop in-store.
is the tax stamp gone?
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The tax stamp has been reduced to $0 as of January 1, 2026.
If you purchased a $200 tax stamp prior to the 1st and you did not receive an approval, you should have received a refund for the tax stamp. We are unable to assist with refunds. If you did not receive a refund, contact whoever you purchased the tax stamp through to see what their policies are.
Can i pick up my suppressor?
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We can not transfer a suppressor until the ATF provides us with an approval. The tax stamp went away at the beginning of this year, but filing a Form 4 is still required in order to possess a silencer, SBR, or SBS.
The filing process has remained the same. We file electronically through the eForms system with great help from SilencerShop. The process is streamlined, and approval times are significantly faster than filing with paper documents.
We will call you when your suppressor is ready to be picked up!
4
Trust or individual?
Trust or individual comes down to personal opinion and use-case. SilencerShop offers an easy and comprehensive guide for Trust vs. Individual here.
If you ever intend on letting someone else travel, transport, or use your suppressor when you’re not there— File as a trust to begin with. You can either file using a traditional trust, or you can use SilencerShop’s “single-shot” trust service.
You can switch registration types of an already approved suppressor. If you have not certified your silencer yet, but you wish to switch registration types, please contact SilencerShop customer support. They will have to manually change your type and reprepare your forms.
Individual:
Simple and easy. There is one piece of paperwork: Your approved tax stamp. Other people can still use your silencer, but you have to be present. If you and your buddies are shooting on a range, they can try it out and have some fun too. You are responsible for transporting and storing your NFA item. If you have a shared safe, your silencer needs to be stored separately in a safe that only you can access. For succession concerns, there are emergency forms that can be filed by the executor of the estate to pass the silencer down to someone else who is legally allowed to possess one.
Single Shot Trust:
Still simple, just a little bit more paperwork associated with it! SilencerShop offers this service for $24.95. Each individual NFA item that you file through SilencerShop will receive it’s own trust. The NFA item will be approved with only your name on it. Whenever you intend to add someone else to the trust, you just have to contact SilencerShop to receive addendum paperwork. A benefit to this trust over a traditional trust is that you can choose who gets added to each individual suppressor. On top of that, only the executor of the trust needs to be fingerprinted. Trustees do not need to go through the fingerprinting process.
Unlimited Single Shot Trust:
For $129.95 (around the price of five single shot trusts) you can purchase the unlimited single shot trust from SilencerShop. Every NFA form that you file through them will automatically be filed as a single shot trust for no extra charge. This is beneficial for people who intend on purchasing more than five NFA items and want them all to be filed as a single shot trust.
Traditional Trust:
Easy if you have one set up already; Can be costly if you do not have one set up. Everyone on the trust needs to be fingerprinted in the SilencerShop system. Once it gets approved, though, it is smooth sailing. Anyone on the trust is able to transport, use, or pick up the silencer. It is less paperwork to lug around compared to the single shot trusts. Just make sure you upload a .PDF copy of your trust onto your SilencerShop account and you are good to go!