On January 1, 2026, the long-awaited removal of the
$200 federal tax stamp fee for suppressors officially takes effect. This change
is a huge win for the firearms community and will save shooters money in the
long run.
But here’s the reality: once that date hits, demand will
skyrocket, the ATF will be buried under Form 4 applications, and suppressor
inventory could dry up almost overnight. If you’re serious about owning a
suppressor, waiting until the new year may actually set you back months—or even
years.
At Native Outdoors, we believe that buying now is the
smarter move, and here’s why.
The Coming Surge in Applications
For decades, the $200 NFA tax stamp has been a barrier to
entry for many shooters. With that cost eliminated, thousands of first-time
buyers will rush to file their Form 4s on January 1.
When the ATF experienced a similar spike in 2016, approval
times ballooned to over a year. With the current eForms system already
stretched thin, a massive influx of applications could easily create another
long-term backlog.
If you wait until January, you’ll be in the same line as
everyone else—and that line will be long.
Supply Will Struggle to Keep Up
Suppressor manufacturers are already bracing for record
demand. Once January hits, popular models will disappear quickly, and restocks
will be limited. There is no guarantee the suppressor available now will be
available when the new year hits, and could be backordered for some time.
Think back to the ammo shortage around Covid—once shelves
were empty, it took months before shooters could reliably find what they needed
again. Expect a similar scenario for suppressors in early 2026.
Why Buying Now Makes Sense
Here’s the good news: right now, approval times are at
some of their fastest in history—just a few days to a few weeks with
eForms. That means you could have your suppressor in hand before the New Year,
while others are still waiting for their paperwork to clear.
By purchasing now:
- ✅
You lock in the suppressor you want before inventory disappears
- ✅
You avoid the January application flood and massive ATF backlog
- ✅
You enjoy one of the fastest approval timelines ever seen
Yes, you’ll pay the $200 tax stamp—but in exchange, you’ll
actually have your suppressor in hand and ready to use, instead of waiting
potentially a year or more.
The Bottom Line
The removal of the $200 suppressor tax stamp is a historic
win for gun owners—but it will also create an unprecedented rush that could
cripple the system.
If you’ve been thinking about adding a suppressor to your
collection, the best time to buy is right now. Beat the rush, take
advantage of short approval times, and secure your suppressor before the
shelves are empty.
