Silencer Central applauds the ATF for resuming Form 4 approvals despite the ongoing government shutdown. Even as the federal shutdown lingers on, having the ATF back to work approving suppressor sales ensures the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans are not unduly infringed.
“We are very happy to report that, even though the federal government is still shutdown, the ATF resumed approvals of Form 4 suppressor applications on October 20, 2025,” said Brandon Maddox, Silencer Central’s founder and CEO. “I'm hopeful that because they are resuming approvals, our customers will avoid any further delays. Prior to the shutdown we were seeing 80% of approvals coming through within 24 hours. I expect we will quickly see a return to those fast approval times.”
Despite the pause, Maddox is optimistic there will be no significant backlog. The ATF likely continued background work during the closure but did not process approvals.
Before the shutdown, approximately 80% of silencer applications were approved within 24 hours. There was minimal difference between individual and trust purchases. Silencer Central offers a free trust service. Maddox recommends this route for long-term benefits, even if it might add a slight delay. That delay, if any, has been extremely short as of late.
Silencer Central pays the Tax Stamp Fee
Avoiding additional delays is critical as the suppressor industry. The ATF is prepared for a massive influx of new Form 4 applications in January 2026. This is when the federal tax stamp fee is reduced to $0. While the surge of applications may create a backlog for approvals, Silencer Central is reminding prospective customers to beat the rush and buy now. Silencer Central is currently paying the tax stamp for its customers on dozens of popular suppressor models from the industry’s leading brands.
“With approvals resuming, there’s no reason to wait until the new year to get the suppressor you want,” Maddox continued. “On select silencers, we’re paying the $200 stamp fee now, so that our customers don’t have to wait. We have worked very hard to streamline the process and make everything easier and quicker for our customers. It didn’t feel right asking them to wait for the stamp reduction when they could be enjoying the benefits of shooting suppressed, now.”
To learn more about Silencer Central’s wide selection of in-stock suppressors, simplified buying experience, to-your-door delivery, free NFA trusts, and easy-to-use customer portal, visit silencercentral.com.
On Jan. 1, 2026, the fee associated with the Federal tax Stamp is going away. You will no longer have to pay the government an additional $200 to buy a suppressor. However, the process of the stamp and the approval needed from the ATF still remains in effect.
Silencer Central was able to work with several suppressor manufacturers to cover the added cost of the Tax Stamp so that on those brands, you don't have to wait for January to get your suppressor. The added $200 is not added anywhere in your overall cost, we are covering it 100%.
Yes, by all means, you can still use EZ-Pay to break up the price of a suppressor into 4 equal installments. Keep in mind that you have to have it paid off before your silencer actually ships to your door. The terms still apply - no interest is charged to you.
Not at all. Even with the ATF being shut down for a few weeks, the process still takes a fraction of the time it used it. From the moment you finalize your purchase to it showing up on your door is now down to a matter of days, not months or years like it used to be.
While many suppressors can be used on several different caliber firearms, we have some specific models that can make your shooting more enjoyable. Pick the caliber that you have in mind. If you don’t see your caliber, pick one close to it to see our recommendations.
