This post originally came out in March of 2020 and has been updated several times with the latest information. We will keep updating things as they come about. For now, this is the most current information we have on all things related to HPA and suppressor Tax Stamps.
It has been a whirlwind of change with suppressor laws in recent weeks, with the Big, Beautiful Bill, the Hearing Protection Act, and more taking center stage. Looking for the latest information and what it means to you and your suppressor-buying options? Let's dive in and cover the basics of what everything means for you and the suppressor buying process going forward.
July, 2025: Zero-dollar tax stamps
On July 4th, President Trump signed the Big Beautiful Bill into law. Part of the bill included a revision that reduced the cost of the Tax Stamp on suppressors and short-barreled firearms, as required by the National Firearms Act (NFA), from a $200 fee to $0. So, while suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs) and short-barreled shotguns (SBSs)/Any Other Weapons (AOWs) are still part of the National Firearms Act and still face the requisite registration and regulations, the financial burden of the Tax Stamp has been removed.
It’s important to note, though, that the $0 Tax Stampdoes not go into effect until January 1, 2026. This means that for the duration of 2025, the $200 Tax Stamp is still required to purchase a suppressor.
Silencer Central is committed to bridging the gap and ensuring its customers don’t need to wait to enjoy the $0 Tax Stamp victory. At the time of writing, Silencer Central is offering to pay the tax stamps on all BANISH Suppressors, as well as select makes and models from other manufacturers. The current promotion runs through July 31, 2025, and will likely be extended through the end of the year. Be sure to check back frequently for the latest promotional and partner updates. Even though the $0 Tax Stamp provision won’t take effect until 2026, there is no reason to wait for your next suppressor purchase. Silencer Central will pay for your tax stamp, today.
When the Hearing Protection Act (HPA) reentered the conversation within the firearms community as an amendment to President Donald Trump’s “Big Beautiful Bill,” there was hope for its passing. Overall, HPA was a very small piece of the comprehensive bill, but gun rights advocates were optimistic that this was a real opportunity to begin deregulating suppressors and potentially remove them from the National Firearms Act of 1934 (NFA) and its associated restrictions and regulations.
The House passed a bill that included in its amendments both the HPA and a provision that would reduce the cost of suppressor tax stamps from $200 down to $0. Including both amendments would seem to give gun owners the greatest possibility for a legislative victory, however the ultimate disposition of 2A initiatives was far from decided. While the House passed this legislation, it hit a snag in the Senate. While the Senate bill included the HPA deregulation language, it did not include the House’s $0 Tax Stamp provision.
Unfortunately, the Senate parliamentarian – essentially a legislative referee – deemed the HPA provisions were too policy heavy to be included in a budgetary reconciliation bill, and therefore struck the language in accordance with Byrd Rule requirements. Luckily, the House’s $0 Tax Stamp provision was included in the joint conference bill and did meet with the parliamentarian's approval. Upon approval from both houses of Congress, the revised bill was then sent to President Donald Trump and signed into law on July 4, 2025.
While not the complete victory Silencer Central and its customers hoped for, the reduction of the NFA Tax Stamp from $200 to $0 represents the most significant step towards suppressor deregulation in more than 90 years. More work remains to achieve the aims of the Hearing Protection Act, and Silencer Central is committed to seeing it through.
What is The Hearing Protection Act?
For a few years now, we’ve heard talk about the Hearing Protection Act. It has promised to make silencer ownership easy and free of burdensome paperwork, expensive tax stamps, and Federal registration. However, like many bills that promise to reform government and reduce the power of the ATF, there are a lot of rumors, questions, and confusion.
If, like many gun owners, you are wondering about the Hearing Protection Act – where it came from, what is the current status and has it actually passed – here’s some more information to help you understand what was proposed and what happened.
The Hearing Protection Act was a bill first introduced in Congress in 2017 that sought to remove silencers from the purview of the National Firearms Act of 1934. This would have done away with the Federal registration of silencers and allowed them to be sold by any FFL and subject to the same background check as common firearms.
Many gun owners believed with the Republican Party controlling the White House and all of Congress, the Hearing Protection Act would quickly pass. However, it did not gain the traction many hoped for, and it became a symbol of the Republican Party failing to advance the interests of gun owners in Congress when they had the chance.
Had it passed, silencers would be freely sold by any FFL holder and transferred on an ATF form 4473 just like a rifle or shotgun. It was hoped that this deregulation would increase silencer ownership and put the United States on par with many European nations that encourage or require the use of silencers in many shooting and hunting situations. Apparently, this is the one piece of European-style gun legislation that did not sit well with the anti-gun left.
Silencer Central is a supporter of the HPA concept. We also would seek dissolvement of the $200 tax at the same time, we realize the Federal Government never likes to give up a tax. Customer demand for silencers would increase exponentially; which is would be a huge win for the 2nd Amendment Community. We got that victory on July 4, 2025.
Does this mean HPA is dead in the water? Who knows? For now, it looks as though there will be no further action as the HPA bill would need to be reintroduced and go through the process again as a stand-alone bill. As with anything in the political process, there is always hope, but things move at a pace that makes a snail look fast.
The GOP never passed the Hearing Protection Act when they have had the chance. Getting the public and Congress willing to have a sane, rational discussion about silencers doesn’t seem to be something that will be happening anytime soon. For the moment, we have to chalk the Hearing Protection Act up as another victim of a highly divided America that can’t seem to agree on anything, no matter who is in charge.
We’d like to see sensible NFA reform but folks have been saying that since 1934, so, unfortunately, there is little reason to expect it any time soon.
If you don't want to wait, hit the link below and start shopping for a suppressor today.
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.
