The Dawn of Free NFA Stamps: A Quiet Revolution

Jake McMahan   Jul 17, 2025

What’s changed?
On July 4, 2025, President Trump signed the “One Big, Beautiful Bill” (H.R. 1), which slashes the $200 federal tax stamp for both manufacturing (Form 1) and transfer (Form 4) of suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs. That’s right—starting Jan. 1, 2026, the Feds won’t charge the traditional $200 NFA fee for these items

 

Buyer beware: machine guns and destructive devices remain under the old regime—still subject to the $200 transfer and making tax Guns.com+2Wikipedia+2Reddit+2.

 

Financial Relief

The $200 tax acted as a substantial barrier since 1934—equivalent to around $4,800 today. Now, that cost is gone, potentially saving consumers thousands over multiple NFA purchases.

 

A Step Toward Full Deregulation

While bureaucracy remains—Forms 1 and 4, background checks, fingerprints, and serial registration endure—this shift edges suppressors and SBRs closer to Title I firearms SilencerCo+11Guns.com+11The Washington Post+11NRA-ILA+10National Gun Trusts+10Guns.com+10. It's a major win, even if it's not a full repeal.

 

What’s Still the Same

• ATF paperwork stays in place: No elimination of Form 1/Form 4, fingerprints, photos, or federal registration

• Legal obligations intact: Unregistered NFA weapons still pose steep criminal penalties.

• Selective deregulation: Only suppressors, SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs benefit; machine guns and destructive devices do not 

 

Even before the law becomes official in 2026, several suppressor dealers are offering promotions to cover the $200 tax:

• Silencer Central, Guns.com, and others have active programs through July 31, 2025—“use code STAMP” or they take care of the tax for you 

• Dealers expect a surge in demand ahead of January, and some are even shipping now to take advantage of the free-stamp offers .

 

 What You Should Know Now

Date	Action
Before Jan. 1, 2026	You can still buy with the $200 tax, but retailers are covering it through July 31.
Jan. 1, 2026 onward	Tax stamp cost officially drops to $0. Procedure remains the same.

Retailers are urging buyers to act now—either to lock in free stamps or prep for stock shortages and skyrocketing demand

 

Final Take

The elimination of the $200 tax for NFA stamps marks the most significant NFA-related reform in nearly a century. It's a massive financial win—especially if you're planning multiple suppressors or SBR/SBS items. But remember: the paperwork and federal oversight remain firmly in place.

If you're considering NFA gear, now is a great time to act—beat the Jan. 2026 implementation, grab a free stamp via current promos, and stay ahead of the crowd.