ATF Form 4 (Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of Firearm) is a document used by individuals or entities to transfer ownership of a National Firearms Act (NFA) item, such as suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), and machine guns, from a Federal Firearms Licensee (FFL) to a private individual or trust. The approval process can take several months (the NFA item/firearm cannot be transferred until the ATF grants approval.

ATF electronic Form 4’s will change the Form 4 from a paper process to an entirely digital process. Silencer Central will submit everything to the ATF digitally and the ATF will send their approval digitally. This will speed up the process of buying and waiting for approval.

When it comes to the government – and especially the ATF – one can never know for sure. At present, we don’t know how much faster it will be. With that said, our research based on previous electronic Form 4 approvals and the current electronic Form 1 approvals suggests that once this process gets rolling, the total time needed to secure a transfer approval of a silencer should be reduced from the current 10 months (or more) wait time, to an approximate 90 days.

The biggest change for the customer will be to acquire your username and PIN from the ATF.  To create an eForms account, visit eforms.atf.gov to start the process. You will then receive your username from the ATF (they pick it, you do not) and choose a password and PIN (you pick it, they do not).

You will still provide our silencer fulfillment partner (Silencer Central) with your personal information, your fingerprints and your photo. Our fulfillment Partner will submit all of your information electronically through the eForms website AND your wait time will significantly decrease.

The most important change that the ATF has made is the usage and creation of a PIN that will help submit your form digitally. This process will be similar to the pins that have been used for years with ATF Forms 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6.

To create an eForms account, visit eforms.atf.gov to start the process. You will then receive your username from the ATF (the ATF picks your username, you do not) and create a password and PIN (you pick these, they do not).

The ATF’s new electronic version of the Form 4 will greatly expedite the time required to make these transfers. When a transfer applicant or dealer enters the data electronically, the data will now be transmitted digitally. This cuts out the repetitive need for data entry and validation.

Electronic Form 4 submissions should arrive at the ATF instantaneously, ready for the approval process. All of the time needed for data entry will be cut from the processing time.

Yes, you can add any silencer to a trust after you buy it by filing as an individual. Just know that you will need to have legal help is setting up the new trust and adding in the silencer. There will likely be fees involved, but we can’t predict what those will be. There is also the issue of a tax stamp. If you transfer your silencer to a trust, you will need to buy a new tax stamp for it under the trust, according to the ATF.

The short answer is yes, you likely will – for now. Approval times for trusts are speeding up, and batch approvals are happening, too. We have been working with the ATF to help make the process for trusts faster, but individual approvals are currently faster.

The paper version will still be an option. If for any reason you decide you would rather submit on paper, you certainly can, and Silencer Central can still do that on your behalf as we have been doing for years. The wait time will remain similar to what it is currently.

There are two answers to this question. The first is that it takes longer for documents to be sent through the mail.

The second reason is the amount of time devoted to data entry. When a silencer dealer or individual sends completed paperwork to the ATF to secure permission for a Form 4 transfer, employees at the ATF have to manually enter the data from the forms. (Yes, that’s right: the ATF takes your paper form and enters it into a computer instead of just having you enter it electronically in the first place.)

As you can imagine, this is a time-consuming process. The data must be entered, and then checked, and this process is typically taking upwards of 9 months as of the time of writing.

The real answer to this is that it is entirely up to you. Only you can decide what works best for your circumstances. Most people prefer trusts for the flexibility they provide. That’s why Silencer Central offers trust setup as a free service. However, we also see the benefit to individual filing, as you will likely get your silencer faster. Go through all the pros and cons to each and just know that we’re here to help you regardless of what you choose.

Yes, we anticipate a significant decrease in wait times with using ATF eForm 4 vs. paper submissions.

That is the goal that the silencer industry and the ATF are working toward. We are always looking at how we can optimize our process, and we work with the ATF to see what can be done better. The ATF has told us that they are adding more staff and are working toward having the approval process be as close to equal as possible. But it isn’t there yet. We will keep everyone informed.

The eForms process only enhances the process. We will have the ability to mail your silencer directly to you in specific states. The variances we have with the ATF have allowed us to run most of our processes digitally so the only piece that is changing is we will now submit your application electronically to the ATF.

Until recently, most Americans thought silencers were illegal. There are many benefits: better hunting, most silencers are safe to shoot without hearing protection, reduced recoil, better accuracy, and happy neighbors. This market segment is the fastest growing in the firearms industry.

There are countless benefits of owning a silencer, a few of which include:

1. Better Experience – Game is less likely to spook while hunting.
2. Reduces Recoil – Significantly reduces recoil when you shoot.
3. Increased Accuracy – Because of recoil reduction.
4. Less Noise – Means you won’t disrupt neighbors, family or pets.
5. Great for Family – Added safety for even the youngest family members.

We strive to only sell high quality suppressors. Currently, our fulfillment partner tests each silencer with a Bruel & Kjaer 2209 military grade sound testing meter that meets all military standards for silencer testing.

As the only silencer dealer in the country with this testing meter and one of only a few manufacturers with it, we can guarantee the quality of our products due to our rigorous testing process. We don’t carry any silencers that don’t meet our strict criteria and as such, you can purchase any of our products with confidence.

The only silencer as quiet in real life as it appears in movies is the .22 rimfire. All other calibers will sound like a .22 short to a .22 long when suppressed. This makes most silencers hearing safe, meaning you won’t need additional hearing protection with most silencers. The use of sub-sonic ammo can further reduce noise as the ammo doesn’t break the sound barrier (which creates a loud sonic crack).

No, when you purchase your next suppressor you will still need to complete the ATF application process, pay the $206 tax stamp, and wait for approval.

In partnership with our silencer fulfillment Partner (Silencer Central), we offer a FREE NFA Trust with the purchase of each silencer.

• NFA trusts allow sharing ownership of silencers with others.
• Trusts ensure the next generation inherits your suppressor.
• Silencer Central has done over 15,000 gun trust silencer transfers and counting!

The gun trust is 20 plus pages and allows you to add unlimited co-trustees to also use your silencers or other NFA items. We also help ensure you completed the gun trust correctly so ATF does not reject it.

You can hunt all game animals with a silencer in the following states: Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

Check local silencer laws for other states.

Yes. Buy one silencer and you can use it on all guns of smaller caliber. For example, if you bought the Banish 30 Multi-Caliber Suppressor, it will work with all of your rifle calibers from .17 to .30 caliber magnums

Currently, our silencer fulfillment Partner is licensed to sell directly to residents in all 42 states where silencers are legal, including Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Nevada, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.

For most customers, we’re able to mail the approved silencer and all forms directly to you, meaning you’ll never have to visit a physical location. This enables us to sell to customers across the states listed above, no matter their zip code!

Yes! Doing so is very common with a stacked baffle design, like the BANISH 30.

Having one silencer for all rifle applications doesn’t often impact performance because .308 silencers are longer with additional baffles. Due to its light weight, titanium is one of the most popular materials for application on all sub calibers. Please note that not all .308 silencers work well on a .223. Stack baffle design is typically best for dual application because there is a greater surface area to remove heat from the blast.

In recent tests, we found that our own exclusive silencer, the BANISH 30, was quieter on a .223 than a .223 silencer was. Additionally, some silencer brands are not hearing safe on all sub-calibers. As such, it’s best to ask our customer service team if you have a specific question about certain models.

1. You will receive an email with instructions on how to complete the required Form 4473. Once the form is completed, we’ll send you a signature request to review and digitally sign.
2. We are required to notify your local law enforcement agency that we are shipping your silencer(s) to you. We must wait 7 days after confirmed delivery of this notification before we can ship to you.
3. You will receive a shipping notification with tracking information once we prepare your order to ship. Please note: tracking may not be live for 1-2 business days. Adult signature is required at the time of delivery.

Your ATF Form 4 application must include a passport style photo. Here are some tips to take the best picture.

1. The image will be cropped to a 2″x2″ square size.
2. The photo should be taken in front of a solid white background.
3. Photos must be taken in full face view. The top of your head and your shoulders need to be in full view (there should be white space above your head).
4. Remove any head coverings that would obscure your hair or hairline, including sunglasses, hats, and toupees.

Login to the Silencer Central fulfillment portal to upload your photo.

Buying a silencer can be an intimidating task. Dealing with the government and their seemingly constantly changing laws is enough to discourage even the most savvy shooting enthusiast. In partnership with Silencer Central, we aim to simplify the process for owning a silencer. We do all the work for you.

1. Select your silencer – We offer the best brands and can help you choose the silencer that’s right for you.
2. We do the paperwork – We will manage the entire buying process for you, let you pay for your silencer in installments and even set up a free NFA Gun Trust through our fulfilment partner (Silencer Central) that allows others to use your silencer.
3. Direct-to-your-door shipping – Once approved, we will ship you new silencer directly to your door.

Through our fulfilment partner (Silencer Central) we offer a Gun Trust free for all our customers. In fact, 99.5% of our customers choose to purchase their Class 3 items through a Gun Trust.

Through a Gun Trust, you can create a “joint ownership” scenario in which you can legally share your silencer. You can also select who will inherit it. Because we have a full-time staff to assist with your paperwork, we work to ensure that the ATF won’t reject your paperwork. To discuss further benefits of a Gun Trust, contact a member of our team at 888.781.8778

No! The best way to think of a silencer purchase is as a “title” transfer between our company and your Gun Trust or to you directly. While ATF must approve this transfer (which we will assist with), you do not physically need your own license to make a purchase.

Yes, there is a $206 Tax Stamp required per silencer. This fee is tax deductible and is a one-time fee. The best way to conceptualize this fee is as a title transfer tax.

Search our site for “silencer” to see our current assortment. We will work to keep adding the highest quality silencers in the industry.

One of the most significant benefits purchasing a silencer from us is that our fulfillment partner will manage your entire buying process and submit your paperwork quickly so the ATF can begin the approval process. Of course, the time for ATF approval following our processing may fluctuate depending upon demand placed on the ATF. Here are the average ATF approval timeframes as of Jan 2025. Your approval times may vary.

• Individual eForm 4 submissions: ~1 month
• Trust/Corporation eForm 4 submissions: ~40-60 days
• Paper Form 4 Trust/Corp: ~200-220 days
• Form 3 (dealer to dealer transfer): 1-4 days

While we make every effort to fulfill your entire order, on rare occasion we may need to cancel one or more item(s). If we are unable to fulfill your order due to merchandise out of stock, you will receive a cancellation e-mail and will not be charged for unshipped item(s).

Your silencer is shipped to your front door as soon as all federal requirements have been met. Once your order leaves our licensed location in your state, it is delivered to you within 3-5 business days. Please note: adult signature is required at delivery.

Absolutely! When entering your billing address be sure to select to ship to a different address. Silencer Central only ships to the 42 states where silencers are legal.

Orders are shipped from licensed FFL locations throughout the US. Adult signature is required at the time of delivery.

At this time we only ship to approved states in the United States.

Currently we accept major credit cards and Sportsman’s Warehouse gift cards. All prices/amounts are in U.S. dollars.

Yes. Current law requires us to collect sales or other applicable state taxes, based on the order’s “ship to” address. We follow the guidelines for each state as they pertain to your order. All applicable taxes will be clearly displayed on the invoice that accompanies your order. Note: State sales and other tax rates are subject to change at any time.

Gift cards can be used to purchase any item on our site.