HOW TO BUY A SUPPRESSOR
NO STAMP WAIT AS OF OCTOBER 9, 2026 · UPDATED OCTOBER 2026
BUY IT. PICK IT UP. GO SHOOT.
As of October 9, 2026 there is no tax stamp and no months of waiting
On October 9, 2026, following Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, ATF announced it is no longer enforcing the National Firearms Act registration, transfer-approval and stamp requirements on suppressors. The $200 tax had already gone to $0 on January 1, 2026; now the paperwork and the wait are gone with it.
A suppressor is still a firearm under the Gun Control Act. That means you buy it through a licensed dealer with a Form 4473 and a background check, the same as a rifle, and then you take it home. Registration is optional: if you want your can in the registry, your dealer can still file a Form 4 at your request and ATF will process it. State law applies. Fenix ships suppressors only to dealers holding a special occupational tax (SOT).
1. Build it
Pick your can in the Ghost builder: steel HD for sustained fire or titanium Ti (burst-rated, on pre-order), the calibers you shoot, a Phantom brake for each rifle, and your finish. The Ghost Complete starts at $599 with the brake in the box. Shooting rimfire? The Ghoul .22 is $225.
2. Pick a dealer
At checkout you choose the SOT dealer near you and we ship your suppressor there, usually within days. Any licensed dealer in your state with a current SOT works. Don’t have one? Use the dealer locator or ask us; we work with dealers nationwide.
3. Pick it up
Bring your photo ID. You fill out a Form 4473, your dealer runs the background check, and you walk out with your suppressor. No fingerprints, no photos, no eForms account, no waiting on an approval.
Want it registered anyway?
You can. Tell your dealer and they can file a Form 4 on your behalf; ATF continues to accept and approve them. Some people want the paper for their own reasons, and some states may require it. It is your call.
In plain terms:
| No longer enforced | ATF approval before a transfer, registration in the NFRTR, the tax stamp, the marking rules, and the Form 3 between dealers. |
| Still the law | Suppressors are firearms under the Gun Control Act: Form 4473 and a background check at a licensed dealer, no sales to prohibited persons, dealers must hold an SOT to sell them, and in-state transfer rules apply. |
| Your state | ATF’s policy changes nothing in state or local law. Most states allow suppressors; a few restrict or ban them. Check your state before you order. |
| Could it change? | ATF says enforcement could resume if the court ruling is overturned, Congress acts, or the policy is withdrawn, and that unregistered items generally can’t be registered later. That is the reason some buyers choose to register anyway. |
| Typical time | Order to your dealer: a few business days. At the counter: the time it takes to run a 4473. |
Sources: ATF’s Update to NFA Transfer Guidance (October 9, 2026) and its accompanying FAQ.
Do I still need a tax stamp?
Not as of October 9, 2026. ATF is not enforcing the stamp or the registration requirement on suppressors. You buy at your dealer on a 4473.
Can I register it anyway?
Yes. Your dealer can file a Form 4 at your request and ATF will process it. The tax is $0.
Can I take my suppressor across state lines?
Yes, to any state that allows suppressors. Check the destination state’s law before you travel.
Who can use my suppressor?
Anyone who may legally possess a firearm can shoot it with you. Lending rules follow your state’s firearm laws.
What about a trust?
You no longer need one to buy or share a suppressor. If you want to register through a trust anyway, your dealer can still file that way.
I already own a Ghost. Can I add a caliber?
Yes. Your dealer can order the endcap and install it on your registered Ghost, or buy the Apparition, which adds a caliber on its own paperwork. See the FAQ for details.
Does Fenix ship to me directly?
No. Suppressors ship only to a licensed dealer holding an SOT, and you pick up there. Phantom brakes and accessories ship straight to you.
Build your Ghost. Pick your dealer at checkout. Pick it up on a 4473.
Informational only, not legal advice. Confirm current federal and state requirements with your dealer.