Last reviewed November 1, 2026
Where the NFA Stands in 2026
The National Firearms Act of 1934 taxed and registered suppressors, short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), “any other weapons” (AOWs), machine guns and destructive devices. For 90 years that meant a $200 tax stamp, fingerprints, photos and months of waiting. 2026 changed most of that.
Your screen can handle more maps. Probably. See the State Gun Law Maps
NFA Items Allowed (39): Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Mexico, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Wyoming
Some NFA Items Banned (4): Iowa, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Washington
Most NFA Items Banned (9): California, Delaware, District of Columbia, Hawaii, Illinois, New Jersey, New York, Puerto Rico, Rhode Island
How this map is researched, from statute to state note: How We Research.
- January 1, 2026: The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 4, 2025) cut the making and transfer tax on suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs from $200 to $0.
- August 5, 2026: In Silencer Shop Foundation v. ATF, a federal judge in the Northern District of Texas ruled that with no tax left, NFA registration for those four categories no longer rests on Congress’s taxing power. The injunction covered the plaintiffs, their members and customers, and 15 states.
- September 24, 2026: The Justice Department told Congress it would not appeal.
- October 9, 2026: ATF announced it will no longer require Form 1 or Form 4 approval or NFA registration for suppressors, SBRs, SBSs and AOWs, nationwide.
What still applies
- Buying from a dealer still means a Form 4473 and a background check. Prohibited persons are still prohibited.
- SBR and SBS owners still file ATF Form 20 before taking them across state lines.
- Machine guns and destructive devices are unchanged: $200 tax, full registration, and only machine guns registered before May 19, 1986 can be transferred to civilians.
- State law still controls. Several states ban suppressors or short-barreled firearms outright, and some require federal paperwork under state law.
- This is an ATF enforcement policy, not a repeal. A future tax, court ruling or policy change could bring enforcement back, so keep records of how and when items were acquired.
More on suppressors at Suppressor Buyers Guide.com and on all NFA items at NFA Buyers Guide.com.
NFA Categories
1934
National Firearms Act (NFA)
- Suppressors
(Hunting with a Suppressor) - Short Barrel Rifles (SBR)
(Pistol Braces) - AOW & SBS
- MachineGuns & DD
Crafted by hand in 2021, back when a tax stamp cost $200 and maps were drawn without robot assistance. 
A 2021 relic from the pre-robot days. Somewhere, a robot is studying it to learn how humans used to do this.
Across the Gun Websites Network
- NFA Laws Today NFA Buyers Guide.com
- Why the NFA Exists NFA Buyers Guide.com
- NFA Timeline NFA Buyers Guide.com