ATF Struggles With 150,000 e-Form Submissions on Day 1 of $0 Fee
The ATF was swamped with 150,000 applications for suppressors and SBRs on its first day of $0 tax. Learn more about the backlog.
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After a week-long blackout to prepare for the $0 fee on certain NFA items, the ATF re-launched e-Forms and was promptly overwhelmed with submissions.
On the first day of the zeroed-out fee, the Bureau reported 150,000 submissions. In comparison, the typical daily volume for e-Form requests is around 2,500.
The mass influx was caused by dealers with layaway programs who submitted Form 4s on manufacturer-made suppressors and short-barreled rifles, coupled with gun owners submitting Form 1s for “self-made” NFA items.
The National Shooting Sports Foundation alerted the industry on Friday, January 2, about system outages and glitches due to the “unprecedented surge.”
“As a result of this volume, ATF is experiencing intermittent IT system glitches and delays that are affecting industry members nationwide. ATF has emphasized that it is actively working to address these technical issues and is engaging directly with affected industry members to resolve problems as quickly as possible,” the NSSF said in a press release.
“In the meantime, NSSF urges industry members to remain patient while ATF works through these growing pains.”
On the e-Forms site, the ATF itself warns that glitches are still occurring days after the site re-launch.
“The updated Forms 1 & 4 have been reactivated in eForms effective January 1, 2026. Due to heavy volume, the submitter may get an error when entering their PIN to submit the form. If that occurs, try again; it may take several attempts for the form to submit.”
The removal of the $200 excise tax on suppressors, short-barreled rifles, and short-barreled shotguns was part of the Trump Administration’s “One Big, Beautiful Bill,” passed in July 2025. Though the industry had hoped to secure a win by completely removing suppressors from the NFA, the elimination of the excise tax marked a first step to achieving that end goal.
The ATF put eForms on pause from Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 in preparation for the tax removal, alerting the public that the administrative pause was “necessary to implement statutory changes contained within the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.”
Though the pause was meant to ensure a smoother user experience, insiders warned that a surge of applications would likely bog the Bureau down and create backlogs, errors, and issues for applicants.
Despite the issues, suppressor retailers say this is still the best time to buy a suppressor, and they are committed to supporting consumers through the glitches.
We've seen some instability in the system with ATF forms. That's to be expected,” Silencer Central CEO Brandon Maddox explained in a YouTube video. “I would encourage, if you're thinking about getting a suppressor, this is the best time because the $200 tax stamp has gone away. You can buy online, or you can call us. We can help you. We’re still processing everything the same.”
If you’re thinking of picking up a suppressor, we have a lot of resources!
- Best Places to Buy a Suppressor: Online & Off
- Best AR-15 Suppressors
- Best 9mm Suppressors
- 7 Best .22LR Rimfire Suppressors
- Best Guns to Form 1
Are you planning on buying a suppressor? Let us know in the comments below. Want more news? Check out our News Category with all the latest updates.