After a shaky launch of its eForm system, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives seems to have worked out the kinks, with some customers reporting shortened wait times.
In an exclusive from Silencer Shop, the nation’s largest NFA distributor, Pew Pew Tactical learned one of the company’s customers received their expedited eForm 4 approval in two days.
“In an expedited PCS order, Stan Halen submitted his eForm 4 with a Powered By Silencer Shop dealer on Monday and received his approval that Wednesday,” the company said.
eForms are not entirely new to the ATF but were previously riddled with problems when the Bureau rolled the first iteration of the eForm 4 out in the early 2000s.
It eventually was taken offline, with customers forced back to the paper Form 4 for suppressor purchases.
But with the new eForm launching in December 2021, the ATF promised the updated system would be more reliable. While the Agency saw a few bumps early in the rollout, gun owners and retailers are now reporting a better experience.
“Numerous Silencer Shop customers have already received their eForm 4 approvals in the first quarter of 2022 and it’s been great seeing such positive outcomes for gun owners getting their suppressors or other NFA items so quickly,” the company said.
Have you used the eForm system? Let us know how it went in the comments below. For more on eForm filing and which ones you can accomplish online, check out our full guide to ATF eForms or choose the right can for you with our Best AR-15 and Best 9mm & .45 ACP Suppressors.
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8 months now.... i feel so honored the ATF is allowing me to wait to exercise my 2nd amendment rights... or even that they allow me to have them at ALL.
thank you FJB.
Just received mine yesterday 9/13/24 from 2/7/24.
Longest 218 days of my life.
I'm going on 324 days. In 41 days my photo expires. The ATF is dragging its feet.
Estimated 270-320 days now.
What happened to 90 days?
LMAO
I'm well past the 300 day mark. When I signed up the wait time was 90 days. When I hit 100 days they changed it to 180 days, when that passed they changed it to 270 days, I'm past that and it still says 270 days. Typical government.
233 days eForm through the kiosk, inception to approval.
207 days and still waiting. E filed on 3/10/22 through Silencer Shop. Current status since March “In Progress”.
Very frustrating to look online for current wait times and all I see are the ones who have received approval in time frames of 7days to 200 days. No stats on the number of people who are experiencing much longer waits. Even more frustrating is the ATF site which claims 100 day approval has the average for form 4 eform.
It would be nice to find an article that gave an honest and fair assessment on wait times for NFA approval.
I was put in progress March 25 and just like you still waiting. Very frustrating that we have to pay for this, only to wait until ATF and FBI get their act together. Won't be long before the e file wait is as long or longer than paper.
This article is deceptive, misleading and a puff piece for the business. Silencer Shop is the WORST at this, and now they add insult to injury by bragging about a 2-day approval time. They screwed up FOUR suppressor orders I submitted back in November of 2021. Two were cancelled and refunded by force, after waiting three months to have the ATF catch Silencer Shop's error. One were resubmitted, The one with no error in submission took 151 days from submission to approval, and the other is still 'in process' at 171 days. This is NOT the government doing this, not in my case anyway, this was 100% on Silencer Shop for producing software that caused errors in the submissions. THOSE ERRORS CLOG UP THE ATF AGENTS BACKLOG AND THOSE ERRORS WERE FROM SILENCER SHOP SOFTWARE. THINK. Three of my four submissions were screwed up by Silencer Shop software that caused the ATF to reject the submissions. That is 100% the truth. The ATF can only approve what is without error and "garbage in = garbage out" so anyone thinking of using Silencer Shop should think again.
148 days from purchase, 134 days from certification. ATF weekly states the status as pending. Pending= in stack untouched.
Some employees have been great, and some have not. Was told there are only 20 staff performing all the background checks right now.
I don’t believe in the sales pitch anymore. If the wait times are going to be a long time, it is what it is and I can accept that.
I would like to see more transparency in the data. How many approvals, what the approvals were, how long it took, what kind of filing, what state, etc…
Bought/paid November 27, 2021, was switched to eform early Jan 2022, it’s September 21, 2022, still no can in hand. All lies from atf to the dealers..Lazy inept govt workers working from home can’t see past the bonbon’s and cheetos to get to the keyboard.
132 days and counting.
I'm at 101 days right now!! Hopefully hear something soon. A guy at my local FFL has filed 3 form 4 efile. One in March, one in April, and one at the end of June. He's still waiting on the first two but the third one was approved in 16 days. I just don't understand how results are so different.
This is clearly propaganda if you read through the comments from real people. I filed for an E Form-4 around January 5th 2022 and still haven’t received it. This is a bloated and incompetent government that’s been infested with paper pushing rule makers. I have also been waiting for almost 16 months for the first suppressor I purchased November of 2021!!!
I used the E-file system for form 4 on 05 Mar 2022 and still not approved yet. Very disappointed at this point but just like everyone else I have absolutely no choice. Just gotta wait until they feel like doing it.
As of June 16 atf e form 4 wait times are at least double the 90 day propaganda put out by sellers and it seems there is no consistency about the process. Also once your money is spent you get little in the way of support.
If you want a suppressor be ready to wait one full year and be happy IF it is less.
Gotta say I disagree. It's seems to be different for everyone. I applied on March 18th and got approved on June 16th.
Well yes, of course, everyone has a somewhat different experience.
Facts:
My order (and money spent) placed o. 1/27.
My order got "submitted) 2/28
It is now 6/ 27
Perhaps we should have a system that worked with the seller getting paid WHEN the item is delivered. . I bet it would work better.
Update as of July 14 .
Folks should be aware that ATF is saying wait times are now out to 160 days. Also folks should know that the clock does not start ticking until the company you deal with "submits"(30 day+) the eform NOT when you spend your money.
Dont beleive the "2day approval" . . . It is BS.
Update as of July 29.
Approval came today. 1/27/22 paid . 2/28/22"Submitted" 7/29/22 approved.
My advice. . . Be ready to wait.
Important information.
Sorry to bother but I feel it is important to add that my local shop is fantastic and has been nothing but great.
Facts, PREACH. Better yet whoever does the processing.
I'm at 90 days, no approval. This is my 2nd form 4 supressor that I have purchased, the first through the paper filing system which took 13 months. I have been told that the e-file system has already approved some people in less than 90 days, however, I think that's a bullshit lie. FYI, I am currently at 90 business days, not just 90 days since being certified.
Ordered 11/4/21, Dealer sat on it forever, I guess waiting to submit it via E-Forms. Form 4 (Single Shot): Submitted Electronically on 2/7/2022. Still waiting.
Purchased my suppressor on 11/23/21, Form 4 wasn’t even ready to be submitted until 2/1 (94 days at the atf) still waiting… Not impressed
Purchase: 2DEC2021
eForm certified (begin ATF processing/wait): 14MAR2022
Status as of 5MAY2022: “awaiting ATF approval”
Now it’s June and still waiting …
JW
This is all propaganda by silencershop. Set up all my accounts with silencershop and atf. My dealer can't access or get in touch with silencer shop. Purchased suppressor on Feb 16 been waiting over a month to certify. They don't answer phone (waited an hour and half on hold yesterday)or respond back to emails. Compliance dept at silencer shop sent me contact info. Still can't speak to someone or get a response back.
I never heard of ATF e-file for suppressor tax stamps either. It’s been taking 11 months for suppressors and 13 months for SBR’s in my personal experience from January 2020 through April 2022 filing by paper.
I bet the ATF will fast track one or two stamps just so they can say the wait is not that long to Congress. I'm still going on two months with e-form, and 11 months with paper from last year.
Paid for unit 1 1/2 weeks ago, e form still not ready to send to Feds, not a good start!
Interesting timing of this article, LOL...... I purchased a SureFire SOCOM762 suppressor on 11/19/2020. After a 17 MONTH wait, I FINALLY received my $200 "Permission slip" and picked it up on 04/13/22......TOTALLY UNACCEPTABLE !!
This whole ATF "Ruling Class" system is a Disgrace, and a slap in the face to every so called "Free Citizen" of the U.S.A. ! ..... Neither I, or my local gun shop, had heard of an electronic tax stamp processing back in 2020. In fact your article is the first I had heard of an electronic tax stamp even being a "Thing".
Stepping down from my "Pissed Off" soap box Rant...... Carry on Gentlemen.
Pretty disingenuous to use expedited military orders as proof of a processing time, expedites have always been an exception.
The good news is that regular citizens eform4’s have been taking 70-90ish days to approve which is much better than the year plus the paper forms take.
Keep up the great content!
Wolfman In jail.
Ordered 1/30/22
Submitted 3/24/22
Eta? No idea.
Efiled on March 24th, 2022 Submitted on March 26. Called ATF 3 weeks ago and they said it is pending. No other info. Almost 165 days and my Sand Man is still being held hostage