BREAKING NEWS - ATF Update to NFA Transfer Guidance

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives released an Open Letter and Frequently Asked Questions explaining how it will treat ownership, transfer, and transportation of the National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms for which Congress eliminated the making and transfer taxes in the One Big Beautiful Bill.

Under ATF’s guidance, ATF will not enforce the requirements for individuals to apply and receive ATF approval before making or transferring short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, suppressors (silencers), and certain other concealable firearms known in the law as “any other weapons.” ATF also will not enforce the NFA’s registration, tax-stamp or related requirements for those covered items. The $200 tax remains in place for machine guns and destructive devices. The NFA requirements apply in full to those weapons.  The guidance does not supersede state and local laws that restrict NFA firearms.  

• Open Letter: NFA transfers of short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, silencers and “any other weapons,” effective October 9, 2026
• Press Release: ATF issues guidance on National Firearms Act transfers for short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, suppressors, and certain other firearms

Source:  “Update to NFA Transfer Guidance.” ATF, 9 Oct. 2026, www.atf.gov/firearms/update-to-nfa-transfer-guidance.