150,000 e-Forms to ATF on January 1 - $30 Million In Taxes Saved

https://www2.nssf.org/l/127421/2026-01-02/5lv41v​

Industry Alert: ATF e-Forms Processing Surge and System Outages​

The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has acknowledged to the National Shooting Sports Foundation® an unprecedented surge in e-Forms submissions that is impacting system performance. On January 1 alone, ATF processed approximately 150,000 e-Forms, compared to a typical daily volume of around 2,500.

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.

NSSF® recognizes that these disruptions are frustrating for industry members and can result in operational challenges, customer service issues, and a loss of revenues. We have communicated these concerns directly to ATF and underscored the importance of restoring system stability and reliability as soon as possible. ATF has acknowledged the urgency and reiterated its commitment to resolving the issues.

In the meantime, NSSF urges industry members to remain patient while ATF works through these growing pains. We encourage retailers to document issues as they occur and to work directly with ATF when problems arise, as this information helps identify and correct systemic challenges.

NSSF strongly encourages all industry members to contact their U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators to advocate for additional funding for ATF. Much of the current disruption stems from outdated and under-resourced IT infrastructure. Congressional support for IT modernization is essential to improving system reliability and preventing similar disruptions in the future.

NSSF will continue to monitor the situation closely and provide updates as more information becomes available.

Is this the results of the “Tax” stamp fee going away on suppressors?
I’ve talk to a couple of gun shop owners that thought it would happen.

I’ll wait a couple or three months until the madness dies down before I pick up anything new. That said, suppressors are like potato chips…

Inventory at both silencer central and silencer shop is low… lots and lots of stuff showing out of stock…

I’m guessing 2-3 months the frenzy will slow and things will get back to normal.. but the manufacturers are going to have a bear of a time keeping up with demand for a little while…

Silencer Central has a booth at TTHA next weekend… I’d be curious how sales go for them going into that show with little stock on the shelf…

Hunt anything said:

Is this the results of the “Tax” stamp fee going away on suppressors?
I’ve talk to a couple of gun shop owners that thought it would happen.

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Exactly.

mdwest said:

Inventory at both silencer central and silencer shop is low… lots and lots of stuff showing out of stock…

I’m guessing 2-3 months the frenzy will slow and things will get back to normal.. but the manufacturers are going to have a bear of a time keeping up with demand for a little while…

Silencer Central has a booth at TTHA next weekend… I’d be curious how sales go for them going into that show with little stock on the shelf…

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I'm betting it's gonna be longer than 3 months, might be several years before "back to normal" for inventory.

Theres a lot of people, myself included, that were refusing to buy suppressors out of principle due to the stupid tax stamp. Then theres all the people that want more now that it's cheaper. Manufacturing tends to only build as big of a facility, and staff as many people, as the market requires, with almost no excess. This saves a lot of money. However, when demand changes, it takes 6 months minimum to get the equipment and staff to meet the new demand, and longer yet to actually catch up on the backlog they got whilst training new people, waiting for new machines to arrive and be set up, etc.

I will be very surprised if the industry as a whole is back to normal within a year. I also suspect in the next 6 months to see a lot of brand new businesses making suppressors popping up, and at the end of this surge some of the smaller ones will probably die from over correction on the manufacturing side of things and getting a huge stock pile. We saw this happen with a lot of companies during covid, demand spiked, companies over correct, and die once everything calms down. Companies that don't change anything but wait it out will be the safest but make less money, over correctors make a huge profit and then end up with millions in unsold inventory. It will be very interesting to watch from an economics perspective. I'd be happy to be proven wrong, but I don't think I will be.

"NSSF strongly encourages all industry members to contact their U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators to advocate for additional funding for ATF. "

I don't. I'd rather have them advocate for a complete repeal of the GCAs of 34, 68 and 86. That would actually be the best way to give the ATF relief....

Woodcarver said:

"NSSF strongly encourages all industry members to contact their U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators to advocate for additional funding for ATF. "

I don't. I'd rather have them advocate for a complete repeal of the GCAs of 34, 68 and 86. That would actually be the best way to give the ATF relief....

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If silencers, SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs were treated like any firearm and not something that needs registration, there would be no backlog. There are currently 3 major lawsuits pushing for just this.

Realistically, we will never get a full repeal of the NFA or GCA68. FOPA 86 does have some good points with the exception of the Hughes Amendment

jpr9954 said:

If silencers, SBRs, SBSs, and AOWs were treated like any firearm and not something that needs registration, there would be no backlog. There are currently 3 major lawsuits pushing for just this.

Realistically, we will never get a full repeal of the NFA or GCA68. FOPA 86 does have some good points with the exception of the Hughes Amendment

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Yeah, I know it's wishful thinking. Removal of what you listed from NFA regulation would definitely go a long way towards eliminating the largest portion of stupidity that was included, and eliminate the need to increase funding for the ATF. There is nothing in the 68 GCA that I support. How it has survived a constitutional challenge is beyond me.
You are right about the FOPA of 86. Most of it is actually good. The Hughes Amendment needs to be repealed outright. Even though I don't want to feed one, there is no reason to eliminate the private ownership of a full auto, which is the ultimate goal of the amendment. When the new production became unavailable to civilians, eventually the existing inventory wears out and/or becomes too costly to Joe Citizen.
I shot a 14" '73 Winchester Trapper in 44WCF years ago. I want one with a 10" barrel, lol. One of my favorite rifles is a 94 Trapper in 30-30 with a 16" barrel. Very handy truck gun. Its accounted for a couple elk and a deer or two.