How to Build a Form 1 Suppressor: Application, Filing, and Engraving

To build a Form 1 suppressor, you file ATF Form 1 (Application to Make and Register a Firearm) with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, wait for written approval, and only then begin manufacturing. The making tax under 26 U.S.C. § 5821 is currently $0 for suppressors, down from the $200 that applied for decades, though the application and approval requirement remains in place.1Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 U.S. Code 5821 – Making Tax Electronically filed Form 1 applications averaged about 14 days as of January 2026.2Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Current Processing Times

Confirm You’re Allowed to Make One

Eight states and the District of Columbia prohibit civilian possession of suppressors outright. A federally approved Form 1 does not override a state ban, so check your state’s law first.

Federal law separately bars certain people from possessing any firearm, including NFA items. You cannot legally make or own a suppressor if any of the following apply to you:3Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 18 U.S. Code 922 – Unlawful Acts

  • A felony conviction, meaning any crime punishable by more than one year in prison
  • Fugitive from justice status
  • Unlawful drug use or addiction
  • Having been adjudicated mentally defective or committed to a mental institution
  • A dishonorable discharge from the military
  • A qualifying domestic violence conviction or an active restraining order that meets the statutory criteria
  • Unlawful presence in the U.S. or admission on a nonimmigrant visa (with limited exceptions)
  • Renunciation of U.S. citizenship

The ATF runs a background check as part of the Form 1 review. If you’re a prohibited person, the application will be denied, and making the suppressor anyway is a federal crime.

Decide How to Apply: Individual, Trust, or Corporation

You can file as an individual or through a legal entity such as a trust or corporation. A trust is the more common entity route because it lets multiple named people legally possess and use the suppressor and simplifies transfer if you die. If you file through an entity, you attach the full trust agreement, articles of incorporation, or equivalent, and every “responsible person” on the entity (trustees, officers, anyone who can direct the use of the suppressor) must individually submit an ATF Form 5320.23 with their own photographs and fingerprints.4Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. ATF Form 5320.1 – Application to Make and Register NFA Firearm

Gather What the Form 1 Asks For

Design Specifications and Identity

Nail down the suppressor’s specifications before you open the form, because the application requires you to describe the item in detail: caliber, overall length, and material composition. You also assign the suppressor a unique serial number and a model name. Those two identifiers are not cosmetic. They will be engraved on the finished device and tied to your registration permanently.5Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. NFA Handbook – Chapter 6 Making NFA Firearms by Nonlicensee

Photographs

Individual applicants (and each responsible person on an entity application) need passport-style photographs: 2×2 inches, taken within the past six months, plain white or off-white background, face fully visible with a neutral expression, eyes open, mouth closed, no glasses or head coverings unless worn for religious or medical reasons.

Fingerprints

You also need fingerprints on FBI Form FD-258 cards. When filing through eForms, you have two options: upload an electronic fingerprint file directly in the system, or mail two paper FD-258 cards to the ATF’s NFA Division within 10 days of submitting the electronic application.6Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. Final Rule 2021R-08F – NFA Form One Submission If you mail cards, include the cover letter the system generates after submission so the ATF can match them to your application. Local law enforcement agencies and private fingerprinting services will roll FD-258 cards; fees typically range from free to around $35.

File Through eForms

The ATF’s eForms system at eforms.atf.gov is the primary way to file a Form 1 and is significantly faster than paper filing.7Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). eForms Applications Create an account, then work through the form’s sections. Enter your personal information, select “silencer” as the firearm type, and fill in the caliber, dimensions, materials, serial number, and model name you already chose.

Entity applicants use a separate section to add each responsible person and upload their Form 5320.23 questionnaires, photographs, and fingerprint files. Individual applicants attach their own photos and prints to the main application.

Review every field before you submit. Errors in the serial number, caliber, or personal information can delay processing or trigger a disapproval. When you’re satisfied, digitally sign and submit. The system sends a confirmation email with a PDF copy of the submitted form and, if you’re mailing paper prints, the cover letter you’ll need to include.

Wait for Approval Before Doing Any Work

Electronic Form 1s were averaging about 14 days as of January 2026, though the number moves with ATF workload, so check the ATF’s published processing times for the current estimate.2Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF). Current Processing Times If approved, you’ll get an email with the approved Form 1 attached. That email is your green light. If denied, the ATF will note the reason.

Do not buy parts and start fabricating while you wait. Making an NFA firearm without prior approval is a prohibited act under 26 U.S.C. § 5861(f),8Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 USC 5861 – Prohibited Acts and a conviction carries a fine of up to $10,000, up to ten years in federal prison, or both.9Office of the Law Revision Counsel. 26 U.S. Code 5871 – Penalties The rule applies even if you would have been approved. Drilling baffles or assembling parts before the approval email arrives is a felony. The wait is measured in days.

Manufacture and Engrave the Suppressor

Once the approval is in hand, you can build the device. Federal regulations then require permanent markings that include:10eRegulations – ATF eRegulations. 27 CFR 478.92 – Identification of Firearms and Armor Piercing Ammunition by Licensed Manufacturers and Licensed Importers

  • Maker’s name, meaning your legal name or the trust or corporation name if applicable
  • City and state where the suppressor was made
  • The serial number from your approved Form 1
  • Model and caliber

All engravings must be at least 0.003 inches deep, in a print size no smaller than 1/16 inch.10eRegulations – ATF eRegulations. 27 CFR 478.92 – Identification of Firearms and Armor Piercing Ammunition by Licensed Manufacturers and Licensed Importers Most people use a professional engraving service; expect to pay roughly $30 to $100 depending on complexity and location. Markings that fall short of the minimum specifications or don’t match your approved form create a compliance problem, so match the form exactly.

Keep the Approved Form With You

Federal regulations require you to retain proof of registration and make it available to an ATF agent or investigator on request.11ATF. NFA Handbook – Chapter 12 – Recordkeeping For a suppressor made on a Form 1, that proof is the approved form itself. There’s no expiration; you keep it as long as you possess the suppressor. Many owners store a digital copy on their phone and keep the original in a safe. Losing the paperwork doesn’t revoke your registration, but it makes proving lawful possession much harder if you’re ever asked.

Interstate Travel

Unlike machine guns, short-barreled rifles, short-barreled shotguns, and destructive devices, suppressors do not require ATF Form 5320.20 approval before crossing state lines.12ATF. Application to Transport Interstate or to Temporarily Export Certain National Firearms Act (NFA) Firearms You can travel to another state with your suppressor without filing a separate transport application. The destination state still has to allow suppressor possession. Carrying a registered suppressor into a state that prohibits them is a state-level crime regardless of your federal paperwork.