WAIT TIME

What is the wait time for the tax stamps now?
Just curious why does it take so long?

Still 6 months at last check: http://www.nfatracker.com/

Why it takes so long is anyone’s guess. I say a combination of bureaucracy, short staffing/hiring freeze, not an ATF priority, and the increase in popularity of NFA items.

Why does it take so long?

Simple

To inconvenience you (the law abiding gun owner) as much as bureaucratically possible.

Ignore nfatracker...completely unreliable and doesn't account for a bunch of factors.

Reality, 175 days is the current average we are seeing. We will get everything from 147-237 days in the same batch of stamps. Things are seriously broken up there and the American Silencer Association is in DC this week to discuss with them. It isn't just transfers to the buyer, the manufacturer to dealer transfers are now approaching 8 weeks in some cases.

I received one in January and another in April. Both were, almost to the day, six months from the date mailed.

Latest batch of forms - 165 day average. A gain of about 10 days within two weeks. We are rapidly approaching the "event" date, so will know if things are going to get worse soon enough.

169 days from the day my Form 4 was mailed to the time the stamp showed up. Submitted mid-Nov and received May 9.

I just picked up my can a couple weeks ago. Sent my paperwordk on 11/01/13, and got it back in 5 months and 3 weeks. I was expecting it to take longer, but it was only a week longer than my SBR stamp I got back in August.

Still don't under stand a 6 month wait. Even 3 months for that matter. What are they doing that takes so long?

It is volume, pure and simple. Until very late last year, there were only eight examiners looking at every Form 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 for the entire country. Those eight had to read every trust sumbitted, run NICS checks on everyone that was a CLEO sign off, verify that the CLEO that signed was actually the CLEO for that county/city, verify that manufacturers licenses were valid, verify FFLs licenses and SOT status were valid, etc.

They hired some contractors last year to help prescreen and do some of the grunt work, then they actually hired some more examiners and a few lawyers (for trust validation). Sequestration BS caused them to let the contractors go and the new examiners don't appear to be up to speed yet, but those lawyers are working overtime based on the (quicken DIY) trusts I now get back for being "insufficient".

Here is a bit of perspective on a single item, a silencer (that is the LEGAL term, suppressor is a foofoo feel good marketing term). When a manufacturer builds one, they submit a Form 2 (hey ATF I built this). ATF has to verify it is correct and that the manufacturer's license is good, then send it over to the registry office to have it entered. Then they write the registry number on the Form 2 and mail it back to the manufacturer. The manufacturer then sells the silencer to a dealer/distibutor like us. They have to send a Form 3 (hey I sold this to another licensee) to the ATF, so that they can verify that the silencer currently exists in the registry, that the manufacturer's license is valid and the dealer/distibutor's license is valid. They then sign the form and return that to the manufacturer so that they can ship the silencer to the dealer/distributor (this can happen again if the distrib sells to another dealer). Dealer sells the silencer to a customer. The dealer prepares a Form (hey I want to sell this to a normal person) 4 (at least we do, we know other dealers just hand the paperwork to the customer and let them figure it out) and sends it to ATLANTA GA, where they take the $200 check/MO that is required, then ATLANTA packages up everything they received that week and sends it to MARTINSBURG WV. MARTINSBURG receives it, logs it then begins the process to insure it is complete so it can eventually reach the examiner for approval. This process happens every day of the week. About 27,000 silencers were sold last year alone.

Volume, sheer, massive, overwhelming, volume!

Just completed my form 4 with my lawyer (she set up my gun trust)... now its time to sit back and wait. I have heard that it takes around 5-6 months to receive your tax stamp but I guess anything worth having is worth waiting for...

@ Immortal Arms ~ Thanks for explaining this. It has really helped me to understand the wait time and how things are processed. This is the first time that I have applied for a tax stamp for my silencer. This is a great source to get real information. Appreciate it!

Good luck with that tax stamp, I would be interested to see how long it takes to get.

Any indication of post Newtown NFA wait times yet?

Paid for mine Dec 3rd..With a Quicken Trust From BoB's Gun Shop in Norfolk!!...stamp was signed June 6th, took possession June 17th....about 6 1/2 months give or take a day...been about the same for all my others.....well worth the wait...Surefire ROCKS!!!! And so does Bob's in Norfolk VA

Here is some numbers on NFA Trusts 2010 = 12,889, 2011 = 21,000, 2012 = 36,076.

Again, massive volume. Mid December coming back now.

I just received my suppressor stamp and SBR stamp back (May/June) and they were both nearly 6 months each, filed one month apart. Wish the wait was shorter, but it is what it is. Considering purchasing a .556 suppressor. If I do, I guess I will get it by 2014.

Wait a second... eight examiners... 20,000+ silencer transfers alone... Stamps $200 each...


That's over $500,000 in revenue per examiner!


Oh... you mean the "filing fee" just goes into the general fund and isn't just to pay the costs associated with the application?

After SBR/SBS/AOW/DDs, it works out to about a $1M per examiner. Yes, a part of the government that actually takes in more than it spends...what a concept

Well, its been a month since I sent in my paperwork to my silencer.... Its been a LONG month... only about 5 more to go... C'mon tax stamp!!! Merry Christmas to me maybe...

I have several in right now past 7 months. Oh Joy

Lets make that 8 months

Just got one stamp at 9 months. Paperwork done after another one. HAHA. 11 months on that one. Joys!

Late January right now. Expecting first Feb stamps this week. They are running about 58,000 applications behind right now.

Ugh I'm never gonna get mine

9 months plus whatever the shutdown does. Read on another forum that someone spoke to ATF and they said they are not accepting new applications. I am unsure if they will continue to process current ones or if they are considered "non essential" and are out of work until this is worked out.....

Well thats just the awesomest thing i ve heard this week!

The ATF is accepting new applications, but they are not making it beyond the mail room. I am still uploading eForm applications and having no trouble doing so, but no one is processing anything.
NFA only has three people at work, and they only answer the phones.

Such BS

Well....if the NFA only has 3 people working, and they are answering phones, then who is picking up the mail?

USPS delivers it in big bags. Gets as far as the mail room.

Lol...I feel sorry for those waiting for stamps.

I was going to buy a can today. The guy at the shop said he was told 15 months.
Obama's not banning guns, he's just making it so it takes so long to get them, most people won't bother.

http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/10...ected-decrease/ http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/10...ected-decrease/

crap just sent a form to IA they need R Lee Ermey in their office to get their butts to work faster

Been a year for my 2 stamps and still waiting. They sure as hell cash those checks quick.. Can I get my money back. WTF.

why the hell do i pay them $200 if they are not going to be quick about it

Okay all, ignore TTAB and Nick Leghorn. They have about zero clue what is going on up at the NFA branch. When you call on the phone, they will tell you some date way in the future as insurance. It has a tendency to make you stop calling them asking (they get something like 3000+ calls a day about status). They are WAY backed up between volume, sequester and shutdown. It is not getting any better and won't for a while. I know they are currently reviewing paper applications from April (I know because a FLIPPING QUICKEN trust just came back to me as insufficient...do yourself a favor, spend the money and get a lawyer involved)..no that doesn't mean stamps from April are right around the corner, just where they are in the stacks. Based on past experience, I should start seeing March soon, but no guarantees on anything anymore.

*fingers crossed* for March

to bad you cant drive to west VA and slip the examiner a Benjamin to move your form to the top of the pile

I would make that drive

i am one of those people

.

So some "official" numbers in months from the ATF on NFA processing:
Form 1 paper 9 eform 6
Form 2 paper 2 eform 0.5
Form 3 paper 3 eform 1
Form 4 paper 9 eform 6 (not jiving with what we are seeing, but fudging to outside is normal for them)
Form 5 paper 2 eform 1
Form 6 paper 3 eform 2
Form 9 paper 1 eform 1

My first stamp for a Form 4 individual came through in 211 days on 5/4/2012. There was an error that had to be corrected. ATF didn't like .22LR as the caliber for the can, had to change it to 22CAL.

My second stamp came in 177 days on 4/4/2013 with no errors. Form 1 Trust.

My third stamp came in 230 days on 4/19/2013 after the seller corrected an error (trust name vs individual name). Form 4 Trust.

These times are mailbox to mailbox.

I put two more Form 1's in the mail on 10/31/2013. I'm told that the ATF is now quoting 15 months, but people are getting stamps from March 2013. We'll see.

After 300 days, my cows have not come home. I fear the worst. Where are you elusive stamp? I want you to join the rest of the herd. My 'TRUST' in the system is fading.

I just got my Form 1 stamp...

Submitted September 25 and Approved January 3... right at 100 days!!!

I love my John Pierce Trust!!!

I love eForms!!!

I love the ATF!!!

I love everybody right now... I am getting misty.

Glad to hear you like the trust I prepared for you.

I hope that we continue to see that timeframe from eForm filings!


John

I got my forms submitted around the same time with a trust from John also. Still waiting for the good news to come.

Still nothing on my paper filing from March.

Paper?

What is paper? Oh yeah...the stuff folks in Colorado use to roll "fat ones" with... I forgot.

No offense intended Daltona117... I was just being a smart alack... since eFiles have only been around since September 2013.

Those of you pondering paper vs. eFiles just stop pondering and do the eFile.

Chris at Hansohn Brother did my latest Form 4 eFile (for me) so fast my coffee was still hot when he was done.

I submitted my paperwork to the BATFE for my suppressor back in June of 2013... the didnt acknowledge it until August of 2013 and I just called and I wont get my tax stamp until May 2014!! Almost one full year!

FYI below (from ATF)...

I am kinda new to all this and assumed all eForms had the same wait time (that is NOT CORRECT).

An FFL (anonymous), ordering me items is having 3.5+ month delays on Form 3s, whereas another FFL (Hansohn Brothers) are getting back their Form 3s consistently in a month from the same manufactures.

I have nothing to report on Form 4s.

Question: I just sent my form 4 a week or so ago. I am now finding out that I might be moving to NC which from what I understand are fine with SBRs. My question is how will this affect me and my paperwork now that I am going to be moving while my paperwork is with the ATF? The address will be different as I won't be residing at the address listed on the form 4. I had the engraving done and everything. Any advice would help...

8 months and still no word yet??????

Me neither. Still waiting. 10 Months so far...

I am right there with you... 8+ months and counting... when I called the ATF, they are telling me May 2014... Thats a year waiting time if I do get it in May!!!!

13 months so far for me..

About 13 months for me as well.

13 months from purchase or from your dealer submitting the form 4?

My last paper form4 took 11.5 months from my dealer submitting them. My first efile took 4 months 3 weeks.

Just got my stamp and suppressor , 11 months from time it was mailed. ....
Still waiting on another suppressor stamp
Was thinking about getting a 308 can,,

Bought a can from Hansohn Brothers in January, 2014.

Chris Hansohn E-filed the Form 4 immediately.

Tax Stamp was approved earlier this week (May 19).

Outstanding service and turn around from Hansohn Brothers!!!

Been waiting since november for my can

Turned in my paperwork end of Sept 13 pending Nov 13 got my stamp and picked up my can last week

Efile?

From 1 SBR
Non Trust

Pending Aug 26th 2013
Stamp Arrived June 5th 2014

IIRC... my Form 1s were about 100 days with a John Pierce trust and EFiles. I can verify exactly if anyone needs an exact count on days, but under four months for sure.

Form 4s were about 4 months through Hansohn, BUT MUCH MUCH LONGER WITH OTHER DEALERS.

PM me if you need to chat.

Form 1 submitted via E-file (w/trust) 1/9/14. Stamp returned approved 5/30/14.

2x Form 4's submitted via E-file (w/trust) 3/2/14. Still under review.

This just in from ATF.

Form 4 submitted 2/24/14. eForm with a trust by John Pierce. Approved/stamp received 6/25/14. 121 days. Thanks to John for his help in properly updating my trust when the silencer was added.

Is anybody else waiting for an eform 4 to come back from October? Everyone else seems to be getting theirs.

Submitted my suppressor paperwork to the atf. Check was cashed july 29th..hoping for march?

paper form 4:

check cashed mid-december, stamp received 2 weeks ago. hopefully they can keep the paper pushing going since i had a dream last night that i started another form 4..

I mailed my Form 1 on January 1st 2014 and just got it back last week. 7 months.

Submitted eform 1 online 7/4/14. Received email today 8/7/14 the form was approved. Now I just have to wait for it to come in the mail.

After researching it. It looks like you just print off the PDF version they send in the email. Does anybody know if they send a copy in the mail or is it just what we print?

You mean to tell me that it only took a one month & a few days to get approval?? Who do you know?

I submitted my Form 1 on 7/3/14 and haven't heard anything (not like I really expected to). I figure at least 7-9 months before I see my stamp.

Bob

Not enough people. I'm still waiting for two eform 4's from last October.

I did a 9mm sbr and 9mm suppressor at the same time. They came back at the same time....8 months. Submitted on 11/1/13.

You may want to call the NFA branch to see what the status is. I have approved eForm 4s from March.

What information do I need to call them?

When did they take your $200?


1. Serial Number

2. Your Name

https://www.atf.gov/content/contact-us/contact-ATF-service-centers

You want the NFA branch

Just download it from the ATFOnline.gov site when you're viewing your stamp.

It sounds about right that you got your stamp back that fast. I got my Form 1 back in 26 days.

Did my forum 1 on 8/6 and approved today 8/27

Just got a pile of approved form 4s that were submitted in April and some from May.

I just got an approved "Paper" Form 4 for SBR in 5 months.

Side note, I prefer paper and don't mind the wait.

Jonathan309 - Have you heard anything back? I'm still waiting on one from last October myself. Thanks!

No. Still nothing. Was yours an eform?