NFA (National Firearms Act)
A 1934 federal law regulating items like suppressors, short-barreled rifles, machine guns, and AOWs — requiring registration and a tax stamp.
The National Firearms Act of 1934 created a special class of regulated items: suppressors (silencers), short-barreled rifles (SBRs), short-barreled shotguns (SBSs), machine guns, destructive devices, and 'any other weapons' (AOWs). Acquiring an NFA item legally requires ATF registration, a background check, and payment of a transfer tax — the famous '$200 tax stamp' (an AOW transfer is $5).
The process historically meant months of waiting, though eForm filing has shortened it. Many buyers use a gun trust to simplify ownership and allow others to lawfully possess the item. NFA rules are strict and the penalties for unregistered items are severe, so always follow the process to the letter.