A Buyer’s Guide: Individual vs. Trust

The Ways To Register A Silencer

Or a Short Barreled Rifle, Short Barreled Shotgun or AOW

Choosing how you should register a suppressor is one of the most common questions we get. If you're unsure which option is right for you, you're not alone. Currently, there are five different registration methods at your disposal ranging in flexibility and simplicity. By the end of this blog, you'll be better equipped to know which method is right for you.

Below you’ll find the tools to equip yourself with which method is right for you. The graph offers a quick comparison chart between your five options: Individual, Single Shot Trust, Single Shot Trust Unlimited, Traditional NFA Trust, and Corporation. Once you’ve narrowed it down, keep scrolling for why some customers might prefer registering one way over the other. We go into more detail and give you real-world customer scenarios that might spark familiarity for you and your situation.

Individual:

As an individual, your silencer will be registered in your name, and only yours. This means you don’t have to, and you legally can’t, share it with anyone if you’re not present.

Out of all of the options, this one requires the least amount of paperwork, meaning potentially a faster turnaround for getting your suppressor. On the flip side, registering as an individual is the least flexible in terms of being able to “share” your silencer with friends or family.

Customer Scenario: You plan on being the only one able to use your silencer and friends or family cannot use your suppressor without you there.

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Single Shot Trust:

The Single Shot Trust is for the minimalist NFA connoisseur. For those customers looking to buy four suppressors or less, the Single Shot Trust is the most cost effective option.

One of the biggest benefits of the Single Shot Trust is the convenience of each silencer having a designated trust. So, you can add or remove certain responsible parties from certain silencers and have the utmost flexibility in your decision making.

Customer Scenario: You decide to go hunting with a few buddies who don't have silencers. You add one friend to a specific silencer’s trust, and the other friend to another trust. This gives your friends and you the benefit of suppression, without giving access to all of your other serialized items.

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Single Shot Unlimited Trust:

Unlimited is the keyword here. Let’s be honest, once you get the suppressor bug, there’s no stopping you. The unlimited option gives you a “lifetime subscription” to this service. Single Shot Unlimited Trusts are purchased by customers who foresee themselves growing their inventory into an arsenal. If you plan on buying 5 or more serialized items, the Single Shot Unlimited Trusts offers more bang for your buck compared to the original Single Shot Trust.

Just like Single Shot Trusts, one of the biggest benefits of going this route is the ability to add or remove responsible parties from certain suppressors. This flexibility is truly unparalleled.

Customer Scenario: You decide to go hunting with a few buddies who don't have silencers. You add one friend to a specific silencer’s trust, and the other friend to another trust. This gives your friends and you the benefit of suppression, without giving access to all of your other serialized items.

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Traditional NFA Trust:

Some customers choose the Traditional NFA trust because the Trust puts all serialized items into one document. This is a great option for people who want to list responsible parties and beneficiaries. Flexibility wise, the Traditional NFA Trust falls somewhere right between Individual and Single Shots.

Traditional NFA Trust is great for the customer who wants their trust to dictate who your silencer can be handled by during your life and after.

Customer Scenario: You have family and/or friends you whole-heartedly trust with your entire selection of serialized items. They have access to every single item whenever they want.

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Corporation:

Filing under a corporation implies you have a business. This means that the silencer belongs to the corporation at the end of the day. Customers like this option when they want to be able to allow their employees access to these products - remember, the corporation owns it, like they would own a vehicle and employees drive that vehicle around.

We do see some customers still go with other trust options solely because if that company were to liquidate, the silencer technically is an asset of that company.

Customer Scenario: You have employees you want to be able to use these items listed on the business’s paperwork.

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Changing your filing mind:

The fate of your silencer isn’t set in stone if you choose one way to register and the ATF approves it. But changing it to a different registration is essentially re-filing your suppressor. You read that right - re-filing requires paperwork, a $200 tax stamp, and yes, waiting for approval. And we do see this happen! The most common occurrence is with customers who are looking for more flexibility.

As you can see, each option offers varying flexibility and simplicity. And we are here to assist you through the paperwork process no matter which option you choose. We hope this helps clear the air about the similarities and differences and sheds light on what you might be leaning toward. If you have any additional questions, contact us and we’ll always be happy to assist you.

Additional Resources:

What’s a “Responsible Person?”

What is a Single Shot Trust?

41F and Gun Trusts

How to Buy a Silencer in 9 Simple Steps