FINGERPRINTING

Suppressor Purchase Guide: Trust or Individual Filing

At Extreme Products, we’ve noticed a growing interest in purchasing silencers without the need to establish a trust, especially with recent updates in ATF procedures. Many customers have asked about filing an eForm 4 as an individual to speed up approval. We can confirm that the approval time for trusts is improving and will soon match individual filings. Nonetheless, as a customer-centric company, we recognize the importance of providing options, so we are pleased to offer both pathways to ownership.

Our mission has always been to streamline the process of acquiring suppressors, and that now includes offering both trust and individual filing options during checkout. If you’re unsure which is best for you, let’s explore the details of both choices.

Trust vs. Individual – Which is Right for You?

We believe in the benefits of a trust and have dedicated a team to guide you through setting one up, ensuring it meets all ATF requirements. This customer service is provided at no additional charge. For peace of mind and flexibility in deciding who can use and inherit your suppressor, a trust is typically the best option.

Advantages of a Trust:

Inheritance: A trust allows for a tax-exempt Form 5 transfer to your lawful heirs.
Co-Trustees: You can designate multiple responsible parties to possess and transfer the suppressor.
Legal Protection & Privacy: Depending on your state’s laws, trusts can offer added legal benefits.

Disadvantages of a Trust:

Complexity: While setting up a trust can seem complicated, we’ve streamlined the process to make it as easy as possible.
Cost: While trusts can be expensive, we offer free setup assistance as part of your purchase.
Approval Delays: Trust approvals may take longer, as the ATF reviews each document and sometimes consults legal counsel.

Individual Filing – A Quick Path to Approval

Recently, many have turned to individual filings for their suppressors due to faster approval times. If you don’t need the flexibility a trust provides and would prefer a quicker approval, purchasing as an individual may be the best choice for you.

Advantages of an Individual Filing:

Faster Approvals: With many individual filings being processed more quickly, you can often expect to receive your suppressor much sooner.
Cost-Effective: If you don’t need the additional benefits a trust offers, you can save on the costs associated with setting one up, in addition to the tax stamp and suppressor purchase price.

Disadvantages of an Individual Filing:

Limited Flexibility: As an individual, you are the only one authorized to use the suppressor when it’s in your possession.
Succession Planning Issues: In the event of your passing, a will might not provide smooth transfer of ownership, as it could go through probate. Transferring an individual-purchased suppressor to a trust later on also involves a new Form 4 and an additional $200 tax stamp per suppressor.

At Extreme Products, we’re committed to making the process of purchasing a suppressor as fast and efficient as possible. We now offer the Cerberus LiveScan System, an inkless digital fingerprinting service, which allows us to handle your fingerprinting and background checks in a streamlined, secure manner. This system is fully compliant with ATF and FBI requirements for eForm 4 submissions.

Here’s how it enhances your experience:

Data Security: We store your data on our premises, ensuring full control and privacy, rather than relying on external servers.
EFT Generation: We can generate ATF and FBI-compliant electronic fingerprints for eForm 4 submittals, speeding up the approval process.
Quick Data Entry: We can scan your driver’s license to expedite data entry and minimize errors.
Efficient Fingerprint Scanning: All required prints for FD258 (4 finger slaps, 2 thumbs, and 10 finger rolls) can be scanned and stored within minutes.
Future Convenience: We securely store your customer prints, making future purchases and transfers easier and quicker.
Verification & Photo Import: We can import and store customer photos with verification, ensuring all information is correct and up to date.

This system allows us to provide you with a smoother, faster process from start to finish. We’re happy to offer an estimated shipping time of about two weeks from the time your order is placed, keeping you updated every step of the way.

Things to Consider When Making Your Choice

Trust Setup: We provide trust setup, and approval times are improving for these filings.
Individual Approvals: Faster approval times are currently a benefit of individual applications, with some taking as little as 24 hours.
After-Purchase Trust Setup: If you choose to purchase individually and later want to transfer your suppressor to a trust, you’ll need to file a new Form 4 and pay the $200 tax stamp fee for each suppressor.
No “Sneaking” Suppressors: Whether you file with a trust or as an individual, every person involved must go through a background check. Violating these rules could result in severe penalties, especially considering the NFA status of suppressors.

Individual Filing Process at Extreme Products

If you decide to purchase as an individual, the process is straightforward. The biggest advantage of this option is the speed of approval, but there are other factors that might make individual filing the right choice for you.

For those who will be the sole user of the suppressor and aren’t concerned about passing it down later, individual filing might be the simplest and fastest route. However, we’re committed to providing the best customer experience, whether you choose a trust or individual filing, and we’re here to guide you through whichever process you choose.

Need Assistance?

If you have any questions or need further information, our dedicated sales and customer service team is here to assist you. You can reach us via email at sales@extremeproductspdx.com or by phone at (503) 657-4806.