Written by Jacob Lawson.
In a surprising turn of events, former President Donald Trump has suggested to congressional Republicans that, should he reclaim the White House, he would prioritize eliminating the U.S. income tax. This idea, floated during a meeting with GOP lawmakers on Capitol Hill, was reported by Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.).
“Most intriguing policy idea from the GOP meeting at the Capitol Hill Club this morning,” Massie posted on X. “Trump briefly floated the concept of eliminating the income tax and replacing it with tariffs.”
The 16th Amendment currently allows Congress to levy income taxes. However, before its passage, the federal government’s primary revenue came from tariffs. Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.) confirmed this proposal, expressing her enthusiasm.
“I was thrilled to hear President Trump suggest we raise tariffs and reduce the income tax for Americans to zero as a new tax policy after the current plan expires this year. This will really help struggling Americans recover after four tough years of Bidenomics,” Greene wrote on X.
Economic Concerns and Feasibility
Economists, however, are skeptical about Trump’s plan. They argue that increased tariffs wouldn’t generate the same revenue as income taxes and could potentially harm the U.S. dollar’s global standing. Trump’s campaign has yet to comment on these remarks, but he has consistently advocated for higher tariffs, especially on Chinese goods, suggesting tariffs of 60% or more on all Chinese imports.
“They’ve got to apply tariffs on various products and not just electric vehicles,” Trump said last month following the Biden administration’s announcement of new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. “China’s taking advantage of us. We need broader tariffs.”
During a light-hearted “pep talk” with congressional Republicans, Trump, 77, discussed this significant shift in tax policy. Rep. Massie shared this on X, emphasizing the proposal’s novelty.
Historical Context and Expert Opinions
Before the ratification of the 16th Amendment, tariffs were the main revenue source for the federal government. However, experts argue that Trump’s plan is impractical in today’s economic context. Erica York, a senior economist and research director at the nonpartisan Tax Foundation, highlighted this on X.
“The individual income tax raises about $2 trillion annually on a tax base of personal income of roughly $15 trillion,” York noted. “Customs duties currently raise about $80 billion annually on imports of $3.4 trillion. Good luck generating $2 trillion in tax revenue from $3 trillion of imports.”
Kyle Pomerleau, a senior fellow on tax policy at the American Enterprise Institute, echoed these concerns. “The price of imports would rise, but so would the U.S. dollar, leading to lower sales and income for exporters,” he posted on X.
Bryan Riley, director of the Free Trade Initiative at the National Taxpayers Union, stated that achieving the same revenue level as income taxes would require a tariff rate of 71%. “However, such a high tariff rate would significantly reduce the volume of imports, resulting in revenue far short of $2.2 trillion,” Riley argued.
Our Take
The logistical challenges and potential trade wars this policy could incite would likely harm our international relations and economic stability. It’s critical that any tax reform is carefully considered and based on sound economic principles, not impulsive changes that could disrupt our nation’s financial health.
In summary, while the idea of eliminating income taxes might sound appealing, the reality of replacing such a significant revenue source with tariffs is fraught with risks and practical issues that could harm the American public more than help them.
