One issue is almost universally agreed upon by Americans of all backgrounds, all over the nation. That is the issue of taxes, specifically that the vast majority of Americans want to pay less in taxes. There’s arguments over how taxpayer dollars should be spent at the federal level, and that will always be the case, but overwhelmingly the vast majority of Americans agree that the tax burden on Americans has become too high.
America is supposed to be in “peacetime” but the tax burden on the American people has been elevated to levels like when the United States was embattled in war. Currently, the American people pay about 20-25% of what the American economy produces as a whole in federal taxes alone. Add in state and local taxes, and the American governmental systems from all levels are spending more than 50% of what the American economy is able to produce each year. That’s unsustainable.
The only way to keep this from getting worse is to stop the federal government from being able to continue to prey on average Americans, as they have gotten away with for decades now. The American people need tax relief, forcing the federal government to either get money another way or maybe even make do with what they have. Average Americans are expected to balance a checkbook, so why not the federal government?
Donald Trump has his eyes on a plan to accomplish just this. He is reportedly looking into getting rid of all federal taxes for Americans making less than $150,000 a year. Trump allies in his administration have confirmed this is a real interest that Trump believes would unlock great economic booms in the short-term and long-term.
Trump’s Tax Overhaul Vision: A Game-Changer for Americans
In a recent interview this week, U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick revealed ambitious plans from President Donald Trump to transform the nation’s tax system. At the heart of this proposal is a push to eliminate income taxes for a vast majority of Americans, a move that could reshape how the federal government collects revenue and put more money back into the pockets of everyday citizens.
If Trump’s vision comes to fruition, more than 76% of American households would find themselves free from the burden of income taxes. For workers across the country, this would mean a noticeable boost in take-home pay, offering relief to millions of families. However, Lutnick emphasized that this shift wouldn’t eliminate federal taxes entirely—it would simply pivot the system toward a new method of funding government operations. Meanwhile, state and local taxes would remain in place, ensuring that some level of taxation persists at those levels.
Lutnick, speaking with CBS, laid out the scope of Trump’s ideas with enthusiasm. “How about no tax on tips? How about no tax on overtime? How about no Social Security? How about all those things—these are the kind of thoughts that will change America,” he said. He went further, clarifying Trump’s ultimate aim: “I know what his (Donald Trump) goal is … no tax, for anybody who makes less than $150,000 a year. That’s his goal. That’s what I’m working for.”
To understand the potential impact, consider a state like Mississippi. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau shows that about 18% of the state’s residents live in poverty. With a median household income of $54,915 and an average per-person income of $30,529, Mississippians stand to gain significantly if income taxes vanish for those earning under $150,000. For a state where most households fall well below that threshold, Trump’s plan could mean a substantial increase in disposable income, offering a lifeline to families struggling to make ends meet.
Trump has long championed an alternative to income taxes: tariffs on imported goods. In January, he articulated this strategy at the House GOP Issues Conference in Miami. “Instead of taxing our citizens to enrich foreign nations, we should be tariffing and taxing foreign nations to enrich our citizens,” he said. “Does that make sense? Right? Under the American first economic model, as tariffs on other countries go up, taxes on American workers and businesses will come down and massive numbers of jobs and factories will come home.”
Under this approach, tariffs would be paid by U.S. businesses or individuals importing foreign goods—not by the exporting countries themselves. The revenue generated would, in theory, offset the loss of income tax dollars, funding government operations while encouraging domestic production. Lutnick has been a staunch advocate for this tariff-centric plan, supporting it throughout Trump’s campaign and into the early stages of its rollout.
Not everyone is sold on the idea. Some analysts warn that imposing all the tariffs Trump has proposed could slow the economy. Inflation, which saw a slight dip in February, might tick upward again as early as March, according to Barclays, as tariff costs trickle down to consumer prices. The uncertainty has sparked debate about whether this shift could deliver the prosperity Trump envisions or lead to unintended consequences.
In a Sunday interview with Fox host Maria Bartiromo, Trump addressed these concerns without committing to a forecast. “There is a period of transition,” he said, “because what we’re doing is very big.” Lutnick, for his part, dismissed skeptics who see chaos in the plan. He insisted there’s a clear strategy at work, calling doubters “silly” for missing the bigger picture.
For now, Trump’s tax and tariff proposals remain a work in progress, but their potential to alter America’s economic landscape is undeniable. For states like Mississippi, the promise of no income tax could bring immediate relief to low- and middle-income households.
Do you think Americans are paying far too much in taxes to the federal government? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.
