Burchett Urges End to Federal Income Tax as Trump’s Tariffs Hit Record $33 Billion in a Single Month

On 28 November 2025, The debate over America’s tax system intensified this week after U.S. House of Representatives Tim Burchett called for the federal income tax to be eliminated, citing what he described as a record-breaking surge in tariff revenue under President Donald Trump. The remark followed new U.S. Treasury data showing that October 2025 brought in roughly $31–33 billion in tariff revenue, the highest monthly figure ever recorded in the United States. Burchett, echoing Trump’s long-standing claims, argued that such numbers prove that tariffs could replace federal income taxes for millions of Americans.

According to Treasury officials, October’s customs duties were boosted by the second phase of Trump’s aggressive “reciprocal tariff” strategy, which imposed elevated import taxes on a wide range of goods from China, the European Union and several other trading partners. The policy, enacted under an economic emergency declaration, pushed average U.S. tariff rates to some of their highest levels in modern history. As a result, tariff receipts surged more than fourfold compared to October 2024. However, despite this historic inflow, the federal government still recorded a $284 billion deficit for the month, as shutdown-delayed payments and rising expenditures far exceeded the tariff windfall.

President Donald Trump has repeatedly promoted the idea of using tariff income to make major cuts to federal income taxes, even suggesting in recent speeches that the U.S. could move toward eliminating income taxes “for most Americans” within a few years. His administration earlier passed the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which extended individual tax cuts but did not restructure the tax system itself. Burchett’s comments, celebrating the October tariff haul, have reignited the debate by positioning tariffs as an alternative revenue pillar capable of dramatically reshaping U.S. taxation.

Economists, however, warn that the numbers paint a different picture. The federal income tax currently generates more than $2.5 trillion annually, while even under Trump’s elevated tariff regime, total tariff revenue for 2025 is expected to remain below $400 billion. Analysts emphasize that replacing income tax would require either massive additional tariffs or deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare, defense spending, and other federal programs. They also highlight that tariffs act as an indirect tax on American consumers, since a significant portion of higher import costs is passed on to households.

The political and legal environment surrounding Trump’s tariffs remains highly uncertain. The U.S. Supreme Court is now reviewing whether the president exceeded his authority by imposing sweeping tariffs under emergency powers—an outcome that could drastically reduce tariff revenues if the policy is curtailed. Meanwhile, Congress is divided, with some Republicans endorsing Trump’s tariff-first economic model, while others caution that heightened trade barriers are increasing costs for American businesses and families.

For now, there is no legislative plan to eliminate the federal income tax, and Americans will continue to file returns as usual. Still, Burchett’s remarks reflect a growing faction within the GOP that sees Trump’s soaring tariff revenues not just as a trade instrument but as the foundation for a new tax model for the United States. Whether October’s record-setting figures become a genuine turning point in U.S. fiscal policy—or simply a political talking point—will depend on court rulings, economic conditions, and the administration’s next steps in its expansive tariff campaign.