U.S. Tariff Revenue Nears $30 Billion Monthly as Rep. Burchett Calls for Federal Income Tax Elimination

Washington D.C. – Representative Tim Burchett (R-TN) has publicly advocated for the elimination of the federal income tax, a significant proposal that comes amidst a dramatic surge in U.S. tariff collections, with monthly revenues reaching unprecedented levels. The call for a fundamental overhaul of the nation's tax system highlights an ongoing debate over federal revenue generation and fiscal policy.

The Congressman's stance gained recent attention through a social media post by Mike Netter, who declared, "> This is MASSIVE: Rep. Tim Burchett is now calling for the federal income tax to be "ELIMINATED"." Netter's tweet linked Burchett's proposal to a claim that "President Trump raked in a record $33 BILLION in tariff revenue for October alone," a figure that reflects a broader trend of increased customs duties.

While Rep. Burchett has consistently championed fiscal conservatism and tax reduction throughout his tenure, including supporting extensions of prior tax cuts, a specific legislative bill for the complete elimination of the federal income tax under his direct sponsorship has not been formally introduced. His advocacy aligns with a conservative push to simplify the tax code and reduce the financial burden on American citizens.

The claim of substantial tariff revenue is supported by recent data, indicating a significant increase in collections during 2025. According to reports from the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget (CRFB) and other financial analyses, monthly customs duties rose to approximately $30 billion by September 2025, with July 2025 alone generating nearly $28 billion. This surge is attributed to trade policies implemented or influenced by the Trump administration, including new tariffs enacted in early 2025.

These elevated tariff collections, which reached $195 billion for Fiscal Year 2025, represent a more than 250% increase over the previous fiscal year. However, the future of a portion of this revenue faces legal uncertainty, as a Supreme Court ruling in November 2025 could potentially deem many of these tariffs illegal, requiring refunds of up to $90 billion and impacting future collections.

Eliminating the federal income tax would necessitate a radical restructuring of how the U.S. government funds its operations, as it is the primary source of revenue for federal programs and services. Proponents often suggest alternative models such as a national sales tax or a consumption tax. Critics, however, voice concerns about the regressive nature of such alternatives and the immense challenge of replacing trillions in revenue without causing widespread economic disruption.