Tax & Accounting News

TaxBuzz Top 5 - Trump Suggests Tariffs Could Replace Income Taxes Amid Skepticism, Levi's Billionaire Pushes to End Ultrarich Tax Loophole & More

TaxBuzz Top 5 - Trump Suggests Tariffs Could Replace Income Taxes Amid Skepticism, Levi's Billionaire Pushes to End Ultrarich Tax Loophole & More

Each Friday, TaxBuzz brings you the top five tax and accounting headlines you need to know from the workweek. We know life can get busy and you don't always have time to scroll through your news feed to stay informed.

We weed through all of the week's stories to showcase the most important updates in the tax and accounting world.

1. Trump Suggests Tariffs Could Replace Income Taxes, Though Experts Are Skeptical

Trump-GettyImages-2191378508-2500
Credit: Eva Marie Uzcategui/Getty Images

President Donald Trump said this week that rising U.S. tariff revenue could eventually allow Americans to stop paying federal income taxes — a claim economists say is far from realistic. In remarks during a Cabinet meeting, Trump argued that the U.S. is “taking in so much” from tariffs that income taxes might one day be unnecessary.

According to reporting from CBS News, Trump’s vision hinges on dramatically expanding tariffs, which he has repeatedly framed as a way to shift the tax burden onto foreign countries rather than U.S. households. He has floated the idea before, including during the 2024 campaign, and has suggested the government could even issue rebate checks funded by tariff revenue.

However, analysts across the political spectrum say the math doesn’t support the claim. Even under aggressive tariff scenarios, projected revenue would fall far short of what income taxes generate, roughly $2 trillion per year. Economists also warn that raising tariffs high enough to replace income taxes would sharply drive up consumer prices, reduce imports and demand, and ultimately shrink the revenue stream Trump is pointing to.

The proposal is not part of any formal legislative plan, but it is already shaping debates around tax policy, federal revenue, and who ultimately bears the cost of Trump’s tariff-first economic approach.

2. Florida House Advances Major Property Tax Cut Package Amid Warnings Of Billions In Lost Revenue

Florida-GettyImages-157380256-2500
Credit: ntzolov/Getty Images

Florida's ongoing property tax debate continues, as the Florida House of Representatives this week pushed forward a sweeping set of proposed constitutional amendments aimed at significantly reducing—or in some cases eliminating—non-school homestead property taxes for homeowners. 

Among the measures is one version (HJR 201) that would eliminate all non-school homestead property taxes, a move projected to slash local-government revenue by an estimated $14.1 billion in the first year alone. Other proposals include versions targeted to seniors, partial exemptions, or deregulatory changes to local tax-rate processes.

Supporters argue the measures will give homeowners much-needed relief and help address rising cost burdens, especially for retirees or longtime residents whose home values have climbed. Opponents, including city and county officials, warn that lost tax revenue could decimate funding for schools, public safety, infrastructure, and other essential local services. 

The proposals must still clear additional committee votes and likely go before voters, as constitutional amendments require approval at the ballot box. If they pass, the change could dramatically reshape how Florida funds local government and redistributes tax burdens across homeowner and, potentially, renters or non-property-owners.

3. Levi Heir in Congress Pushes End to Tax Loophole for Ultrarich

Congress-GettyImages-2024343351-2500
Credit: Andrey Denisyuk/Getty Images

One of the wealthiest members of Congress, Dan Goldman (descendant of the founders of Levi Strauss & Co.), is introducing legislation aimed at closing a major tax loophole that ultra-wealthy Americans use to avoid paying capital gains taxes. 

Under the proposed bill, dubbed the ROBINHOOD Act (Redistribution of Billions by Instituting New High-Income Obligations on Overlooked Debt), individuals with adjusted gross income over $400,000 (or $450,000 for joint filers) would face a 20% excise tax on loans or lines of credit backed by capital assets. The idea is to treat borrowing against investments (rather than selling them) as a taxable event, closing a common method the ultra-rich use to extract value from their holdings without triggering capital-gains tax. 

Supporters — including advocacy groups such as Americans for Tax Fairness — argue the bill would reduce wealth inequality and ensure that the richest pay a fairer share. Critics likely point out that the plan faces steep political headwinds, especially in a Republican-controlled House, and that wealthy individuals may find new legal work-arounds.

As of now, the bill’s path forward remains uncertain.

4. Hochul May Back Corporate Tax Hike As Pressure Mounts For More Revenue

Zohran-Mamdani-GettyImages-2243227560-2500
Credit: Andres Kudacki/Getty Images

Facing mounting pressure from progressive allies, Kathy Hochul — governor of New York — signaled she may support increasing corporate taxes to help close a looming budget gap, though she continues to reject hikes on individual income taxes. 

This is a change for the Democratic governor, who had previously doubled-down on not increasing taxes in the Empire State. The shift comes amid demands from left-wing supporters of incoming New York City mayor Zohran Mamdani, who are pushing for roughly $9 billion in new spending on initiatives such as universal child care and free public transit. 

Hochul blamed fiscal strain partly on federal policy changes under Donald Trump, specifically legislation she says eliminated certain subsidies, arguing that the state needs flexibility to navigate uncertain funding ahead of 2027. 

Still, no concrete corporate-tax bill has been put forward yet. And with Albany’s divided politics, any change would face strong headwinds from business groups and some legislators concerned about harming economic growth and driving firms out of the state. 

5. Utah To Lose $500 Million In Income Tax Revenue In 2026-2027 Because Of Trump Tax Cuts

Utah-GettyImages-155368634-2500
Credit: Renphoto/Getty Images

According to a new report from the Utah News Dispatch, the recent federal tax changes under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) will shrink Utah’s projected income tax collections by roughly $500 million across 2026 and 2027 — about $300 million in 2026 and $200 million in 2027. 

State leaders had already steadily cut state tax rates over the past few years, most recently lowering Utah’s income tax rate to 4.5%.  The federal law’s deductions — which reduce taxable income for individuals and businesses — mean that even more revenue will slip away, compounding pressure on an already tight budget.

Because much of Utah’s income-tax revenue funds public education, the shortfall raises worrying questions about future funding for schools and other essential services. In response, Gov. Spencer Cox has proposed a cautious $30.7 billion budget for 2027 — and, notably, forgoing a new round of tax cuts.

Which headline this week most interests you?

Feature Image Credit: Win McNamee/Getty Images News

share this post
Search for matches...
Rebekah Barton

Rebekah Barton

Rebekah's search engine optimization career began completely by accident as a college student. Over the course of her career so far, she has "grown up" with the SEO industry, from writing content while juggling classes to managing her own teams of writers and overseeing SEO strategy in subsequent roles. She is excited to bring her passion for high-quality content to CountingWorks, Inc.

Recommended Professionals

In the face of economic uncertainty, TaxBuzz is the industry's most up-to-date tax information.

Join 60,000 who get our weekly newsletter. No spam.

Need help selecting a firm?

Use our specialized search engine and get matched to the best accounting and tax firm for your needs.

Related Posts

Latest Posts