“We will probably need something like a VAT”
No way. Have you ever been to Europe and shopped there. The VAT tax system there is one reason everything costs way more than they do here.
I’ve seen it sold as a ‘voluntary’ tax... of course if it is applied to food and other necessities it’s not. States that don’t have income taxes tend to rely on sales taxes... unless you think you can make up the difference with duties and tariffs... either way, you’ll eventually pay.