People have to distinguish between the Constitutionally allowed income tax because of the 16th Amendment, a national sales tax, and the VAT.
First of all, until you repeal the 16th Amendment, nobody should be talking about ADDING an entirely new federal tax, a national sales tax. People who think all you have to do is have legislation that disallows income tax in favor of the sales tax. But of course that is a silly idea since the 16th Amendment of Constitution authorizes the feds at any time to implement an income tax. People need to remember that the Constitution trumps legislation (Art VI, Cl 2 - the Supremacy Clause). Unless you love taxes, adding a national sales tax before repealing the 16th Amendment would be foolhardy.
Secondly, if you by some miracle actually repeal the 16th Amendment, I agree that a sales tax - a tax upon purchase at the cash register - would be preferable for a variety of reasons, some of which you mention.
Thirdly, the VAT MUST be distinguished from an actual sales tax at the cash register for purchases. NOT a “consumption tax” or value-added tax (VAT). That would be a disaster allowing the feds to tax each stage along the production and supply process and allowing more intrusion and interference the inner workings of business that would also allow more hidden taxes than ever. VAT is a disaster.
yes the 16th needs to be repealed.
A national sales tax would capture the 10% of the economy that is underground. IT would also tax illegals.
Consumption should be taxed, not production. Incentives are completely backwards. We dont need TVs iphones expensive cars, golf courses etc until we fix manufacturing and build up our intellectual capital and knowledge base back up.