PolitiFact – GOP wants a ‘30% tax on everything’? That ignores taxes that would end, bill’s limited chances

A post shared on Facebook left out important details when it claimed how much taxes Republicans want to impose.

“In the month since Republicans took the House majority,” the post said, they are trying to “impose a 30% tax on everything.”

The post was flagged as part of Facebook’s efforts to combat false news and misinformation on its News Feed. (Read more about our partnership with Meta, which owns Facebook and Instagram.)

A House Republican introduced a bill to create a 30% federal sales tax. But it would have to overcome long odds to become law — and even if it did, it would eliminate several other taxes in the process.

Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., introduced the FairTax Act on Jan. 9. It would abolish the IRS and impose a national sales tax. The bill states that the rate would be 23% in 2025, with adjustments in subsequent years. 

But experts, including the Tax Policy Center and the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, said the number is actually 30%, as has been widely reported in news stories.

Two important details:

The bill would not simply add a tax. It would also end federal taxes on income, payroll, estates and gifts. 

The bill has limited support — 25 House co-sponsors, all Republicans — and heavy opposition. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., pledged to defeat it; President Joe Biden vowed to veto it.

Some conservatives have backed such a plan for two decades. The reason it is drawing attention this year is because House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., agreed to hold a hearing on it, despite opposing it. 

Because the post contains only an element of truth, ignoring critical facts that would give a different impression, we rate it Mostly False.