President Trump is floating an idea that could appeal to millions of budget-strained households: using tariff revenue to reduce, or even eliminate, the federal individual income tax. But tax experts are skeptical that import taxes could completely replace income tax, and they say a reduction in income taxes would largely benefit the nation's top earners.

"I believe that at some point in the not-too-distant future, you won't even have income tax to pay because the money we're taking in is so great," Mr. Trump said at a Dec. 2 cabinet meeting, referring to the tariff revenues generated by the wide-ranging duties his administration has imposed on imports.

Mr. Trump's suggestion comes as the Supreme Court is weighing the constitutionality of his tariffs, which are import taxes paid by U.

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