TAX FREEDOM

The Tax Elimination Plan: Achieving Zero Taxes Through Tariffs, Energy Dominance, and Economic Supremacy

Taxes are necessary only when government is inefficient and the economy is weak. The Michigan First Movement rejects permanent taxation as the price of civilization. We will systematically eliminate all state taxes, personal income, property, sales, business, and corporate, by generating massive new revenue through energy dominance, strategic tariffs, export growth, and radical government efficiency.

This is not fantasy. It is a deliberate, phased strategy that has worked in resource-rich jurisdictions and will make Michigan the first major state to achieve true tax freedom for its citizens.

Core Strategy: Replace Taxes with Abundance

We will replace the tax burden with revenue from:

• Energy exports and royalties

• Strategic tariffs and trade enforcement

• Explosive economic growth

• Sovereign wealth fund earnings

• Government efficiency savings

Phased Implementation Plan

Phase 1: Foundation (Years 1–3) – Build the Revenue Engine

• Full Energy Dominance: Rapid expansion of nuclear, natural gas, renewables (where economic), and resource extraction. Turn Michigan into a net energy exporter to the Midwest and beyond. Direct a significant portion of royalties and severance taxes into the Michigan Sovereign Wealth Fund.

• Strategic Tariffs: Support and amplify federal tariffs on adversarial nations (especially China). Capture a share of tariff revenue or related economic activity for Michigan through reshoring incentives.

• Immediate Tax Relief: Freeze or cut the state income tax rate while growth catches up. Eliminate targeted taxes (e.g., on energy production or family farms).

Phase 2: Acceleration (Years 4–8) – Scale Revenue and Cut Taxes

• Economic Supremacy: Execute Farm Dominance, Manufacturing Renaissance, and Michigan Renaissance Plan to drive GDP growth far above national averages.

• Sovereign Wealth Fund Maturity: Grow the fund to tens of billions through energy and tariff-related inflows. Use investment earnings to fund government operations and issue citizen dividends.

• Major Tax Phase-Outs:

  • Eliminate the state personal income tax.

  • Dramatically reduce or eliminate property taxes through increased valuations and direct fund support for local services.

  • Phase out sales tax on essential goods as revenue allows.

• Government Efficiency Mandate: Zero-based budgeting, agency sunsets, and privatization where appropriate. Savings directly accelerate tax elimination.

Phase 3: Completion (Years 9–15) – Full Tax Freedom

• Zero Tax Achievement: Replace remaining state taxes entirely with:

  • Energy export royalties and taxes redirected to general fund.

  • Sovereign Wealth Fund distributions.

  • Revenue from tariff-driven reshoring and export booms.

  • User fees and voluntary contributions where appropriate.

• Constitutional Protection: Seek a voter-approved amendment locking in tax elimination and requiring supermajority approval for any future tax reimposition.

Supporting Metrics and Safeguards

• Annual Tax Freedom Dashboard: Public tracking of:

  • Energy production and export revenue.

  • Tariff/reshoring economic impact.

  • GDP growth and tax base expansion.

  • Government spending as % of GDP (target: sharp decline).

  • Progress toward zero state taxes.

• Spending Caps: Constitutional limit on state spending growth (tied to population + inflation).

• Citizen Dividends: Once taxes are eliminated, direct surplus fund earnings as annual payments to eligible Michigan citizens (prioritizing generational families).

Expected Outcomes

• Michigan becomes the lowest-tax (eventually zero-tax) major state in America.

• Massive influx of businesses, young families, and capital.

• Explosive economic growth and population boom.

• Generational wealth creation through lower costs and higher take-home pay.

• A true Golden Age where citizens keep nearly all of what they earn.

This plan proves that prosperity, not punishment, is the path to funding government. Energy dominance, smart trade policy, and disciplined governance will make taxation obsolete in Michigan.

No More Taxes. All Abundance.
Energy Dominance. Tariff Strength. Michigan Freedom.

The Michigan First Movement will introduce enabling legislation immediately and fight relentlessly until Michigan achieves full tax freedom. We invite every citizen tired of being overtaxed to join this historic effort.

From Tax Servitude to True Liberty, Michigan Leads the Way.

Our goal: total elimination of as many taxes as is humanly possible, eliminating government’s right to steal from hard-working families before they have a chance to enjoy their own paychecks, savings and property.

Reward work. Family. Faith and freedom. Not the government’s time-worn habits of growing, complicating and punishing everyone with taxes, tariffs, trade barriers and bureaucracy.

In fact, Michigan First believes it is time to put the boot on the other foot. Productive patriots–workers, entrepreneurs, farmers and families who create and build our state–deserve to keep their own wealth, not have it confiscated by the state and spent on corruption.

The ONLY SOLUTION for Michigan: an immediate stop to the government’s endless growth in taxes, spending, regulations and government employment. TARIFFS and STRONG BORDERS at the federal level.

PUTTING IT IN PRACTICAL TERMS… 

We will take a hard look at every state tax, fee, tariff and trade barrier. We will look at every layer of federal taxation too, and advocate for changes at the federal level that will allow Michigan families to keep more of what they earn, produce and build.

THE LONG-RUN GOAL: End the state income tax and property taxes in their entirety, phase out sales taxes and put Michigan on the fast track to a state that is funded with non-punitive, productivity-based sources of revenue that grow as the state grows, NOT by punishing success with ever-increasing taxes, fees and tariffs.

Some taxes, like the income tax, sales tax and property tax, take a big bite right out of every paycheck, pay period or purchase. Other taxes target one segment of the economy or punish legal activities.

We will zero in on the most economically and politically destructive taxes, as well as the most egregious and unproductive fees and tariffs—and repeal or reform those bad taxes first.

TAXES WE WILL END.

Income Tax: End the income tax in Michigan. The government will no longer tax your paycheck before you even see it.

Property Taxes: End property taxes on primary residences and farmland. Reduce property taxes on businesses, factories and other commercial properties. Your home is your home, not a personal ATM for endless government fees and levies.

Death/Inheritance Tax: Permanently repealed in Michigan. Family farms and businesses stay in family hands–no forced sales to pay the government.

Gas Tax & Vehicle Registration Fees: Reform and reduce, but phase out this state tax over time, using energy development revenues and government savings from DOGE to fund the transition. Vehicle registration fees will be adjusted or reallocated for fairness. Our transportation infrastructure will be funded by user fees and private development.

Corporate Income Tax: End Michigan’s corporate income tax, and turn Michigan into a jobs magnet by bringing corporations and jobs back from high-tax states and nations.

Nuisance Fees, Penalties, Fees and Overcharges: Cut, simplify and/or repeal many of the state’s never-ending onslaught of fees, penalties and overcharges on productive citizens. The state’s sins are often transferred to its most productive and hard-working residents through layers of rules, fees and fines–many of which are little more than cash cows for bureaucrats and politicians.

Tariffs, Trade and Buy American Provisions: Strong support for federal tariffs and trade barriers on imported goods that compete unfairly with Michigan goods. Push for federal Buy American and state-level Buy Michigan and Buy American incentives that make it easier, cheaper and more attractive to buy American/Michigan-made products over foreign imports. Save American jobs while remaining good trading partners at the international level.

Tax Reduction Options 

MI DOGE Savings: The DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) will find and eliminate billions in waste, fraud, duplication, over-regulation and bureaucratic bloat. Every penny saved goes right into tax relief.

Budget Reallocations: Shift funding from wasteful or bloated programs and corporate welfare/subsidies to core services and funding (roads, public safety, education, veterans services) after significant spending cuts, budget reallocations and agency consolidations.

Energy Independence Revenues: Royalties, leasing fees and production taxes from increased oil and gas, nuclear power and hydropower production in Michigan. The state also has many other unique natural resources that can be developed in a proper conservation manner. If Michigan has all this wealth in natural resources, let’s keep that revenue here in Michigan and use it to reward families instead of sending it to state government employees and pork projects.

Tariffs & Trade Protection: Support for federal tariffs and trade barriers on imported products that compete unfairly with Michigan-made products. We also advocate state-level Buy Michigan and Buy American incentives that make it easier, cheaper and more attractive to buy American or Michigan-made products and services rather than foreign imports. This protects American jobs and saves Michigan money, while maintaining good relationships with trading partners at the international level.

Proper Conservation & Natural Resources: Natural resources, timber, mining, water, mineral and other state-owned resources should be managed in a responsible, long-term and non-destructive manner. Proper management and leasing or royalties can raise revenue, jobs and resources while ensuring the future of those resources for generations to come.

Citizen Production Dividends or Rebates: We are open to finding creative new options to return money to hard-working families who produce more, work more and pay more taxes. That could take the form of an annual dividend or rebate to all taxpaying citizens and families from energy royalties and government savings through the DOGE.

Put YOUR money back into YOUR family’s pockets.

We are looking at concepts like a PAYE (“Pay As You Earn”) tax credit; no sales tax on the first $_______ of every household’s income, with regular rebates sent back to families who pay sales tax. Reward work, family and contribution. 

Gaming, Cannabis & Regulated Freedom Zones: Zones or cities where regulated gaming, cannabis and other legal products or services are allowed, with state and local revenues dedicated to defunding the state and reducing taxes, NOT to new programs and spending. Voluntary choice by cities and communities. 

Reward work, family and faith. 

Our country and state were founded on the concept that individual productive citizens are the MOST important part of our state and country. The government’s role is to protect and empower us, not to demand tribute and taxes before we ever get a chance to enjoy the wealth and prosperity we build through hard work, contribution and family.

The greatest and most long-lasting source of revenue is not more taxes and spending, but an explosion of new businesses, jobs and growth as businesses and individuals relocate to Michigan for the freedom to work, build and create in the lower-tax, less-bureaucratic and more business-friendly climate Michigan First will create.

PROSPERITY FIRST. PATRIOTS FIRST. MICHIGAN FIRST.