A big AMEN!
We already have a form of VAT in place
Adding tax costs at every stage of production is the same result as the dreaded VAT. The flat income is in fact defined as a VAT - a "subtraction method VAT" to be precise.
My thought is to rework the existing "hidden" tax system and see if increasing them could result in no income and no IRS.
That is the nrst man. But the nrst makes those hidden taxes you speak of visible. That's the only difference I see.
I see no difference in visible or invisible. This is where the theory of competition must be the governing factor on prices. Trying to control prices by complaining by seeing the visible tax will get us nowhere. Those that would purchase used goods will not see this visible tax. Government overspending is the problem. I would rather go in to purchase something and the price posted is the price I want to pay without adding the tax. If competition does not work, then we are all going to hell in a basket. Incidentally, the FairTax is also based on competition to reduce prices.
This nation survived on no income taxes before. Believe, even in spite of the welfare state we have created, it can do it again without another type of tax called the FairTax. Dumping the income tax just removes another government meddling in our lives with a tax system they can't even understand much less than us.