In the context of unprecedented U.S. budget deficits, some proponents of the value-added tax (VAT) are calling for the U.S. to levy a VAT to close the federal deficit. They are seriously mistaken. While a VAT has some advantages to the current U.S. tax code, adding the VAT to current federal taxes as proponents propose would realize none of these benefits and would instead depress the economy. The real cause of the massive federal deficit is Congress’s overspending, not a lack of taxation.