> Some U.S. states have a sales tax. Some also have an annual tax on the current assessed value of personal property, like real estate, cars, boats, etc.

My current state has sales taxes (on non-essentials), property taxes that go to the state and the local school district (separate assessments), and an income tax to the state and my local district. The state counts income as earned income and passive income. Federal deductions reduce my tax burden there, but no such deductions obtain at the state or local level.

While it's popular to talk about the tax differential between the EU and US—and there is one—it's probably not quite as big as advertised (at least not in all states).

“Some”, as in 45 out 50[1]?

1 - https://taxfoundation.org/2021-sales-taxes/

Would federal excise taxes count as close enough to a sales tax? And for the purposes of comparing to VAT, is VAT considered an excise tax too?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excise_tax_in_the_United_State...

VAT rate isn't the same in the EU either, but each member country has to have at least 20% VAT.

Except on certain items. Gas and electricity are 5% I believe.