Taxes

Do you consider the amount of federal income tax you have to pay as too high, about right, or too low?

For comparison: Earlier polls, based on those who said they paid income tax

Do you regard the income tax which you will have to pay this year as fair?

As I read off some different groups, please tell me if you think they are paying their FAIR share in federal taxes, paying too MUCH or paying too LITTLE? First, how about -- [ITEMS A-C ROTATED, ITEM D READ LAST]?

A. Lower-income people

B. Middle-income people

C. Upper-income people

D. Corporations

Next, I'm going to read a list of actions Congress could take this year. Please say whether you strongly favor, favor, oppose or strongly oppose Congress doing each of the following this year. How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

Pass a bill to overhaul the federal tax code

Next, how closely are you following the news about the agreement on taxes reached by President Obama and Republican leaders in Congress last Monday -- very closely, somewhat closely, not too closely, or not at all?

Based on what you have heard or read about the tax agreement, do you think Congress should or should not vote to pass it?

Do you think President Obama -- [ROTATED: compromised too much, was about right, (or) did not compromise enough] -- with Republican leaders on the tax agreement?

Do President Obama's actions in regard to the tax agreement -- [ROTATED: make you respect him more, do not affect your opinion of President Obama, (or) make you respect him less]?

Does the handling of tax issues by the president and Republicans and Democrats in Congress in recent days make you -- [more optimistic, not affect your opinion, (or make you) less optimistic] -- about the ability of the government to address the biggest problems facing the country?

As you may know, one part of the tax agreement reached by President Obama and Republicans in Congress extends for all Americans the income tax cuts passed in 2001 and 2003 that were set to expire on Dec. 31. If it were up to you, what would you want to happen -- [ROTATED: allow the tax cuts to expire for all Americans, extend the tax cuts but set new limits on how much of wealthy Americans' income is eligible for the lower tax rates, (or) extend the tax cuts for all Americans]?

If you had to choose, which of these do you think would be the best approach for Congress and the president to take in dealing with the U.S. economy -- [RANDOM ORDER: increasing government stimulus spending, cutting taxes, reducing the federal budget deficit and national debt, (or) increasing taxes on the wealthy]?

What do you think Congress should do about the income tax cuts passed under George W. Bush that are set to expire at the end of this year -- [ROTATED: allow the tax cuts to expire, keep the tax cuts but set new limits on how much of wealthy Americans' income is eligible for the lower rates, (or) keep the tax cuts for all Americans regardless of income]?

(Asked of those who think tax cuts should be kept) Do you think the tax cuts should be kept -- [ROTATED: temporarily, until the economy improves, (or should the tax cuts be kept) permanently]?

COMBINED RESPONSES: BASED ON NATIONAL ADULTS

(Asked of those who want limits on tax cuts for wealthy Americans) Previously you said that there should be limits on the amount of income eligible for the lower tax rates. At what income level do you think these limits should be set -- $250,000 and over, $500,000 and over, or $1,000,000 and over?

COMBINED RESPONSES: BASED ON NATIONAL ADULTS

As you may know, the federal income tax cuts enacted under President George W. Bush will expire at the end of this year unless Congress votes to keep them in place. Should Congress -- [ROTATED: vote to keep the tax cuts in place for all taxpayers, vote to keep the tax cuts in place for those making less than $250,000 but end the tax cuts for those making $250,000 or more, (or should Congress) do nothing and allow the tax cuts to expire for all taxpayers]?

During the next twelve months, do you think the taxes you pay will be changed so that they are higher, or lower, or won't there be any change?

As you may know, as part of the recently passed economic stimulus legislation, beginning in May most Americans will receive a tax rebate check of between $300 and $600 per individual taxpayer from the federal government.

If you receive a tax rebate, what will you do with that money -- [ROTATED: spend it, save or invest it, pay off bills (or) donate it to charity]?

Do you feel that the distribution of money and wealth in this country today is fair, or do you feel that the money and wealth in this country should be more evenly distributed among a larger percentage of the people?

People feel differently about how far a government should go. Here is a phrase which some people believe in and some don't. Do you think our government should or should not redistribute wealth by heavy taxes on the rich?

Which would you prefer to happen when you file your annual income taxes with the IRS each year -- [ROTATED: get a refund because you paid more in taxes than you owed during the year, (or) basically break even because you paid about what you owed in taxes during the year]?

(Asked of those who prefer to get a tax refund) Would you prefer -- [ROTATED: to get a larger refund because you paid a lot more in taxes during the year than you owed, (or) to get a smaller refund because you paid only a little more in taxes during the year than you owed]?

COMBINED RESPONSES -- BASED ON A FULL SAMPLE

(Asked of those who prefer to get a tax refund) What are some of the reasons why you prefer to receive a tax refund rather than breaking even? (OPEN-ENDED)

BASED ON 403 ADULTS WHO WOULD PREFER TO GET A TAX REFUND

Thinking back to the tax return you filed last year, which of the following applied to you -- [ROTATED: you received a large tax refund, you received a small tax refund, you basically broke even, you had to pay a small amount of taxes, (or) you had to pay a large amount of taxes]?

Now thinking more generally, what have you been most likely to do with tax refund money you have received in the past -- put it in a savings account or invest it, use it to pay a major bill, spend it on a vacation, spend it on some other major purchase, or did you not do anything special with it?

Which do you think is the worst tax -- that is the least fair -- federal income tax, federal Social Security tax, state income tax, state sales tax, or local property tax?

ASKED OF A HALF SAMPLE

Which do you think is the worst tax -- that is the least fair -- [ROTATED: federal income tax, federal Social Security tax, state income tax, state sales tax, (or) local property tax]?

ASKED OF A HALF SAMPLE

Do you believe it is becoming -- [ROTATED: easier for someone to cheat on their income taxes, has there been no change, or is it becoming harder for someone to cheat on their income taxes]?

Now we have a question about your 2005 income tax filing with the IRS, for what you earned in 2004. Are you planning to, or did you already, send your tax return to the IRS by mail, or electronically by computer?

As you may know, the federal income tax cuts passed into law since George W. Bush became president are set to expire within the next several years. Would you favor or oppose making those tax cuts permanent?

BASED ON 478 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A

Which of the following statements best represents what you feel about the federal income tax system -- [ROTATED: it needs to be completely overhauled, it needs major changes, it needs minor changes, (or) it is basically fine the way it is]?

BASED ON 524 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B

Do you think the tax cuts which Congress passed and George W. Bush signed into law have -- [ROTATED: mostly helped the U.S. economy, have had no effect, or have mostly hurt the U.S. economy] -- over the past three years?

BASED ON 484 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM A

Do you think the tax cuts which Congress passed and George W. Bush signed into law have -- [ROTATED: mostly helped your family, have had no effect, or have mostly hurt your family] -- over the past three years?

BASED ON 531 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B