Taxes

Do You Consider the Amount of Federal Income Tax You Have to Pay as Too High, About Right, or Too Low?

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

	Too high	About right	Too low	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 Apr 6-9	46	48	3	2
2008 Apr 6-9	52	42	2	4
2007 Apr 2-5	53	41	2	3
2006 Apr 10-13	48	44	2	5
2005 Apr 4-7	51	44	2	3
2004 Apr 5-8	50	43	3	4
2003 Apr 7-9	50	46	2	2
2003 Jan 10-12 ^	47	50	1	2
2001 Apr 6-8	65	31	1	3
2000 Apr 7-9	63	33	1	3
1999 Sep 10-14	68	28	1	3
1999 Jul 16-18	60	37	*	3
1999 Apr 6-7	65	29	2	4
1998 Apr 17-19	66	31	1	2
1997 Mar 24-26	58	38	1	3
1996 Apr 9-10	64	33	1	2
1994 Dec 16-18	66	30	1	3
1994 Apr 16-18	56	42	*	2
1993 Mar 29-31	55	41	2	2
1992 Mar 26-29	56	39	2	3
1991 Mar 28-30	55	37	2	6
1990 Mar 8-11	63	31	2	4
1985 Jun 7-10	63	32	1	4
1982 May 14-17	60	32	*	8
1973 Feb 16-19	65	28	1	6
1969 Mar 12-17	69	25	*	6
1967 Mar 9-14	58	38	1	3
1966 Feb 10-15	52	39	0	8
1964 Feb 28-Mar 5	56	35	1	9
1963 Jan 11-16	52	38	1	8
1962 Jun 28-Jul 3	63	32	1	4
1962 Feb 8-13	48	45	0	7
1961 Feb 10-15	46	45	1	8
1959 Mar 4-9	51	40	2	7
1957 Apr 6-11	61	31	*	8
1956 Feb 16-21	55	35	1	9

* Less than 0.5%
^ Asked of a half sample

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

	Too high	About right	Too low	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
1953 Feb 1-5	59	37	*	4
1952 Feb 9-14	71	26	*	3
1951 Feb 4-9	52	43	1	4
1950 Feb	57	40	0	3
1949 Mar	43	53	1	4
1948 Mar	57	38	1	4
1947 Nov	63	32	0	5
1947 Mar	54	40	0	6
* Less than 0.5%

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

	Yes, fair	No, not fair	No opinion
	%	%	%
2009 Apr 6-9	61	35	4
2008 Apr 6-9	60	35	5
2007 Apr 2-5	60	37	3
2006 Apr 10-13	60	34	5
2005 Apr 4-7	61	34	5
2004 Apr 5-8	62	33	5
2003 Apr 7-9	64	33	3
2002 Apr 5-7	58	37	5
2001 Apr 6-8	51	46	3
1999 Apr 6-7	45	49	6
1997 Mar	51	43	6
1946 Nov	60	34	--
1946 Feb	62	38	--
1945 Mar	85	15	--
1944 Mar	87	13	--
1944 Feb	90	10	--
1943 Feb	85	15	--

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

	Fair share	Too much	Too little	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 Apr 6-9	41	39	16	4
2008 Apr 6-9	32	51	13	4
2007 Apr 2-5	34	45	17	4
2006 Apr 10-13	36	46	12	6
2005 Apr 4-7	36	51	10	3
2004 Apr 5-8	35	49	12	4
2003 Apr 7-9	36	49	12	3
1999 Apr 6-7	34	51	11	4
1996 Apr 9-10	40	48	9	3
1994 Apr 16-18	43	42	12	3
1993 Mar 29-31	37	51	9	3
1992 Mar 26-29	32	57	8	3

B. Middle-income people

	Fair share	Too much	Too little	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 Apr 6-9	50	43	5	2
2008 Apr 6-9	50	43	4	3
2007 Apr 2-5	44	47	7	2
2006 Apr 10-13	50	43	5	3
2005 Apr 4-7	52	41	4	3
2004 Apr 5-8	47	46	4	3
2003 Apr 7-9	51	40	7	2
1999 Apr 6-7	35	59	4	2
1996 Apr 9-10	34	58	5	3
1994 Apr 16-18	39	57	3	1
1993 Mar 29-31	39	54	5	2
1992 Mar 26-29	36	57	5	2

C. Upper-income people

	Fair share	Too much	Too little	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 Apr 6-9	23	13	60	3
2008 Apr 6-9	24	9	63	4
2007 Apr 2-5	21	9	66	4
2006 Apr 10-13	21	8	67	4
2005 Apr 4-7	22	7	68	3
2004 Apr 5-8	24	9	63	4
2003 Apr 7-9	24	10	63	3
1999 Apr 6-7	19	10	66	5
1996 Apr 9-10	19	9	68	4
1994 Apr 16-18	20	10	68	2
1993 Mar 29-31	16	5	77	2
1992 Mar 26-29	16	4	77	3

D. Corporations

	Fair share	Too much	Too little	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2009 Apr 6-9	18	8	67	6
2008 Apr 6-9	15	6	73	6
2007 Apr 2-5	19	5	71	5
2006 Apr 10-13	18	5	70	7
2005 Apr 4-7	21	4	69	6
2004 Apr 5-8	19	5	69	7

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]?

	Pay off bills	Save or invest it	Spend it	Donate it to charity	No opinion
2008 Apr 6-9	41%	29	24	1	4

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?

	Distribution is fair	Should be more evenly distributed	No opinion
	%	%	%
2008 Apr 6-9	27	68	5
2007 Apr 2-5	29	66	5
2003 Jan 10-12	31	63	6
2000 Sep 11-13	38	56	6
1998 Apr 23-May 31	31	63	6
1996 Apr 25-28	33	62	5
1990 May 17-20	28	66	6
1984 Dec 7-10	31	60	9

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?

	Yes, should	No, should not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2008 Apr 6-9	51	43	5
2007 Apr 2-5	49	47	4
1998 Apr 23-May 31	45	51	4
1939 Mar ^	35	54	11

^ Roper for Fortune Magazine

Would you like to see the amount Americans pay in federal income taxes increased, decreased, or remain about the same?

	Increased	Decreased	Remain about the same	Other (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2008 Jan 4-6	9	55	34	1	1
2007 Jan 15-18	7	54	36	1	2
2006 Jan 9-12	7	55	35	1	1
2005 Jan 3-5	9	55	34	1	1
2004 Jan 12-15	9	55	35	1	*
2003 Jan 13-16	4	63	32	*	1

* Less than 0.5%
(vol.) = Volunteered response

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]?

	Get a refund	Break even	Pay taxes (vol.)	Doesn't apply/ don't file (vol.)	No opinion
2007 Mar 2-4	45%	50	*	3	2

* Less than 0.5%
(vol.) = Volunteered response

(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

	2007 Mar 2-4
	%
Prefer to get a refund	45
(Prefer a larger refund)	(24)
(Prefer a smaller refund)	(21)

Prefer to basically break even	50

Prefer to pay additional taxes (vol.)	*

Doesn't apply/don't file taxes (vol.)	3

No opinion	2

* Less than 0.5%
(vol.) = Volunteered response

(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

	2007 Mar 2-4
	%
It's like getting a bonus/reward/nice to get extra money	39
Forced savings/not good at saving otherwise	17
To be safe/conservative/don't want to have to owe	11
Believe taxes are too high	11
Helps with paying the bills	5
Use to pay state/local taxes	4
Use it to buy something wouldn't otherwise/Use for special purchase	3
Use it on a vacation	1

Other	11
No reason in particular	4
No opinion	3
Percentages add to more than 100% due to multiple responses.

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]?

	2007 Mar 2-4
	%
Received a large refund	18
Received a small refund	37
Broke even	12
Had to pay small amount of taxes	13
Had to pay large amount of taxes	10

Doesn't apply/don't file (vol.)	8

No opinion	2

(vol.) = Volunteered response

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?

	2007 Mar 2-4
	%
Put it in a savings account or invest it	24
Use it to pay a major bill	38
Spend it on a vacation	5
Spend it on some other major purchase	7
Not do anything special with it	20

Doesn't apply/don't file (vol.)	4

No opinion	2
(vol.) = Volunteered response

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

	Federal income tax	Federal Social Security tax	State income tax	State sales tax	Local property tax	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2005 Apr 4-7 ^	20	10	7	17	42	4
2003 Apr 7-9	21	11	11	13	38	6
1994 Jun 17-Jul 6	27	13	7	14	28	11
1992 Jun 23-28	25	10	9	16	25	15
1990 May 4-22	26	15	10	12	28	9
1989 Jun 9-22	21	18	9	14	28	10
1988 Jun 11-19	26	17	9	15	24	9

^ 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

	Federal income tax	Federal Social Security tax	State income tax	State sales tax	Local property tax	No opinion
2005 Apr 4-7 ^	20%	12	14	14	35	5

^ 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]?

	Easier	No change	Harder	No opinion
2005 Apr 4-7	21%	35	30	14

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?

	Mail	Electronically	Not sure (vol.)	Doesn't apply/ Not filing (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2005 Apr 4-7	43	44	10	2	1
2003 Apr 7-9	52	34	3	11	*
2001 Apr 6-8	62	28	2	7	1
1999 Apr 6-7	66	20	4	9	1
1997 Mar 24-26	77	15	2	6	*

* Less than 0.5%
(vol.) = Volunteered response

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

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2004 Dec 17-19	52	40	8
2002 Nov 8-10 ^	64	29	7

^ WORDING: As you may know, the federal income tax cuts passed into law last year are set to expire in 2011. Would you favor or oppose making those tax cuts permanent?

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

	Completely overhauled	Major changes	Minor changes	Fine the way it is	No opinion
2004 Dec 17-19	24%	35	29	11	1
2000 Jan 13-16	26%	35	28	9	2

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

	Mostly helped	No effect	Mostly hurt	No opinion
2004 Oct 9-10	39%	23	35	3
2004 Aug 23-25	32%	29	32	7

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

	Mostly helped	No effect	Mostly hurt	No opinion
2004 Oct 9-10	34%	48	16	2
2004 Aug 23-25	30%	48	20	2

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